here's a little shinoxsakura story that has been 'bugging' me lately. i know, i know,i have't updated the sakuraxkiba story yet, but i needed to get this one started. it's only going to be about three chaps, but i also have a longer sakuraxshino story to work on later. anyway i hope you enjoy.

i don't own naruto, but hee hee neither to you!

CHAPTER ONE The List.

The nineteen year old laid flat on his back staring at the ceiling. Tuna. Bathroom cleaner. Meeting with Tsunade. Lunch with Kakashi san. Dinner with Sakura. Shino had a list of things he needed to accomplish that day. He made one every morning as he lay in his bed shaking off the night's sleep. Making a list helped him focus. These 'damn lists,' as Kiba called them kept Shino from wasting time and avoiding distractions, Kiba being one of them. Organization was one his greatest assets. As a jounin and ANBU captain, he would be lost without this trait. The team he led would be in chaos, Kiba again being a root cause. His team not only expected him to be this way, but thrived off it. The day's tasks set in his mind in order of importance; he rolled onto his side and proceeded to sit up. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and to place his feet where his slippers should be.

The soft black slippers were not there. Sighing long and trying to control his anger he called, "Cocoa come!"

A gigantic brown ball of fur made it's way into Shino's room. His head hanging low as he placed the remains of a slipper at it's masters feet. He let out a soft whimper that Shino was positive meant, 'I'm sorry.' Cocoa was one of Akamaru's pups. This beast was Kiba's idea. Missions were becoming longer and more frequent, so Kiba presented Shino with a nin dog to look over his place. Shino could not tell who was more proud, Kiba or Akamaru to have Cocoa guarding his home and his girlfriend. Sakura was not able to stay here every night, having her own apartment and missions, so Cocoa stood watch. It gave Shino some comfort knowing that Cocoa was here the nights Sakura did chose to sleepover, while he was away. Sakura was strong on her own, but add a nearly two hundred pound overprotective nin dog, and no common thief stood a chance.

"This is the third pair since I have returned." Shino reprimanded the dog. "I know that you understand me, and you know this is not acceptable behavior."

That statement was a truth. In the ten months he had Cocoa, he found himself understanding the dog, and vice versa. Cocoa laid his head at the bug master's feet, whining for forgiveness.

"Not now, I am not pleased with your actions Cocoa. You are a nin dog and should not act like a common mutt." Shino continued to scold the dog. The comparison to a common mutt wounded the dog's pride, as a low whimper was heard coming from him. Shino gave him a final harsh look. Cocoa lowered his head even more and placed his paws on the top of his head.

Shino stood from the bed, stretching away the tension in his body. He proceeded to the bathroom for his morning ritual of preparing for the day. Once he entered the kitchen he opened the fridge. He smiled to himself as he looked at the container with a note. Sakura must have been running late to just sneak in, drop off the container, and leave without at least a kiss.

'Hi Hun,

Hope you slept well. I didn't, without you. Enjoy. I made enough for you and Kiba, cause I know he'll be by!

Luv me!

P.S. I think Cocoa has some type of shoe fetish, I've lost two pair to the little thief.'

Shino thought of Sakura chasing Cocoa around the apartment for her shoe. A small chuckle escaped his lips at the mental image. He removed the container and opened it to find Sakura's homemade miso soup. The soup was poured into a pot on the stove to warm. A knock on the door indicated Kiba was as always right on time for a meal. Shino crossed the apartment to open the door.

"Yo, Shino what's going on today?" The jounin asked as he entered the apartment, removing his shoes. Akamaru bounced in the home licking Shino's palm in a greeting.

"Good morning to you also Kiba, Akamaru." Shino closed the door behind his guests. If anyone looked at the pair they would wonder how the two could ever be best friends. Shino being quiet and reserved, thinking before acting. Kiba loud and open, reacting before thinking. Yet their friendship was without question one of the closest bonds within the community of shinobi. Shikamaru had this with Chouji. After the traitor left, Sakura and Naruto developed the same relationship.

When Kiba struggled with his own feelings for Shikamaru, two years ago, Shino was there to listen, advise, comfort, and basically cause a slow and painful death to anyone who had a smart ass comment about Kiba being gay. The former team eight boys overcame the obstacles of being raised completely opposite to becoming each other's strength. The ultimate form of this friendship came when Shino no longer hid his eyes from Kiba. At that moment Kiba understood their bond was that of brothers.

"I thought we'd stop by to see if you wanted to get in a little training." Kiba asked. He walked to the kitchen, to check the smell that was starting to fill the apartment.

"Not this morning I have a list of things to accomplish. Maybe after our afternoon meeting with Tsunade." Shino turned the burner of the stove off. Shino removed two bowls from the cabinet.

Kiba instinctively began to fill the water and food bowl for Cocoa and the water bowl that was there for Akamaru. "Cocoa, grub's on!"

Cocoa padded into the kitchen with his head down, and tail dragging. Kiba began rubbing behind his head. "Wha's a matter boy?"

Akamaru came into the kitchen sniffing his pup. The three of them were engaged in a conversation of grunts, growls, and whimpers. Shino poured tea into two cups for him and Kiba.

"It doesn't matter if you miss her, you can't chew Shino's stuff. You were raised better than that. Plus, you've lived with him long enough. You know how anal he is." Kiba said. He continued to rub the dog's ears. Cocoa continued to whimper. "Sakura's shoes too, and she didn't kill you? Bring it here, you better be glad she likes you."

Cocoa left the room as Shino placed the bowls of soup on the island block with the tea. Cocoa returned with the remains of a black pump with long ribbon straps dragging on the floor. Shino's face set firm. He had bought those shoes for Sakura, and they weren't cheap. Her pout had magically pulled his wallet from his pocket, and her bouncing up and down with excitement caused his hand to give the clerk one hundred twenty dollars. Shino closed his eyes, while rubbing his forehead. The sight of those ribbons wrapping around her calves to her knee, as she modeled them, in nothing but her bra and panties, made him shift a little in his stance. Even more the memory of untying the ribbon with his teeth as his tongue trailed up her legs, followed by how she thanked over and over that night, made his stomach leap.

"Hey Shino, hope Sakura didn't like these too much." Kiba said as he turned over the destroyed shoe. He laughed as he caught Shino's scent. "Oh shit, you liked them a little more than she did, ya freak."

Shino sighed and took the shoe from Kiba's hand, placing it on the counter. He turned to Cocoa. The dog whimpered again, and Shino felt his lesson learned. "Remember my words Cocoa, you are not a mutt. I do not expect you to behave as one. Eat."

After dishes were washed, Shino returned to his room to gather his coat and sunglasses. Cocoa followed Shino into the room. He placed his paw on the side of the bed where Sakura normally slept. He turned his head looking at Shino. Shino could read the sadness on the nin dog's face.

"I know, I miss her too." He reached for his coat. Kiba walked in the bedroom, plopping down on the bed and resting back on his elbows. "Kiba, I just made the bed."

"So what's on this schedule for today."

"Meetings, errands, lunch with Kakashi san." Shino answered as he straighten his coat. Crossing the room, he placed the scroll reports in his pocket. Afterwards he checked his weapons to make sure they were secure.

"Lunch with Kakashi san, huh?" Kiba quirked an eyebrow slightly intrigued. "About?"

"If I needed to discuss this with you, I would have invited you." He picked up the sunglasses from the nightstand and put them in place.

"Hn, sounds suspicious." The tracker nin look at Cocoa with a curious expression.

"Let's go." Shino left the room with Kiba, Cocoa, and Akamaru end tow. He felt like a mother duck leading her children around. Securing the apartment, Shino and his ducklings left.

The apartment had been Shibi's idea. He wanted Shino to have time to live freely before taking over the responsibilities of the clan. The freedom was somewhat wasted on Shino. He was a homebody. He preferred reading or an evening in with a movie. Sure there was the occasional party and Sakura sleeping over, but he didn't see much of a difference between life here in the apartment versus life at the Aburame complex. He lived in an apartment building whose residents were mostly shinobi. Shikamaru and Kiba lived two doors down. Ino had an apartment downstairs, and Lee's apartment was across the courtyard. Neji and Tenten were roommates, as far as the Hyuuga family was concerned, in an apartment beside Lee. The non ninja tenants felt safer having so many shinobi living there.

"Since your damn list doesn't seem to include me, I'll go see if Naruto wants to spare a little." Kiba began to turn toward Naruto's house. Cocoa let out a small bark. "If it's ok with Shino, it's fine by me."

Cocoa turned to Shino with a small bark.

"Go Cocoa, but no mud. Kiba, do not be late for our meeting." Shino reminded.

"Yeah, yeah mamma Shino I gotcha." Kiba waved with one hand breaking into a jog. The two dogs following him happily jumping over each other.

Shino made his way through the village. He entered the Hokage tower. The ANBU office was almost empty with the exception of Neji sitting at the desk reading a scroll. The two acknowledged each other with a nod.

"The reports for the recent activity in Lightning. My notes are in red." Shino handed the scrolls over to Neji.

"There's a small mission to Suna I need your team to take." Neji pointing to the scroll on the top of the stack of inbound missions. "You'll need to leave tonight midnight."

"Hai." Shino picked up the scroll and pocketed it. In his mind, he was rearranging his list of things to do. Dinner with Sakura was now a minute possibility. "Has a messenger been sent to my team?"

"Next on my list to do. Briefing here tonight at nine."

"I'll send the messenger on my way out." Shino turned to leave, his task list rearranged.

"Thanks." Neji went back to his papers.

Shino left the Hokage Tower and walked toward the Yamanaka Flower Shop. The bell rang as he opened the door. Ino was standing behind the counter. Her expression was one of frustration.

"Ino." Shino spoke. "Are you too busy to help me now?"

"Shino, no of course not." Ino stepped from behind the counter. "We have a new delivery boy. Since we opened two hours ago, he's managed to screw up every delivery. How is that possible?"

"I have no idea. It seems as if it were an easy job." Shino answered.

"Any idiot that can read should be able to do it. But what can I help you with?" She pulled out an order slip.

"I would like to send flowers, but maybe I shouldn't." Concerned about the flower shop delivery service. Even hidden behind the sunglasses, his facial expression showed the doubt he held.

"Are they for Sakura?" Ino questioned. She grabbed a card and pen for Shino to write his message. "I'll make sure these get delivered correctly."

"No, my eldest aunt is celebrating her birthday today. I need something simple but elegant." Shino began to turn looking at the overwhelming amount of colors.

"I have the perfect arrangement, don't worry." Ino walked over to the different coolers and began removing flowers. "Would you like me to put this on the Aburame account?"

"No, if you will put it on mine that would be fine." He put a sentiment on the card, wishing his aunt many more birthdays.

"Not a problem. This arrangement's scent will make her buggies happy. Would you like them delivered at a certain time?" Ino returned to the counter and placed the flowers on the table to begin working with them.

"Any time today will be great. Thank you." Shino squinted at dark blue and white tulip arrangement. The colors would look perfect on Sakura's dining room table. "Could you also have those sent to Sakura's apartment."

"I can." Ino smiled. She knew he could not resist sending Sakura something. At least once a month he was here sending the pink haired kunoichi an arrangement. "You spoil her."

"Yes, I guess I do, but she is worth it isn't she?" Shino said. Ino laughed and nodded.

"Forehead, sure she's worth it." Ino placed the flowers on the counter and handed another message card to him. "You two are really serious huh, two years? I've never seen her so happy."

"Happy would be an accurate way to describe our relationship." Shino was stumped at what message to write. He knew what he wanted to say on the card, but did not want Ino reading it. Ino was Sakura's friend, but had a tendency to gossip. He wanted this to be a surprise. He settled for a simple, 'I love you.'

"I'll get all this ready for you. I'll deliver these to Sakura myself. I have a spare key to her apartment, and I'll get Yumi, our older delivery guy, to take your aunt's. He's slower but, at least you'll know they'll get there."

"Thank you." Shino handed the card to her. "Have a good day Ino."

"Bye Shino." Shino crossed the shop as two men entered the shop shouting. Apparently this new delivery boy, delivered flowers to the wrong wives. Both men Shino noticed, looked as if they had been slapped hard. Shino for one moment felt sorry for Ino, and he waited at the door to make sure she could handle the rather large angry men. Then the blonde jounin snapped, and Shino knew she would be ok. Suddenly he felt sorry for the men. The bell sounded as he opened the door to enter the village sidewalks.

hope you guys enjoyed...poor shino, i hate when i have a whole day planned and one little thing throws it off...

terri