Hey there! This is tha Epilogue! W00T! I loves the fact that this is over, yet I wish I could add more! Ah… Romance!

They awoke to the rays of the sun, both of them rousing to the feeling of insects moving at the warmth of the very thing that provided heat & energy to all things on the planet.

Ukiyokou yawned, wishing her honey bees would go back to sleep so she could sleep some more. She tried to bury her head into her "pillow" when she heard Shino groan.

"Ukiyokou, you're crushing my chest when you do that," Shino warned, lowering his eyebrows even more.

Ukiyokou widened her eyes, realizing she was hurting her love. She lifted herself off of Shino & brushed herself off. "Sorry, Shino."

Itoshiihana jumped out of the bushes along with Gen Aburame. "Having fun, you two?"

Shino stood & nodded at Itoshiihana's question. "Well… If you like your rib cage being crushed by Ukiyokou, then yes," Shino jested.

Ukiyokou nudged his side with her elbow. "Shino, I said I was sorry!"

Itoshiihana giggled at her daughter's response, while both Gen & Shino smirked in amusement.

"Well, Ukiyokou, time to head off," Itoshiihana announced.

Ukiyokou looked down sadly.

"Dear, you'll see Shino again."

"Yeah. In a few years, Mom."

Itoshiihana pulled Ukiyokou into an embrace. "I know. It's tough. But I'm certain you two will meet again!"

Ukiyokou nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. She turned to Shino & threw her arms around him. "Don't forget me."

Shino returned the hug. "I will never forget. You shouldn't either. The reason is that we are a team as in relationship & camaraderie. If neither of us do our part as a team then, the team itself collapses."

She giggled sadly, knowing that the wisdom he had just gave her using his "Weird way of talking" as some say, was possibly the last time in a long time she would hear it. "I know." She pulled away. "Well, Shino, guess this is farewell for now," Ukiyokou said trying to remain positive, wiping tears from her eyes.

"Farewell," Shino said, forlornly as they turned & sprinted away.

"Farewell, my sweet flower..."

Shino had grown an inch taller & was sort of beginning to look like his father. His hair had become coarser over the years & his skin was a little darker. His face, minus a small amount of facial hair, had not changed much in the past six years, along with his usual personality. He had a light beige coat on now & carried a smaller gourd than his father's on his back. His glasses were more oval but they obscured his eyes still, leaving everyone else reeling about Shino's eyes.

The carnival had arrived & was set up in the least used training areas of the Leaf Village. Shino was there with his former childhood ninja team. Hinata had become a little more confident in her abilities, Kiba had gotten more "Intense" than he was six years ago, but was still an argumentative mutt of a ninja, & Kurenai, possibly feeling old since her students were now basically adults, has had her child & he was now around five trailing after his mother. They met up near the Ferris wheel.

"Sure has been a while, huh? I remember when you guys were genin," Kurenai stated in her memorabilia.

"Yes I guess it has," Hinata said in a slightly less shy voice.

"Yeah! I was kickin' but with Akamaru at my side, Hinata was training to impress Naruto, & Shino bossed everyone around while creeping everyone out with his insects at the same time," Kiba announced like he was known to do.

"If I remember correctly, it was your foolishness that caused me to be that bossy. Besides, when I was leading the team, I had everyone's best interest at heart. If you didn't do what I said, it would cost you something, like avoiding certain fruit that are dangerous, such as the one that can grow up to the size of a human," Shino stated in his usual syntax form.

"He-he, yeah, Naruto sure was happy to eat that giant fruit that you told everyone not to eat. He must've thought to do the opposite of what ever you said, Shino!" Kiba grinned at his teammate.

Shino nodded. "Yes, that was in the past but-"

"Honey! Honey! Come get your pure fresh honey! Made exactly today," A familiar voice yelled.

That voice… It's familiar… He looked over to a honey stand near the Ferris wheel. He saw a girl with dark chocolate hair, honey brown eyes, & a smile that could warm the people she knew.

Kiba grabbed onto Shino's shoulder. "Shino! Hey, snap out of it!" He began to shake him when Shino moved out of his grip & walked over to the stand.

Because no one was there, he walked up & began to speak with her immediately. "Hello, I have something I need you to look at, an item you may recognize."

She looked at Shino questioningly. "Uh… have we met before?" She reached back to grab a kunai knife out of her holster, just in case.

Shino rummaged through his pockets on his jacket & found the Bee-drill on him. He took it out & handed it to her.

She gasped & took the Bee-drill from him. "Bee-drill… but only my love, Shino, had this. How did you get this? Wait- you're an Aburame!" She took out a plush beetle from her backpack. "Do you recognize this?"

"Six years ago… Uki?"

"Sh-Shino?" She reached up & took off his shades. She stared into his ultimately dark brown soft eyes. "Shino… you've changed so much, yet you remain… Shino." She ran her hand through Shino's coarse hair.

"The sweet flower can wither away but the memory of the sent & beauty of it can never be erased," Shino stated in a serious manner. He stared down for a small bit. "Later we should meet at my house. It would be more ideal."

"Right then," Ukiyokou replied. "But I could send a bee off to my mom &-" Ukiyokou began, suggesting that she could walk with them around the carnival.

"Or make a honey clone to sell the honey for you," Shino suggested as he took his shades back & placed them back on his face.

Ukiyokou smiled & prepared a honey clone to watch the stand. "Shino, what would the village do with out you?"

Shino & Ukiyokou decided to go on a variety of rides but there was one ride she was terrified of. The "Diamond Head" which was a high spinning ride that went upside down at some points. Ukiyokou began to tremble. "Shino, I don't think I can- I don't like- I have a fear of going upside down high above ground."

"Don't worry." He grabbed hold of her hand. "I'm here, Uki."

They ventured onto the ride, paying four tickets, two for each. As the ride began Ukiyokou clung to Shino who looked unstirred throughout the ride. When they got off Shino looked into her eyes.

"Ukiyokou. Never be afraid."

She looked up at Shino & smiled sweetly. "Thank you Shino."

They walked up to the Aburame estate. Gen walked out, his hair darker due to his age. He raised an eye brow at Ukiyokou. "A Kamizuru clan member again? Hmm… It would seem it's Romeo & Juliet all over again."

"Dad, Ukiyokou has returned from her training." Shino looked over to Ukiyokou who smiled. Shino smiled back under his beige collar. "May she stay the night?"

"Yes, she may. Welcome back, Ukiyokou. The Aburame will have your support always," Gen announced as if nothing between them had happened.

They walked inside & headed to Shino's room.

"Sleep on the sill. It's built as an extra bed." Shino moved aside his sheets on his singular bed.

"Alright. Thanks Shino." She crawled on the sill as Shino ordered his insects to give her a sheet & pillow.

They returned to their master whispering to him, "Good luck, Shino…" He lied still in his bed, letting his body have its way with his consciousness.

The insects roused Shino from his sleep around twelve a.m. "Time to put your plan into action, don't you think, master?"

"True. Well then… let's go." He went down stairs & began to instruct his insects on the task he had informed them earlier on.

They went to the cupboard & opened it, then swarming into one of the cups & took out a diamond that Shino had received as a thank you gift from a trapped miner on one of his missions four years ago.

He had the ring with the holder already attached to it. He just needed to put the diamond in. He placed it in & carefully rapped the metal around it so it wouldn't escape. He instructed the insects to go into his room & find the ring box that his father had used when he had proposed to his mother, which so happened to be under his bed.

The insects followed their friend/ master's/ host's/ hive's orders & went on their way. They brought back a beautiful grey case, with a dark brown mini-cushion inside meant to hold a ring.

Shino placed the delicate ring inside & closed it, taking it from his insects' grasp & placed it in his pocket. He ordered them to return to them & so they followed his orders.

They whispered, "Master, you know as well as us, that you & Ukiyokou's future is certain."

"Maybe, but we will just have to wait until tomorrow." Shino went to his room & fell asleep almost instantly; possibly from how tired his insects were at the time.

The next morning they woke up & prepared breakfast for themselves. They munched on their rice in silence.

Shino broke the silence with an announcement. "We're going somewhere special today, Ukiyokou."

Ukiyokou looked up. "Where," She asked her loved one curiously.

"Well… you'll have to find out for yourself." He looked over to her & combed through her hair with is right hand. …Still as soft & silky as it was six years ago. He felt a slight chill go down his back. I wonder what she will say… "But I can assure you, there won't be any doubt that you will be amazed."

She giggled & kissed Shino on the cheek. "Shino, I love you."

"That goes without saying." He smirked at her under his collar.

Not long after they finished their breakfast they left. Shino had his insects turn into a blind fold & covered her eyes with it. She was guided by only her honeybees' senses, Shino's grip on her hand, & Shino's voice.

Shino had brought her up the Hokage cliff & they had gone past the spot where they saw the mating ritual of the rare butterfly like creature. They were now in the middle of another clearing. Shino asked his insects to return & the reformed back to their original shape & returned to him.

She gasped at the sight of vast blooming flowers & lush green grass. The clearing she viewed had a glistening rock in the middle of it. The trees canopied over it like a mesh roof, streaming in small amounts of sunlight, adding to the effect to what was about to happen.

"Ukiyokou, I suggest you sit on the rock right there. I have something I need to ask you." Shino was getting nervous at the upcoming event. He could feel the words caught in his throat.

Ukiyokou sat, waiting for what Shino had to ask.

For the first time in his life, he seemed immobile. His legs had turned to lead, his mouth was dry, & he couldn't remember what to say to Ukiyokou or what to do.

The Kikaichu felt their master seize & they aided him, moving his arms & legs for him with there own bodies. They forced their extremely nervous host into a kneeling stance in front of Ukiyokou who sat on the rock in the center of the clearing. "The rest is up to you, Shino."

Ukiyokou quirked an eyebrow at him, beginning to guess what he was about to say.

He reached into his pocket with a shaky hand & rapped his fingers around the box he had prepared the night before. He brought out the box, hearing his insects chant over & over to remind him what to say.

"Will. You. Marry. Me? Four simple words, Shino. Say them," they all said in unison.

"U-Ukiyokou…," he stammered as he opened the box revealing a beautiful diamond ring. "Will you marry me?"

"Well…," Ukiyokou began in a pondering tone.

Shino's heart began to sink. He feared the answer. Please! Ukiyokou…don't push me away.

"I would love to, Shino!" She smiled brightly & took the ring from the box & slipped it on her ring finger. "Oh… Shino, it's beautiful. Where'd you get it?"

"My father had given me that last year, the ring portion of it, anyway. He said the stone in it was glass & I could throw it away if I wanted to. He knew that I had plans to marry you. I put it together last night with a gem I had gotten as a gift for saving a trapped miner on a mission a few years ago."

"I love it. I love you. Thank you."

They kissed knowing that they would be together for ever more.

Lookit! It's ovar! D: Nuu! Y.Y Well it ended pretty good don't chu think? Hate to break it to you, though, you have my rambling nonsense to read later. Joy… for you! ^^ btw the ppl who read this & review are awesome! I think they deserve some props!

Nu more cross country for me! I don't have to go anymore! ^^ My mind & body is saying, "Thank you! We luv you so much, Yuni!" I'm going, "You're welcome! Have a good day or night or what ever! Twilight (not the stupid book with sparkly vampires… XP) it's the only compromise. I'll call what ever time it is twilight on here k? k.