Two Weeks Earlier...

Shino Aburame did not like birthdays.

He didn't like the party-streamers or the noisemakers. Cake always made him sick. Nobody ever got him anything he wanted. All in all, it was a horrible experience which his father didn't make any better.

So, Shino never told anyone his birthdate. If the subject ever came up, he either changed the subject, or outright ignored the question.

Unfortunately, Kiba Inuzuka was not one to give up easily.

"So, Shino," the 15-year-old dog-nin sat beside his fellow teammate after a long training session, "you gonna tell me or am I gonna have to just celebrate your birthday on a random day again?"

"..." Shino stared steadily ahead in silence, but Kiba was not put off in the least. He was used to it.

"I can just start guessing random days and see if I get a reaction..." thedog-nin prodded. Shino did not reply. "Aww, come on, Shino! You gotta tell me! Hinata told me hers, Ino told me hers, Naruto told me his! Damn! Even that stuck-up bastard Neji told me his! Why won't you!"

"..."

"July 7th."

"...what...?" Shino blinked at his friend from behind his glasses. Kiba grinned. Finally! A reaction!

"That's my birthday!" He replied enthusiastically. "Now tell me yours!"

"...no..."

"Why not?" Kiba whined. "Jeez Shino! I just wanna know! Your my friend! I wanna be able to do something special for your birthday!"

"...I hate birthday parties..."

"..." This time it was Kiba's turn to stare in silence. Wide brown eyes gazed over at into whatever lay behind those dark glasses and his mouth hng oppen in shock.

"...stop staring at me like that..."

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU HATE BIRTHDAY PARTIES!" Kiba yelled, jumping to his feet and causing Shino to fall back slightly in surprise. "YOU CAN"T HATE BIRTHDAY PARTIES! IT"S INSANE!"

"..." Shino just stared up at his friend in silence. Kiba was becoming annoyed. It was always fun to see Kiba annoyed.

"Is that why your not telling me your birthday!" The dog-nin demanded. Shino did not respond. "Dammit Shino! If you don't want a birthday party then fine! I don't care! I'm just gonna pick a random day and give you your present then!"

Present Time. January 23rd.

Shino Aburame stared in disbelief at the boy standing on his doorstep. Kiba Inuzuka was grinning practically ear-to-ear holdin a carefully wrapped box in his arms. His giant dog Akamaru stood a few feet behind, but Shino only had eyes for his human teammate.

"What are you doing here?" Shino asked in an annoyed, if surprised, tone, but his friend was not deterred. If anything, the dog-nin's grin got wider.

"Here's your birthday present," he pronounced happily, holding the gift up and shoving it into Shino's hands. "Even if it isn't REALLY your birthday, I wanted you to have it!"

He then spun on his heal, hopped onto Akamaru, and the two were gone, leaving a bewildered Shino to stare down at the wrapped box in his hands.

With a small smile, Shino Aburame opened the present. For once, he didn't care if it ended up being something he absolutely despised. Hadn't that blond thief-girl told him that it was the thought that counted more than anything? And maybe someday he'd tell Kiba that he'd gotten the day dead-on right.

Maybe next year...