This story was supposed to be a guest-sidestory for the excellent "Sparks" NaruHina fanfic. I wrote this in order to give Tenneyshoes a springboard for a future "Sparks" chapter involving the relationship between Hinata and Hanabi -the main idea being that Hanabi couldn't connect with her sister and relate with what she was going through, until, she, herself started having feeling for someone.

The story wound up being over 8K words long, much too big for a simple side-story and it wound up going in a completely different direction than what Tenneyshoes wanted to take with the characters. So it was something that just couldn't be used.

So I rewrote the fic, making it more canon compliant, and removed any elements that refered to the "Sparks" fanfic such as Kimiko (an OC character present in "Sparks" and the "Path We Walk") and Naruto's and Hinata's wedded life.

Consider this the prequel to my upcoming KonoHana fic!

And Tenneyshoes, if you change your mind, please tell me and I will rewrite the fanfic, reinserting all the references to "Sparks". I love it and I would be honored if you used it!

NOTE: Continuity wise this occurs some time after the 4th Shinobi War but before the events that occured in "The Last"...


He stumbled as he reached his home, his past actions finally catching up to him. His feet could barely move him as his conscience started to weigh down on him. His movements were automatic, almost robotic. He could barely register the environment around him, and was now lost in his own thoughts…

…and he was supposed to be a tracker for crying out loud!

Akamaru softly licked his master's hand, knowing that something was wrong with him. He let out a soft whine, and rubbed his head against his feet, trying to get his attention.

Touched, the young Inuzuka softly bent down and gave his canine companion a hug. He was glad that Akamaru was still with him, by his side, despite everything that has happened.

"I'm gonna be OK, Akamaru. Don't worry about me."

The white dog sniffed his master and gave him a comforting lick. He then stared at Kiba, as if saying "Are you sure?"

"No, seriously! Akamaru! I'm going to be OK! All right? I just need to think about everything that has happened."

The white dog wagged his tail and lowered his head. He was willing to give his master some space.

Kiba changed his dog's water and refilled his food container. He patted Akamaru on the head and rubbed his ears.

"Eat up and don't worry about me, I am fine, see?"

He grinned at Akamaru. The dog didn't buy it for a second, but decided to focus on his food until his master needed him again.

He took the house-key out of his pocket and opened the door to his house. No one was inside…

'Naturally…'

He heard her voice inside his head.

"I want to be with you."

He felt sick once more.

Personal hygiene was not something that the Inuzuka clan was big at. As a clan that specialized in tracking and odors, and used dogs as part of their ninjutsu and life-style, the Inuzukas considered their natural smell a part of their identity. He loved to soak in the hot-springs and have long baths, but he wasn't that much on that "Soap-Thing", applying only as little as possible in order to preserve his natural smell.

Today however, he felt an urgent need to thoroughly clean himself… He felt filthy… He felt…

dirty!

His clothes dropped to the floor as soon as he could take them off. He didn't even bother to pick them up from the floor and put them in the laundry basket. His need to clean himself right now was much bigger than his need to keep the house clean.

He stepped inside the shower and let the water hit him. He closed his eyes and replayed the last few hours inside his head. How could he have been so stupid? How could he have been so blind?!

Kibamaru loved the single-man's lifestyle. He loved going around places meeting a variety of different women and being bound to no-one. He loved the freedom, he loved the excitement. He loved the one-night-stands, and the short-term relationships. Hell, he even loved the pain that came when he got shot down or broke up. It was all part of the "game". It was what gave it flavor!

When people called him a "dog" or a "mutt", he took it as a compliment. After all, his clan specialized in dogs. Why should anybody be surprised if he strayed a little? As long as he was loyal to his family, as long as he was always there for his friends, as long as he completed the missions successfully, what was the harm in being polyamorous? It's not like he was actually hurting anybody.

He heard her cracking voice inside his head once more…

"It hurts!"

He was wrong! Dead wrong! He had hurt her! And he did it without even realizing it! Which was the worst part...

He started scrubbing his skin roughly with shampoo, as if he was trying get rid of a horrible stench. He slapped and rubbed his face trying to punish himself for what he had done. His trademark facial marks fell down from his face as he scratched them and turned the water crimson red. He laid his head on the shower wall and a single name escaped his lips.

"Hanabi…"

He finally got out of the shower and wiped himself dry. As he exited the bathroom he came face to face with the mirror.

Kiba was never one of those guys that spent hours in front of a mirror trying to groom themselves. His hair was always messy, and he could draw his facial marks without even looking at it. He was quite confident in his looks and he never paid even a passing glance dismissing it as a "vain habit".

But right here, right now, the mirror beckoned. As if it was trying to tell him something. It invited him to not only look at it but actively study it.

He glared at the reflection that was in front of him. Here he was now, with his hair down, his facial marks gone, completely naked and exposed. Nobody here but himself and his thoughts.

The man that was standing at the other side of the mirror stared back at him intently. He seemed to be talking to him. Scrutinizing him. He asked the same series of questions over and over again.

"Who are you?"

"What are you looking for?"

"Where have you been doing all this time?"