"Shino, please tell me what happened." Hinata's voice broke the man's concentration of avoiding the real answer. She held hands with her daughter, Himwari, who was an almost clone of Hinata, if it weren't for the whisker marks on her face she'd almost be a sister. Shino looked down, it has been a week since the passing of Akamaru. Kiba had gone into hiding since then.

"It's not my place to say." Shino answered sternly, he wore that large visor on his eyes, he was happy he did so Hinata wouldn't see the red puffy eyes under it. He didn't know any other time he cried every night since this happened. He was glad that Hinata was spared this ordeal.

"Shino, I know you... You're hiding something." She placed a small hand on his arm.

"Mommy?"

"It's okay darling, why don't you go up stairs for now? Mommy and Uncle Shino need to talk." Hinata just kept her milky eyes on him, he could feel her drilling into his mind. She was good at finding things out just by looking at him. He pulled his green coat sleeve away as the little girl gave him a hug. She sped off up the stairs as her mother sat down at the kitchen table. His long coat dripped over the chair seat as he sat next to her.

"Like I said it's not my place to say anything, because-"

"Why did Kiba want me to come over but not tell me why?"

He bit his tongue, he wanted to tell her but he thought of what Kiba might say if he found out. He dropped his head low and clenched his jaw. "It was best you weren't there..." He knew had to say it.

"Kiba called me there and I came over. He didn't want to say what the problem was until I got there. And it was the same with you. But Himwari was ill so you couldn't." It's good too because you would have found out about my feelings.

"And?" she was pressing for more information. She saw her friend straighten at this.

She asking for more?! "..." I have to tell her. "Akamaru passed away. He wanted us all to be there but-"

"Akamaru... Is dead?" she got softer and looked down with her white eyes. Shino saw water fill in her eyes, she began to cry quietly. He just held her hand as she cried. She hated herself for not going when Kiba needed her, she hated she wasn't there for Akamaru. She hadn't seen him since Kiba left the village to be with his girlfriend. He seemed so far away and distant from the team that he once called his family.

"Kiba isn't mad about it. I want you to know this." Shino raised a hand and tried his best to dry her cheeks of the tears. "Akamaru would like it if you can come by later. He misses you."

Hinata looked at him, she thought it strange for Shino to speak as if he was still around but she knew why. He wasn't the type of man who'd except death so easily. He liked to keep in his mind that they were still there waiting for him. Much like his brother, Torune, who's body was found and brought back to the village for a burial. Shino would talk to him like he was still there. Hinata would see him when she would go by to give flowers to Neji's grave, he'd just tell Torune the news of the week and about himself. It was the most he ever talked.

She gave a nod and wanted to see Akamaru again. She would have to wait until Shino got down with work and they'd go to the cemetery for the fallen war victims. Shino told her that Kiba didn't want to be reminded of the loss and had him buried in the cemetery.

After work, the two set out to the grave. Each one carrying flowers, some for Neji and Torune and some for Akamaru.

"Will Kiba be there?" she asked as they hit the grass of the cemetery.

"He never is anymore. He did in the beginning but now he never leaves his home." Shino said, "I'm going to check on him later today when we get back. Even I'm starting to worry."

They passed by many slain people of the village from the war. But near the back was Akamaru. It was tidy with flowers from the days, dried up from the time passed. She dropped to her knees at the sight.

"Why would Kiba do this? He's so far away...it's not fair to him." Hinata was growing angry at her friend. She placed her flowers down as Shino came to his knees and put his down next to hers. He wanted to hold her, he knew that when people cried holding them made them feel better. He wrapped a long arm around her back and pull her in close. They both stayed there for some time just remembering together the times they spent with Akamaru, all the fun times they shared.

Kiba stayed at his home all day now because of Akamaru, not because he was sad, just he never left the house without him. He had him buried outside his home with a homemade grave marker. He only had one in the cemetery so others could see him as the war hero he was. But Kiba kept him with him because he only knew that's where Akamaru's life belong to, next to Kiba. If only others could see that too. Then maybe they'd understand who really Kiba was. Lonely.

A short start to another long story. I'd you haven't checked out the story before this one I recommend it. This is a trilogy like story. Check out Unspoken and Akamaru if you get chances.RR

Don't forget this is for thoughts