Rainy Day Love
By: Mugen47
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters mentioned within any of my works. This is my first work posted here, and I do plan to continue it until I can couple my favorite pairings into a longer storyline. There are a lot of pairings I'm sure that would be mentioned that many would disagree with or absolutely love, however, I'm going based on my own personal favorites and hope your opinion doesn't make you hate my work because of it.
Rainy Day Love
Chapter One
Kiba honestly couldn't believe what had happened at first. One second, he, Akamaru and Hinata, along with Ino and Kakashi-sensei were returning from the River Country on a reconnaissance mission, and the next Akamaru split off from the group. With their mission completed, Kakashi had absolutely no quarrel with aiding the boy in finding his dog.
"I never knew you that you and Akamaru could argue," Ino stated, vaguely aware of the attachment that the Inuzuka clan had with their dogs. Shikamaru had explained it to her numerous times, but most of that information failed to sink in, as was apparent to the current situation.
"It happens from time to time, but he's never run off like this!" Kiba scowled, sniffing the air. "I can't even track his scent anymore..." Kiba slumped against a tree, almost seeming too depressed to continue, despite his devotion to his best friend.
"D-don't worry Kiba! Akamaru will come back..." Hinata stepped forward and placed a loving hand on his elbow, linking her arm with his. Her cheeks tinged with a slight blush, she gave an honest and comforting smile to her teammate. They'd been together for the longest time, and even when they were separated, they'd always have something of the other to bring with them.
"Thanks Hinata," Kiba responded, grinning wide as he turned to Kakashi. "Do you think you could use one of your ninken to track his scent?" He asked, his voice full of hope.
Kakashi hummed and mused to himself for a moment, his eyes turned upward. When his humming stopped, he stood still for quite some time. The two kunoichi stepped forward and Ino promptly prodded at Kakashi's vest, his visible eye trailing down to look at her. "Yes?"
"Can you use your ninken or not sensei?" Ino asked, giving her that skeptical look that was strictly reserved for Shikamaru until now.
"I already told you," Kakashi saw the confusion in Ino's face, and it must have been contagious because the others were taking on the same expression. With a sigh, he bit his thumb through his mask, formed the needed seals, and slammed his hands hard onto the ground. With a poof of smoke, the smallest of Kakashi's dogs, Pakkun, appeared.
Kakashi knelt down and patted Pakkun on the head, though the pug didn't seem to enjoy that too much. "What's going on? Tracking someone?"
Kakashi turned his gaze to Kiba. "You could say that," However, the jounin trailed off and turned his gaze skyward, watching gray clouds form and drift quickly over their position. "Storm clouds..."
"In that case, you better give me a trace of whoever it is I'm to track," Pakkun stated. "Otehrwise it'll be a lot harder to track a scent when it's damp and raining."
Kakashi waved off Pakkun's response and stood, striding over to Kiba with an outstretched hand. "Y-you're not gonna pet me are you?" Kiba said, his voice shaking a bit as he cringed downward. Kakashi said nothing as he plucked a long white hair from Kiba's coat.
"Why on earth would I want to pet you?" Kakashi asked, shaking his head at such an audacious statement. Ino chuckled a little at Kiba's expense, whereas Hinata blushed as Kiba fell flat on his duff in confusion.
Kakashi knelt before Pakkun once again, holding out the hair. The pug sniffed it and looked at Kakashi as the first droplets of rain started to fall. "You're crazy." Pakkun said, sniffing the hair again, gaining both a dry scent and a wet scent for the lost Akamaru. "A dog tracking a dog?"
"That's right," Kakashi stated, looking to Pakkun with the same confused expression everyone had worn earlier. "Problem?"
"No. I just never thought I'd see the day you'd ask me to find another dog," Pakkun said, the rain falling heavier now. Ino and Hinata shrieked at the cold droplets as they hit their skin, and Kiba turned his attention to Kakashi. Pakkun sighed and turned around. "I'll be back as soon as I can. Stay dry Kakashi."
"Of course." The jounin replied as the small dog disappeared into the woods, apparently finding a trace scent of Akamaru's trail. Kakashi turned to his group and motioned to a cave small enough for the three students to huddle in before the rain got really bad. "You three can bunk there until the rain stops. I'll have to stay outside in case Pakkun returns with Akamaru."
Kiba smiled and nodded, putting his arms around Ino and Hinata to keep them dry and to usher them inside. "Thanks Kakashi-sensei," Kiba led the girls into the cave, Ino jumping away at the first opportunity to shriek again and shiver the remainder of the cold droplets from her body.
"Argh! It's so cold!" Ino shivered again as Kiba squatted inside the cave, his gaze turned to the entrance as the rain fell heavily now. Hinata took a seat next to her teammate, hoping to make him feel better with her company, but she knew she was no substitute for Akamaru.
"I hope he's okay," Kiba said, feeling Hinata's shoulder against his own. He pretended not to notice, and kept his face towards the entrance to hide a trace amount of blush that was filling his cheeks. Hinata stayed silent, staring at the entrance to the cave as well, with Ino still fuming about how cold it was becoming.
Just as Hinata was about to say something comforting, Ino spoke up again, breaking the monotony as well as whatever moment was transpiring between Hinata and Kiba. "Y'know, you two look cute together," The blond kunoichi said with a nod, her hand raised to her chin in thought.
Hinata blushed furiously, scooting away from Kiba as if to dissuade Ino's statement. Kiba blushed too, though it was hardly a concern of his at the time. "What?! Shut up Ino!"
"It's true! When you sit next to her, you don't look like your typical loud self. It's obvious you have feelings for her anyway Kiba," Ino leaned forward, her hands on her hips. "Otherwise why would you be blushing?"
Kiba blushed again and turned to Hinata who met his gaze instantly, their eyes locked in some kind of emotional standstill. "Is it true?" Kiba read on Hinata's face, nodding slowly, though he was unaware of such action. "Shut... shut up!" Kiba yelled, turning to Ino who folded her arms over her stomach.
"Geez, no need to be so sensitive." Ino puffed, sitting down across from the two. Both were still unable to comprehend what Ino had stated, though perhaps she had made a very valid point. Kiba had feelings for Hinata, and he knew that she had feelings for Naruto. However, with their growing time spent together, Kiba and Hinata felt closer than ever. Maybe Ino was actually right for once.
The sound of the rain outside echoed in the cave, and Ino too sat in silence as they stared outward, her gaze shifting every once in awhile towards the two across from her. She smiled inwardly, knowing that Hinata and Kiba were a much better match than Hinata and Naruto. After all, Naruto was with Sakura now...
Hinata had never lost the red tinge to her cheeks as she and Kiba unsuccessfully managed small-talk. Neither one could imagine that it would be so hard considering they were on the same team from the beginning, and that may have been where most of the awkwardness was coming from. The only words to escape their mouths were random vocalized pauses when Kiba and Hinata shuffled closer together over the passage of a few moments.
Soon, they were shoulder to shoulder again, and when Kiba went to place his arm around Hinata, he felt her grip his hand softly, her other raised to her chin in embarrassment. She stammered for a bit as Kiba held her hand tenderly. The two locked eyes for a moment, both gulping nervously as their faces slowly hovered towards one another.
"K-kiba?" Hinata stammered once again, feeling the top of her hand being absently caressed by his thumb. The hand near her mouth lowered as she could feel the steady rhythm of Kiba's breathing.
"Y-yeah?" He replied, feeling Hinata's hand squeeze his own, and in turn he squeezed back. As they came closer together, Kiba noticed that Hinata had a very pleasant scent. He'd noticed her regular scent before, but this was something new to him. "Violets and chamomile," He thought, his free hand brushing a few wet strands of hair from Hinata's face.
Kiba didn't hesitate further as he could taste Hinata's breath just centimeters away from his mouth. The two wasted no time in bumping noses at first, causing the two to laugh nervously and pull back. Silently, they agreed to try once again, each choosing a different direction for their heads to go. Kiba paused however and looked to Ino, who was sitting most intently as the situation transpired.
"Do you mind?" Kiba scowled, Ino standing up as if to yell at him.
"Excuse me! It's not like I can go back out in the rain!" Ino stated, her hands folded over her chest in frustration, with Hinata blushing and turning away as Kiba continued to scowl at the ditzy blond.
"Turn around then!" Kiba yelled, his hand never leaving Hinata's. The shy girl was about to say something when Ino broke out into a fit of rage.
"Fine!" Ino said, sitting with her back to the two, mumbling something along the lines of "You wouldn't have made the move if I hadn't said something."
Kiba, turning his attention back to Hinata, raised his hand to her cheek to caress it softly. Her cheeks were warm to the touch, and the two neared again. No interruptions. Their lips pressed against one another's as all thought processes ceased. The two remained locked in a passionate first-kiss for what seemed like an eternity to them, each nearing into the others embrace. After the moment had passed, the two pressed their foreheads together, each smiling happily.
Hinata rested her head on Kiba's chest and he wrapped his arm around her, noting that Ino was still watching the two. He didn't even care anymore and instead ran his hand up and down Hinata's back as he turned back to the cave entrance. The faint sound of barking could be heard just over the rain, as the sky seemingly began to stop its downpour.
"Kiba, is that--?" Hinata began, looking up hopefully.
"Akamaru!" Kiba yelled as Akamaru leapt into the cave, and into Kiba's lap, snuggling between him and Hinata. Akamaru didn't question it, but he seemed pleased by it knowing Hinata was such a good friend to keep Kiba company.
Ino held her nose and walked up to them. "Akamaru stinks, Kiba. He smells like wet dog..."
Kiba glared at her as if it wasn't obvious that Akamaru was a dog, and the group was shortly joined by Kakashi who found the group standing and awaiting departure. "Now that that's settled, what do you say we move on?"
The others agreed and they began their slow trek back to Konoha, Ino humming happily for a matchmaking job well-done with Kakashi left in the dark as to what had happened. Hinata and Kiba walked back as well, their hands interlocked as they stood near the back of the group. Ino was tempted numerous times to say something, but Akamaru growled at her one too many times, causing the kunoichi to change her mind instantly.
"Hinata?" Kiba asked, his eyes spotting the massive gate into Konoha as the group strode over the crest of the hill. Hinata turnd to him slowly, her gaze locked with his once more as they continued to walk. "Y'know, there's going to be a get-together at Naruto's for Sakura's birthday, and he said you're supposed to bring a date--"
"A-are you asking me to be your date Kiba?" Hinata responded, her eyes widening in surprise as she gulped nervously. The blush began to increase to an absurdly cute level as Kiba gave her a kind smile.
"I was going to ask you anyway, y'know just as friends and all," Kiba said, noting that Hinata was nodding intently. He began to blush too. "But maybe we can go there as... more than friends?"
Hinata smiled and nodded, her hand holding lovingly onto Kiba's. "I'd like that." She smiled back as the entire group entered Konoha, each going their separate ways after receiving confirmation from the Hokage that their mission was complete. Kiba took the chance to walk Hinata home, and the sun was just setting.
The two shared a brief kiss as their fingers laced with one another's, a bridge of their love constructed between their bodies. "So, can I pick you up at five? The party doesn't start until an hour later."
Hinata nodded again and pecked Kiba on the cheek, the two nearing the front door to her home. "Okay, I'll see you then..." With that, the door opened, flooding the small porch with light as Hinata crept inside slowly, peering around the doorframe as it slid closed.
Kiba sighed lovingly as Akamaru barked at him from behind. "That's right Akamaru! YAHOO!" The boy yelled with glee, hopping up to punch the air in victory. Come Friday, he would pick up Hinata and escort her to Sakura's party, but one ominous fact remained...
...he would have to meet Hinata's father first...