Tai: Well, I know I shouldn't be starting new stories, but I really wanted to write at least one story where Kiba was actually straight. It jumps around a bit for a start off, but it's just kind of a recap of what's already happened. Anyway, I had an idea for a pairing in this one, not KibaNeji, but something else, and I've decided I might change my mind. Anyway, you'll find out what the title means once you get into the story, and hopefully I can at least start the next chapter today. I'm sure it's easy enough to understand, if not say so.
Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto.
Wet. Windy. Cold.
Freezing waters, biting winds. So very cold.
"Who's bright idea was it not to bring jackets?" a tan male snarled over the wind, his gruff voice barely cutting through it. "I wouldn't have minded carrying extra if it meant avoiding this."
"No one could foresee this." A heavily clothed male sighed, "We can get shelter in that tree, it'll be tight, but we should all fit." Letting out a low growl, the Inuzuka none the less agreed, glancing back at their slender teammate. Walking into a headwind was difficult for anyone, even a strong Kunoichi. 'If this wind gets any stronger before she gets to the tree we'll be in trouble.' He thought with a growl.
In an instant, he darted back to Hinata and threw her over his shoulder, easily bolting into the shelter of the tree with the girl. Settling her at the back of the tree-cave, he dashed back into the rain, shaking his head quickly. Those few moments seemed like an eternity, an eternity the Inuzuka male couldn't have. Shino set his pack down and passed Hinata the blankets before turning his gaze to the distressed Inuzuka.
Family heritage wasn't the issue, friendship was.
He and Hinata were friends, and she loved Naruto. Her crush on him from the Academy hadn't faded in the least, it was still strong, and evident to everyone but said blond. Hinata was willing to wait for him to acknowledge her, and Kiba was waiting too.
Yes, everyone said Naruto was blind, that Hinata should go for someone else, but no one said a word about Hinata. They all knew, and they said nothing. Kiba had asked them to stay quiet about it, and they had. It was a fairly big secret that only a small few knew.
Kiba loved Hinata, and she didn't know it.
Shino had noticed first, being their teammate it was hard to miss, even for the self-secluding male. Small things the dog-boy would do for the Hyuuga heiress that seemed so innocent, and to Hinata that's what they were, but innocent things can only last so long.
Neji noticed next, with the two males arriving at the Hyuuga compound to collect Hinata, he noticed that the Inuzuka seemed more excited to see her each time and interrogated Shino on it. The Aburame denied nothing, and asked that Neji remain quiet. The Hyuuga prodigy agreed and said nothing to Hinata, nor anyone else.
After several very close training sessions in which Kiba managed to pin the Hyuuga, Shino noticed a slight change in his canine-like friend. Nothing had been said about his affection towards Hinata, but he began to back off slightly, the more obvious signs being dropped. Curious, Shino questioned Kiba, who simply stated that Hinata loved Naruto, and he wanted her to be happy. Even if that meant she was with said blonde.
He also informed the Aburame that he wasn't stupid, and thanked him for asking Neji not to say anything. No other hints of affection were noticeable for a while, until a small party. Team 8 arrived together, and remained together for a while. Kiba got Hinata a drink and one for himself, while Shino moved away slightly, remaining within earshot.
The Inuzuka started a casual conversation, enjoying the…kind-of alone time they were having and their conversation…until Naruto showed up. By that point, everyone else had already arrived and saw the talking teammates as nothing out of the ordinary, well, all bar Neji. He smiled lightly and kept within earshot, knowing that if a fight broke out between Naruto and Kiba, it'd need to be stopped swiftly. He and Shino would be more than enough for that.
Hinata was mid-sentence when the hyperactive blond arrived, loudly gaining the attention of everyone. The Hyuuga heiress was immediately distracted, turning her lilac eyes on the blond with a blush, while Kiba's golden ones glared daggers. Thankfully it was loud enough for the Inuzuka to let out a growl unnoticed, although his sudden movement outside did not.
Two pairs of eyes had been watching the Inuzuka, and made their assumption on his behaviour, both following the tan boy, Aburame and Hyuuga prodigy out the door silently. A glassy green pair and a dark black pair connected as they hid in the same spot, attempting to spy and listen in on the conversation between the three males.
Nothing was said for several seconds, until Kiba looked directly at their hiding place. "Shikamaru, Sakura, you can't hide from me, or Neji, get down here." The noise was more of a barked order than a request, and the golden slit-like eyes dared them to disobey. They didn't, jumping into the yard easily, leaving the noise of the party behind.
"She's still interested in him, huh?" Shikamaru asked, looking at the group. Everyone knew why they were there, it didn't need to be said. "I'd prefer if you didn't say anything." Kiba snarled, fixing his eyes on the new duo. "Hinata's not blind, she just…."
"She sees what she wants to see." Neji finished. "She wants Naruto, so she sees only his affections. Unfortunately, that means no one else will do." The pink haired girl frowned at the Inuzuka male, "So what, you're just going to wait and hope she grows out of her affections towards Naruto?"
"No. I'm going to wait until I have no chance. I'm part dog, Sakura. Inuzuka's will try until the very last chance for what they want. Even if the human part of us knows it's no use at all." He stated, "I love her, I want her to be happy, and if Naruto makes her happy, then I have to deal with it. She's not going to grown out of her feelings towards him, that's clear enough."
"That bad huh?" Shikamaru questioned. "Any other way you can move on? Another bird?" Kiba shook his head, "I wish. My mother explained it, unless she's completely unavailable to me, my feelings won't change. I have to wait for her to find some, die...or die myself. With who she's going after, it's more likely one of us will die before he notices."
"So it's a waiting game. What will happen if nothing changes?" Sakura ventured, making both Team 8 males drop their heads. "If nothing changes for her, my feelings will get stronger, and our team will have to split up."
"But you guys can't split up, you work so well together. Tell them, Shikamaru." The girl stated frantically, looking at the males. They all seemed to agree silently that splitting up the team was the only possible course of action. "Sakura." Neji started coldly, "They may work well as a team, but what would happen if she found out about his feelings? Missions would become awkward and team work more difficult. One way or another, the team would split."
"Hopefully Naruto realises soon." Shino stated, making Kiba sigh. "Not likely, you'd have to paint a picture and sign in big red letters for him to even think about it. It is Naruto, after all."
"Well, if I told Ino we could play match-maker and try get them together quickly." The pink haired girl suggested, all eyes turning once again to Kiba. "You can try it, I have a plan of my own if things don't change within the next two years. For now though, I'm going to train. Later."
With that comment, Kiba jumped the fence and whistled loudly, his large canine appearing at his side in an instant. Without a second thought, Neji followed, catching the Inuzuka and Akamaru before they headed into the forest. "Kiba, your age…aren't you running out of time by Inuzuka terms?" Looking directly into the light purple eyes, he nodded slightly. "By normal terms, I still have plenty of time. Inuzuka terms…I'm nearly 21, I should have a mate already."
Nodding, Neji went to return to the party. "If you think there's something I can do to help, tell me. " Hyuuga and Inuzuka parted ways soon after, none of the Chuunin to Jounin group seeing him for the rest of the day.
Chouji, Ino, Tenten and Lee however were curious as to what the 'impromptu meeting' was about, and why the hyperactive Inuzuka had disappeared. It was easy enough to come up with why Kiba had left – sensitive ears and loud music didn't mix. However, they were unable to think of a lie for why they'd all followed him outside.
Shino's lie was easy, said Inuzuka seemed annoyed and went out to see what the problem was. Neji outright lied and said Hinata asked him to see why Kiba had left, making the lie convincing by the fact he'd gone and talked to Hinata directly after re-entering the room.
Sakura simply said her curiosity got the better of her, which wasn't difficult to believe. Shikamaru just shrugged and said he joined them just because he could. None of the four were truly convinced by the given answers, but with no other explanation nor known reason for the group to lie, they were believed.
The following day, Kiba allowed Neji and Shikamaru to inform their teams, on the proviso that they understood if it got around, Kiba himself would literally kill them. The threat was understood, so all but the most important of the group knew, and all waited for Naruto.
After four months of knowing and no change in blindness from Naruto, Sakura, Ino and Tenten (surprisingly) decided that enough was enough. Kiba's birthday was in two months and he deserved to be happy at least then. The Kunoichi trio planned what they'd do to get the hyperactive blond and Hyuuga heiress together. The plan was fairly simple: Lead Hinata into a closet, throw Naruto in with her and lock them in for 12 hours. They put their plan into action swiftly, but after two hours of the closet, Naruto destroyed one of the walls and escaped, leaving a passed out Hinata behind.
All three let out a groan, maybe Naruto really was THAT stupid.
Kiba's 21st birthday came and went, and everyone who attended the Inuzuka's birthday found it difficult to ignore the concerned looks his clan were giving him. Of all the guests, only Neji and Shino understood why they were concerned, but none questioned. That would be prying into the male's life and family, something they didn't do…usually.
Since his birthday, things hadn't gotten any better. Naruto was still completely oblivious to the fact that Hinata loved him, and Hinata was oblivious to the fact that Kiba loved her. The rest of the group did notice increasingly though, Kiba's actions becoming slightly more noticeable for all…apart from Naruto and the desired female.
Four months on, and they were returning from a mission, caught in the rain without coats while blistering cold winds slashed at them. Shino's gaze was still fixed on the Inuzuka, still out in the rain several metres away from Hinata. Akamaru had moved into the shelter of the tree, but Kiba knew getting that close to Hinata would be…uncomfortable.
Glancing briefly at Shino, he darted upwards into the trees, well above the shelter provided by the tree, and moved on ahead, looking for shelter alone. He could survive on his own, and Akamaru could help Shino and Hinata if need be. Kiba shivered slightly – The Inuzuka jounin wasn't immune to the cold, especially not when wet.
Within minutes, he spotted another opening in a tree and easily moved inside, his movements easy without a bag on his back. He'd been carrying most of the supplies and so dropped them when he'd moved Hinata into their shelter.
Slipping off his soaked clothing, Kiba curled up to sleep, well protected from the rain, and his feelings.
Tai: Well, review and tell me any pairing ideas you have for it. No guys though, when I mean mate in this story, I mean a girl, not a guy that has to go under some strange change to have kids...