Chapter 57: 57 Date 3 the Finale

"Everyone is staring at us."

"They must be entranced by your beauty."

"Shut up, we both know why they're staring at us, we look stupid right now. Where are we even going?"

Right now, we are walking down a street in Konoha as the sun is starting to dip down to the horizon, and like Shino said, everyone is staring at us as we walk past, but that's fine, since it just makes her find solidarity with me.

"We're almost there, it's just around the corner."

When we turn the corner Shino's mouth slowly opens in shock as she turns to glare lightly at me in accusation, which I pretend to not notice as I walk up to what might be the most fancy and high class restaurant in all of Konoha. The kind of place that clan heads and council members meet at to discus politics and shady business deals, the kind of place reserved for the extremely wealthy and while I am no clan head or business owner, I am rich and I made sure to negotiate for a share of that casino, about 20% since I more than doubled the amount of games they have.

Point being, I've been here before, and the staff here are made to memorise the faces and names of everyone who ever comes here, because if one can afford to do so, then they are more than likely important in some manner. This means that despite looking ridiculous, I won't be stopped from entering.

Shino looks on in astonishment as I talk briefly with a server to get a nice window seat for the two of us. She might be a Nara, but she isn't a part of the main branch, so I don't think she's ever been to a place like this, evidence enough was when we first met and she didn't just buy everything she wanted from that stall.

Because of how expensive everything here is the waiters won't ask for money, since it would be too many bills, instead if you eat here you get billed directly to the bank. I take Shino's hand as I follow after the waiter who takes us to a nice and small candle lit table and then leaves after I order an expensive bottle of wine for the table.

After we've both sat down, Shino looks around and then blushes before glaring at me again.

Right, everyone else in the restaurant is wearing expensive and fancy Yukata's and stuff, traditional and high class, then there's us who look like a pair of circus performers, so naturally the old and traditional people around us are muttering and whispering about us being 'uncouth' and 'unsightly' and 'since when did they let any random of the street in here?'.

Traditionalists can get so judgmental, don't you understand that tradition is just peer pressure from dead people?

Anyway, I focus back in on my date and give her a conspiratorial smile.

"Don't mind those judgmental old farts, they don't know how to have fun anyway, instead, what do you want to eat?"

This cheers her up somewhat as she stops being ashamed and mostly just ignores everyone else around us and focuses on the menu instead, that doesn't have price tags thankfully, or she might end up refusing to order something out of 'Righteousness'.

The waiter comes back with our wine and we place our orders in as another waiter comes with some miso soup and garlic bread as an appetiser, which I don't hesitate to dig in to, letting Shino know that it's ok to just eat, no neat to follow any formalities.

"So, how was your day?"

Sending me a small smirk Shino responds as if deeply considering.

"Well, it's certainly been interesting, quite fun too I won't lie, but I think it would have been better if it didn't end with me making a fool of myself in front of some of the most powerful people in the village."

It's a good thing that there's enough distance between seats that no civilian would be able to hear what we say, though a ninja would be able to I doubt they would care overly much, unless they are one of the ocular bullshit clans. Still, I hold my chin as if thinking deeply on Shino's words, before sighing and speaking in a resigned tone as if my words are already fact.

"I suppose we will just have to dress properly next time then."

She blushes slightly at the insinuation of a follow up, but doesn't say anything about it as our food arrives a moment later and we both dig in to the high quality food.

As we eat I ask her about what kind of books she likes to read, as I realise that I never did ask despite knowing she likes to read from the start of the date and conversation flows smoothly from there as I am able to keep up with her frankly impressive understanding of philosophy.

"All I'm saying is that the idea that Existentialism is beneficial to us as a species is just idealism at best and purposeful blindness at worst, there isn't some greater plan to our existence and wasting time trying to figure one out is futile, instead we should make our own meaning for our lives and do what we think is right, more by gut instinct than rational thought."

She really is an interesting person when you get her talking.

"I agree, however, do we really have to have purpose to live meaningful lives? The way I see it, life is just passing time, and we just need to find a way to pass that time until our deaths, weather that's through searching for meaning or what have you is up to the individual, personally, I just try to enjoy myself so that my time doesn't feel wasted, no matter what I do or don't accomplish."

Our conversation continues to be interesting, though we do veer to different topics as the day passes into night and our meal comes to an end.

As we are walking down the quiet nightly streets together I whisper, so as to match the quiet atmosphere.

"I have one more place to show you."

She looks up to me and nods while leaning against my side as I lead her to a small forest inside of the village that is only a few minutes walk away where we stop facing a small cliff face, which makes Shino look confusedly at me, at least she trusts me enough now that she isn't worried about me leading her into a forest alone despite only having met properly today. Then again this world doesn't really have so much education in stranger danger.

Anyway, I walk up to the cliff face and place my hand on it before pulsing my chakra in a specific rhythm that causes the wall to sink down into the ground. That's right, it's a secret base, kinda, it's not exactly important, and there are so many secret bases around Konoha it's insane.

I lead Shino down the resulting path that opens up into a decently sized dark cave.

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"H-hana?"

Instead of answering, I manoeuvre myself to be standing behind her with my arms wrapped around her stomach.

"Watch."

As if summoned by my words, the cave starts lighting up, starting from the centre on the ceiling and floor a clear blue light slowly starts to spread, until the whole cave is glowing, revealing a large, clear blue pool of water in the centre, decorated by stalagmites that each glow with a ethereal blue light that twinkles like the stars when reflected in the pools mirror like surface. The beauty of the sight takes Shino's breath away for a beat before she breathes out her words.

"????????????????, this, this is incredible."

We lock eyes for a moment  as she turns her head to look back and up at me as I smile and gesture to a smooth spot where we can take a seat. We walk there with me still hugging her from behind, which makes it so that when we sit down, Shino is sitting in my lap.

With a blush she turns around to straddle me face to face and I bring my face close to hers but wait for her to take the first step, remembering the rules, I'm not kept waiting for long as her lips meet mine in a soft sensual brush, before she puts her arms around my neck, one of her hands messing up my hair and the other sliding down my toned back as her lips come back for a more passionate kiss this time.

I return the favour, one of my hands reaching down to grasp her plump behind as the other wraps around her back, the hand ending up at the base of her neck as our tongues intertwine, but where it was a battle with Swan, here it is a dance, neither of us seeking to best the other, instead just moving in synch.

We keep kissing for a while, not moving beyond some groping before Shino pulls back slightly to talk, slightly out of breath and with a flush that goes down her neck.

"H-hana, I-I think, that's enough- not like, enough- like uhm, I mean, if I don't get back soon my roommate will start to freak out- but- not that I want to stop- I just-"

Before she can ramble any further I bring her back into a more delicate kiss this time, rather than the passionate ones before, that she just melts into. When I break off the kiss she is leaning against me, head on my chest looking up at me as I smile down to her.

"Don't worry, I get it, 'sides, it's not like this is goodbye is it?"

Shino smiles and snuggles close to me, just enjoying my warmth for a moment before I speak again.

"Would you like me to walk you home?"

"I think I would like that." She says quietly, looking deep into my eyes as we hold each other.

I lean forward and give a slow peck to her lips before standing, her being still in my arms means that when I do stand I am holding her up as she has her legs wrapped around me before she gives a slightly embarrassed smile and drops to the ground, quickly taking my arm in hers, hugging herself close to me as we walk back to the city centre, because it really is more of a city than a village.

Shino gives the directions to her apartment, because apparently she moved out of the Nara compound recently to live with a couple of friends. The walk is silent but peaceful and without any awkwardness as I can practically see the flowers comically wafting from her form to show how happy she is.

We make it to the building and I walk with her to her apartments door which she unlocks after which we then face each other for a moment silently, before Shino steps close again and tugs my shirt to bring me to her level where she places a soft kiss on my lips that leads to another short but passionate french kiss.

When we part she gives me a complex smile, like she doesn't know what to say, so I speak up for her.

"I was planning on going for a walk tomorrow at that hiking trail by the monument at around noon."

I wasn't planning on doing that, and she knows it as she responds.

"I'll be there, wait for me?"

"Always."

With a thousand watt smile Shino gets on her tippy toes to give me one last peck on the lips before she rushes into her apartment without another word, leaving me with an amused smile as I head home.

All in all, I'd say it was a successful first date.

When I get home I quickly strip of my clothes, sans the pyjama bottoms, because I actually like them, silk is comfy after all, and I climb into my bed, actually looking forward to tomorrows date, it's a completely novel and new experience after all, and I love new experiences. 

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A/N: He~llo! Dear readers!

That's the end of the date! I actually had fun writing romance, even if it was like this. Though I still don't plan on writing smut.

Unless of course.. *Cough**cough* I get bribed.

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