(A/N): Hello, I'm back! Here's your next dose of nerd!Shino, niceguy!Hinata, and sexy!Kiba! As always, all reviews are appreciated, whether good or bad. So don't hesitate to drop me a line, yeah?
1000 am, Saturday. Shino's house.
Shino was not usually inclined towards sleeping in late, but given that he had gone to bed at 3 am the previous night, he was not surprised to find that he woke up much later than he usually did.
10 am. That makes eight hours of sleep precisely. He hasn't slept for more than six hours in the past two years. From what he has read, six hours was the average amount of sleep that human adults require in a day, and his records of his sleeping patterns proved that usually he exemplified the average case. Shino frowned to himself. This break in pattern was upsetting, and already he anticipated difficulty in sleeping that night.
After duly recording this, and after finishing his morning hygienic routine, he went downstairs for breakfast. A plate of onigiri was sitting on the dining table, covered in polyethylene film, with a handwritten note attached.
Shino-kun,
Your father and I have left for our vacation. As we understood that you had a late night out last night, we saw no reason to wake you simply to inform you of our departure. While we are upset that you arrived home much later than you had us expect, we are pleased that you kept your word and avoided alcohol. The results of the breathalyzer test are on the living room coffee table, as you left them last night.
Our flight is expected to arrive in California at 0300 pm (Japan time). We expect to be at the hotel in Pasadena by 0800 pm at the latest. You may call us via Skype then if you wish. I have prepared breakfast for you, but, as we agreed, you will be responsible for your own meals, and for the upkeep of the house, for the next four months. Your father has deposited a sufficient amount of funds to your account, and should there be an emergency, you are permitted to use your credit card as you see fit.
Should you have any questions, email us. We love you very much.
Akemi Aburame
His mother hadn't written him a note by hand in years. She must have been feeling particularly emotional that morning. Shino put the letter aside, and pulled out his laptop. A quick check of his accounts confirmed his father's deposit, and he also checked in with his parents' airlines to confirm their flight's departure and arrival time. The times listed agreed with his mother's note.
Satisfied, Shino began eating his breakfast, and methodically went through his correspondence. A few bills had come in the mail. His father had already set up automatic transfers to the respective companies for those, so Shino put those aside as well. His thesis advisor had emailed him regarding a conference at Nara he wanted Shino to present at. Another email from that conference's committee, accepting the paper he had submitted two weeks prior, which he had sent in anticipation of his professor's intentions. An invitation to an internship in Germany. A new article on Nature, on acid-induced stem cells. Three emails from Sakura Haruno. Two from Ino Yamanaka.
Sakura and Ino did not usually contact him via email. It was barely an hour into his day, and already his routine had been disrupted more than he liked. Disconcerted, he checked the latest one from Sakura first.
From: Sakura Haruno haruno_sakura
Subject: Re: Why won't you answer your phone?!
Sent Saturday, December 27, 9:34 am
Look, I'm really sorry for the angry emails. And voice mails. And texts. And Facebook messages. It's just that - well, Ino and I sort of had plans last night that you sort of trashed, and I was pretty frustrated and hungover, so… I'm sorry for those. You must be really tired from taking everyone home last night, which is why you're probably sleeping in today. Anyway - I'm sorry again, and thanks for bringing us home. Could you give me a call when you see this, though? I need to clarify exactly what it was that happened last night.
Sakura
He blinked, and then checked his phone. Sixteen calls from Sakura, eighteen from Ino. Twenty-one texts from Ino, eight from Sakura, two each from Kiba and Hinata, and one from Naruko. His Facebook account was similarly awash with notifications - almost a hundred messages from Ino and Sakura combined, and dozens of pictures from last night where he had been tagged.
Shino hadn't touched a drop of alcohol the previous night, but already he could feel a migraine beginning.
1030 am, Saturday. Hinata's house.
Sato-san,
I'm sorry for what happened last night. My behavior was inexcusable, especially since we aren't romantically attached. I hope you can forgive me for taking advantage of you in such a way. I know that an apology won't really do anything to change what happened, but please understand that I regret my actions very deeply.
Hinata Hyuuga
Miyazaki-san,
I'm sorry for…
Hinata had never thought that he would ever use the numbers that girls slipped inside his pocket (which he always kept, despite Kiba's advice to throw them out - to throw it out would be incredibly rude!). To his shame, the first time he ever had the occasion to use them was to send apology texts to each of the girls he had touched inappropriately last night. Chouji had advised him against it - now his fangirls would know his cellphone number, and he'd be inundated with calls and texts henceforth - but Hinata's conscience wouldn't stop bothering him until he'd apologized to all the girls he had offended.
Naruko had been the very first on the list, and he'd called her the very first thing in the morning. He valued their friendship too much to leave it just to a text, so he had steeled his nerves and called her, although it did not go very well.
"G-good morning, Naruk-ko-san."
"Hinata? Why are you calling me so early in the morning?"
Her voice was thick - from sleep, Hinata guessed. It appeared that he wasn't the only one who drank too much punch last night. He took a deep breath, and forced himself forward.
"I called t-to apologize. For kissing you. L-last night."
There was silence on the other end. Hinata tensed, bracing himself for her rage.
"K-kissing me? Last n-night?"
"You don't remember?"
"No, I - oh. Yeah." Naruko's voice was shaky, and it was devoid of all its usual cheerfulness. To Hinata's horror, Naruko began to sob on the other end.
"I'm really sorry, Naruko san!" Hinata said frantically. "I was very drunk from the punch that Kiba had spiked - not that that excuses my actions, no, especially not when I k-kissed you and we had no romantic a-attachment, and you have made it very clear that you would not like to have one - it wasn't my place, a-a-and I'm really sorry! I hope you can forgive me, but I will also understand if you nev-ver want to speak to me again! I just want you to know how much I regretted my behavior last night, and you have my word as a Hyuuga that that will not be repeated ever again. I swear it!"
"O-okay." Naruko hiccuped. "I get it. Last night was a mistake to you, and you regret it a lot, and you're hoping we can still be friends? After shoving your tongue down my throat, and then telling me you didn't like it or mean it?"
"I-" Hinata swallowed the lump in his throat. "I understand if you don't want anything to do with me after last night -"
"It's okay, Hinata. I get it." Naruko signed. "I knew you were hammered, and I shouldn't have let things get that far. I should've known that you were in love with someone else already. But I was drunk too. It's really sweet that you're apologizing at all; most guys don't."
"If there's any way I can make it up to you, please, let me know. And again, I'm really sorry -"
"I get it, I get it. I'd really appreciate it if we never talk about it again, though."
"O-okay. Hinata said shakily. If you need anything, just let me know."
Naruko hung up.
… In love with someone else…
Hinata's brain only caught up with that after setting down his phone.
It had been on his mind the whole morning, as he packed for the trip to Kyoto. As he was the heir to the Hyuuga, a huge celebration had been planned for his birthday, for the clan and their business partners. He'd be staying in Kyoto until the term started again in January.
He hoped miserably that by the time he got back, Naruko would have forgotten everything, and their relationship could go back to normal.
1100 am, Saturday. Kiba's apartment.
Akamaru was barking.
Kiba rolled over, and tried to muffle the howls out with his pillow, but Akamaru wouldn't stop. Vaguely, he could feel vibrations along the floor. Man, the person out front sure is trying to break down his door.
Someone was at his door.
He groaned, and forced himself out of bed.
"Kiba! Kiba!"
What on earth would Ino want with him this early in the morning?
"What?!" He growled, wrenching the front door open much more forcefully than necessary.
If Ino was startled, she did a good job of hiding it. "Shino ruined our plan." She announced, without batting an eyelash at Kiba's naked torso.
"What do you mean, ruined it?" he replied, annoyed. A slight push from Ino had him yielding, though, and he stepped aside to let her in.
"Brush your teeth first, and put on a shirt. I'll tell you over lunch."
Kiba was never one to take orders from anyone, ever. Except his mom and his sister. So he surprised himself when he found himself walking back to his room to brush his teeth.
When he came back out, now fully clothed, Ino had set out two large containers packed full of food, and a bottle of a goopy-looking… thing.
"Chouji's hangover cure." Ino said primly upon noticing his confusion, taking a seat at his crappy dorm-room dining table. "I'm surprised you even have a dining table; it seems you actually do have the potential to become even the tiniest bit civilized, Kiba."
He rolled his eyes, but dropped into the seat opposite her anyway. "What are you even doing here, Ino?"
"Just eat your damn food, and drink your damn hangover cure! I'm not having this conversation with you until you can properly think, mutt!"
He surprised himself again by complying. The food was good - Chouji had obviously made it. Damn the guy could cook. Ino looked vaguely disgusted as he wolfed down the tonkatsu, chugged down the nasty liquid, and chased everything down with nearly a gallon of water. He belched loudly.
"So, what did you want to talk about again?
"Shino ruined our plan."
He blinked. "What was there to ruin?! It was simple; get Hinata drunk and Naruko jealous, and then by the end of the night they should be going at it like rabbits. Last thing I remember from last night, Hinata was already at second base -"
"Which was when Lee hit you with that end table and you blacked out." Ino said flatly. "Then he moved on to Neji and Neji had to ask for Hinata's help to restrain Lee, and then Shino went and drove the me, Forehead, and Dead Last home."
"Wha - what? So Hinata didn't get laid last night?"
"No! And then when Shino dropped Naruko off at her flat, he apparently told her that Hinata was in love with someone else!"
"In love with someone - Shino?!" Kiba groaned, banging his head against his cheap dining table. Some of his water spilled unto his hair.
"Yes." Ino confirmed, gritting her teeth. "Now Naruko is moping, and Hinata is leaving for Kyoto, where his father has already arranged a miai for him."
"A miai?! Hinata's going to a miai?"
"YES!" the blonde nearly roared in frustration. "Neji told me last night; he blabs when he's drunk. You have to find a way to fix this!"
He dragged a hand down his face. "I don't know what you expect me to do, Ino. Besides, it's not like it's the end of the world or anything - it's just a miai, and chances are, he's not even going to like this chick. Let's just wait until he gets back and then we can try again?"
"Well - I suppose you're right." Ino grumbled, still looking doubtful. "But just to be clear - Hinata's not really in love with someone else, right?"
"Nope. At least, I don't think he is."
"And even if Naruko apparently rejected him, he's still in love with her, right?"
"I think so."
"So he hasn't really moved on yet?"
"Hell no."
"Alright then, I'm pretty sure the odds are still stacked in our favor." Ino stood up, her lunch barely touched. "I have to go now; my father got invited to the Hyuuga's party, and I'm supposed to go with him."
Kiba got up as well. "Yeah, me too; if you wait up for a bit we can split a cab to the train station." he yawned, stretching. His shirt rode up, and he caught Ino's eyes dipping, and focusing on the hipbones that were inevitably showing. The blonde blushed.
Bingo, blondie. he thought.
"I'm just going to go shower, and then we can go, yeah?" he said, shooting a lazy smirk at Ino (flash a bit of canines, crinkle the eyes devilishly, and tilt the head just so). The pink on her cheeks deepened.
"F-fine. Make sure to use soap, ass."
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever." So Ino was interested. Looks like he might have fun in Kyoto after all.
