A/N: So... It's been a while since I posted the first chapter to Crush~ and I realized I never posted chapter two! I was surprised to see positive feed back on this! But yeah I decided to post this chapter because I finally got ideas to write with for this story that will be happening in chapter three (which I'm currently writing...still). As for Invisible and Insight, I'm currently writing those and the same goes for Gravity's Momentum. I'm in the process of writing chapter... five? Six? I forgot what chapter it is..I wanna say it's six. But yeah! I'm writing that too! I need to get my inspiration for that soon so I can rush write it and have it out!
Anyway I'd like to thank everyone who reviewed the first chapter! You guys are great! Here's chapter two! :3
Today was our final day at the Academy, I would never have to spend another day in that class room learning about the importance of the ram hand seal or something stupid that I don't need to know to begin with. Walking to Hinata's for breakfast I smiled, today was going to be a good day, nothing could possibly go wrong! I had a wonderful evening, and a wonderful morning, surprisingly, and I was so sure that today was going to be one of the best days of my life. I reached the Hyuuga estate and entered the grounds with a huge smile on my face, I saw Neji walk towards the gate, he gave me a weird look, it wasn't normal for me to be smiling in the morning.
"Good morning Neji!" I smiled at him, he raised an eyebrow at me.
"You're in a good mood."
"You're right, I am! Why shouldn't I be? It's a beautiful day today, I had a wonderful meal last night, a good nights sleep! I woke up this morning feeling happy! Not even Ayame brought me down." I smiled.
"Wonderful meal last night?" He asked me and I nodded. "How? We saw your family leave with out you..." I blinked, and the smile left my face.
"What?"
"Hinata forgot to ask you to come to dinner, so we walked back. When we got there your father was yelling at you so we walked back to Lord Hiashi. Then we saw your family leave with out you." He explained. That was probably the most that Neji has spoken to me at once in the four years I've known him. "My uncle has his suspicons, so be prepared during breakfast." He warned me as he walked out of the gate. I sighed and made my way towards the building. I took off my shoes and slid open the door, walking in, I slid it closed behind me. I saw Hinata walk towards the dinning area, she saw me and smiled, I returned it.
"Go-Good mo-morning Bo-Botan."
"Morning Hinata!"
"You-you're ha-happy."
"Yeah, I guess I am." Hinata looked at me worringly, she slid open the dining room door, where her father sat with her sister, Hanabi.
"Come sit, both of you." He spoke seriously. He gave me a pointed look, I looked down at my feet. Neji was right, he is suspicous. Hinata walked to our usual seats and sat down, our usual breakfast in front of us. We grabbed our chopsticks and began eating. "Botan..." Mr. Hyuuga called my name, I took a deep breath.
"Yes, sir?"
"I did not see you return home with your family last night..."
"Sorry, sir, I do not understand."
"Yesterday, it seemed my daughter forgot to inform you that you were invited to dinner with us, a celebatory dinner for the graduation from the academy. She, along with my nephew, went to tell you; when they returned, you were not with them. I was curious on why, perhaps, you usually are present during meal times. I had thought, your parents were wanting you present for dinner, seeing as you and your siblings all graduated. When they returned, I saw your father, walking towards us, with your mother, and brother and sister following. I was deeply surprised not to see you with them." Hiashi spoke up, looking at me pointedly, all I could do was stare at my rice. "I asked my nephew if he knew anything, he didn't tell me but all he answered was: 'It's not my place to say'. I asked Hinata, she was to frightened to answer. Is there something I need to know? Has your father done anything to my daughter to silence her?" He demanded. I looked up at him shocked.
"No! Of course not! I would never let him speak to Hinata in such any way!"
"Yet, you let him speak to you that way?" He asked. My dark blue eyes widened, I looked away from him and to my food ashamed. "Do not think I do not know how disrespectful Daichi Mikazuki can be when he is angry, I have seen it first hand, from working with him for many years." He began. "But to think, he speaks to his children this way...is it true?" He asked.
"No sir." I shook myhead. "He does not speak to his other children this way. It is just me."
"And why is that?"
"Because I do not wish to be a ninja, but a vetranary medical ninja." I confessed. Mr. Hyuuga raised an eyebrow.
"You wish to specialize in animal medicine insteand of human medicine?"
"Yes, sir." I nodded.
"Very interesting, there aren't many medical nin that specialize in vetranary medicine." He stated, taking a bite of his rice. "I can see why your father must be dissapointed, being the first born, I am sure he expected you to be regular shinobi, or a regular medical nin." He nodded. With that, the rest of the meal was silent. I finshed my rice, fish and miso soup, and waited patiently for Hinata to finish. She stood up, and I followed, we bowed to her father and walked out of the dinning room, to the front door, we put on our shoes and walked out of the house. When we walked out of the gates, I exhaled deeply.
"That was intense..." I said to her, she nodded in agreement. When we reached the academy we walked into our class room and I sighed. "I'm going to miss this desk..."
"Re-really?"
"...Nope. Haha." I laued as I sat down.
"He-hey Bo-Botan..."
"Yeah, Hina?"
"Wh-what's wi-with the new lo-look?" I blinked and looked down, then a smile appeared on my face.
"Oh, you mean the skirt and the jacket?" I asked her, she nodded. "Well... I got the jacket yesterday, it's a bit big, but it's comfortable. And the skirt, well, I didn't think shorts would look good with it, and I was right!"
"Wh-where did you g-get the ja-jacket? I-I tho-thought you-your pa-parents didn't bu-buy you cloths o-often?"
"O-oh..." I blushed and looked down. I didn't like Kiba in that way, but it was sort of embarrassing to say that a boy gave it to me. "Uhm...we-well..."
"Hey! You're wearing the jacket I gave you!" I heard Kiba's voice, my face went really red and I looked down and started to play with my fingers, a lot like Hinata. I could feel Hinata's eyes on me. "Hey, Botan! I'm talking to you! Hey are you listening to me!" I heard Kiba's voice get a little louder and he shook me from behind. "If you don't anwer me, I'll call you crouton again." I sighed and I looked over at him with a red face. "Hey, why are you so red? Are you sick?" He asked as he looked at my face closely. "You don't look sick to me...are you hot? Maybe you should take that jacket off.."
"N-no, I-I'm f-fine." I stuttered. I was gonna kill Hinata for giving me her bad stuttering habbits. I know she's laughing evilly on the inide.
"Oh, you sure?" He asked and I nodded. Kiba shrugged and sat down next to me. I looked down, and started playing with my hands. I felt a tugg, and I looked to my right to see Hinata with wide eyes. I knew what she was thinking: Kiba! He gave you HIS JACKET. I sighed and nodded. I knew what she was thinking: What! How'd this happen!? It was weird how I could tell what she was thinking with her facial expressions, but she could do the same thing with me, I guess its from spending four years together. My thoughts were interrupted by Sakura and Ino barging into the door. I sighed, I wish they'd just get over them selves. I opened my eyes and saw Naruto looking towards us, I smirked at Hinata, then realized that Sakura was behind us. I sighed, that boy was just so clueless.
"It seems Naruto passed. That's great Hinata!" I smiled at her, she smiled and nodded with a blush. I leaned my head on my hand and sighed, I heard comotion coming from Sasuke's usual seat by the corner, of course all the girls were fighting to see who would sit next to him, and of course Naruto has to get all up in Sasuke's face. Something I didn't expect was Naruto to be bumped into Sasuke, kissing him. I covered my mouth with my hands, which were covered by the long sleeves of the jacket. Poor Naruto, he got palberized by the mob of girls, it was stupped when Iruka Sensei walked into the room.
"You are all ninja now, but you are all genin, the lowest ranking ninja. You all will be placed in three man cells that will be taught by a Jounin." Eyes widened a little, three man cells. I turned to Hinata.
"Did you know about this?" She shook her head.
"I will read off the teams now."
"I hope we get on the same team Hinata." I smiled at her, she nodded with a blush. "Oh, I suppose I can put up with Naruto for you." I winked at her, she just blushed and looked forward, I laughed quietly. I turned to Kiba. "Who do you want to be on a team with?"
"Huh? Oh..uh. Well, Ayame, and uhh any one really I'm too picky." Kiba shrugged his shoulders and I sighed. "What about you?"
"Huh, oh uh, well Hinata for sure! And uuhh, I don't know...either Sasuke or uhm, uhh..you, I guess." I smiled at him, my cheeks turning a bit pink.
"Oh really?" He smirked and I nodded, but my attention was stole by Iruka Sensei.
"Team six: Mikazuki Ayame, Mikazuki Hideki..."
"Alright!" They smiled at eachother, I sighed, It would be something if Iruka sensei called my name next.
"And, Mikazuki Botan." I blinked and my eyes widened in shock.
"WHAT! WE HAVE TO BE WITH HER!" My siblings shouted, the class grew quiet and I could feel all eyes on me, I sunk down in my seat and pulled the cream hood over my face. I couldn't believe this was happening, I was on the same three man cell as my siblings. Now I have to spend all my time with them, this is going to be so great. What happened to my wonderful day? How could it be ruined by this. I heard whispering across the class, some extremely familiar voices like Sakura.
"I thought they were close? Their triplets they should happy?" She asked quietly to her self. Then there was Naruto.
"Why are they so mean to her? She's their sister?" Naruto mumbled, almost every one elses whispers were the same.
"That's enough! Quiet down! You see Ayame, Hideki, when we make up these teams we try and put people together that would compliment eachothers stregnths and help with weaknesses."
"But Botan isn't special She isn't good at anything!" Ayame spat.
"See, you may be intellegent but, like your sister, you lack the physical strength. Where as Hideki, who is second to Sasuke in physical training. Unlike you and Hideki, Botan has the best chakra control of the entire class, even better than Sasuke." Iruka explained.
"What! No way!" Ayame screeched. I sighed and slunk even futher down in my desk.
"Besides, we thought it'll be best that, seeing as you three are triplets, would have the best team work, despite sibling rivalry. Obviously, we may have been mistaken." Iruka sighed but continued with the list. "Team Seven: Uzumaki Naruto, Haruno Sakura." I looked at Hinata, I really hoped that she'd be able to be on the same team as Naruto. "And, Sasuke Uchiha." I sighed. Poor Hinata. I patted her arm in comfort, I knew she wanted to be on the same squad as Naruto. "Team eight: Hyuuga Hinata, Inuzuka Kiba." My eyes widned, this was so unfair. "And, Aburame Shino." Eeeh! Their with bug boy?! Iruka sensei finished with the teams after squad ten, which consisted of Ino Yamanaka, Shikamaru Nara (Lazy boy, which I called him.) and Choji Akimichi (Chip boy, I alwasy reffered him too). "Alright, afer lunch you will return back and meet your jounin sensei." I sighed as we were dissmissed. I stood up and walked towards the door with Hinata.
"Are you going to eat with your team?" I asked her, she shrugged her shoulders, obviously not knowing. "So, usual eating spot?" I asked her, she nodded. We walked out of the academy and towards the big tree. We had always sat there, well behind it at least; it was the best spot to watch Naruto, something I put up with for Hinata. "Are you ever going to tell him?" I asked Hinata as we sat down in the shade.
"T-tell who wh-what?" She asked surprised.
"Naruto. Duh! Are you ever going to tell him you're in love with him?" I asked her, eating a rice ball from her bento, she always had extra, I was sure there was extra for me.
"N-no. He-he likes Sa-Sakura. They're on the sa-same te-team." She replied, obviously still dissapointed about not being on the same team as him, I sighed.
"So! I mean, if I liked a guy who was on a different team I would go for it!"
"So-so you'll go fo-for Ki-Kiba?" Hinata asked with a shy smile, my face turned a little pink.
"I don't like Kiba!"
"B-but you're we-wearing his ja-jacket!"
"He-he gave it to me! It was chilly last night. He said that ths jacket didn't look right with him and that he-he didn't like it! He said I could keep it. That's all!" I glared at my pale eyed friend with a slight blush on my cheeks.
"Th-then why are you bl-blushing?"
"Be-because! I'm embarrased! I mean, I don't know!"
"I-if you didn't like him th-then, why are you we-wearing his ja-jacket?" Hinata smiled, I glared at her.
"Because, it's comfy! Now eat your lunch!" I grumbled as I took another bite of my rice ball.
"HEY! We've been looking for you!" I heard Kiba's voice. I looked over my shoulder with a raised eye brow. "You're that Hinata girl huh? The one that's friends with Botan?" Kiba asked as he sat down next to me. Hinata's face reddened and she nodded. "Sweet! Shino sit down! We found her." Kiba called out, then bug boy came over and sat down near Hinata. "Huh? Botan, what are you doing here?"
"I'm eating with my friend Kiba..." I sighed, taking a bite of the rice ball.
"Oh...Okay, you don't mind if Aburame and I are here do ya?"
"Nope, not at all." I replied, not really caring, well I was pretending to not care to show Hinata that I didn't like Kiba, and by not caring that he is he is here, is proving my point...I think. I felt something brush against my leg, I looked down and saw Akamaru sitting, and staring at me. I smiled and pet his head, my smile faultered when I thought about Aori; I wouldn't be able to see her as often as I used to.
"Bo-Botan?" Hinata called my name, I looked up at her.
"Yeah?"
"A-are y-you al-alright?"
"Huh, oh yeah I'm fine. No worries." I smiled at her and patted Akamaru's head. I took the last bite of my rice ball and stood up.
"Yo-you're le-leaving Bo-Botan?" Hinata asked, slightly nervous about being left alone with the two boys. I smiled sadly at her and odded.
"Ye-yeah. I should go, let you guys have pre-team bonding time. Maybe I'll go...uh, uhm... do something to pass the time. See you guys later!" I waved and walked away, I walked back into the class room, only to see Hideki and Ayame. I blinked and sighed, I had hoped I wouldn't see them until after lunch.
"Hello, sister." Ayame sneered the word 'sister'. I walked past her, not even paying her any mind. I can't wait until I reach chuunin, I wouldn't have to deal with them any more, actually, I still have to talk to Sasuke about me sleeping at his place every night. "Hey! I was talking to you! You know it's rude to ignore someone when they're talking to you! Hasn't father taught you any manners?" Ayame sneerd. I rolled my eyes at her.
"Of course he has Ayame, she just lost them with all those animals she's around. It's a wonder that she has any manners at all." Hideki told Ayame, my hands balled into fists.
"Hn. Must be that dog boy and his disgusting family she hangs out with so much. It's a surprise she doesn't have fleas." Ayame laughed.
"Shut up you spoild brat!" I shouted at her. Both Ayame's and Hideki' eyes widened, I never shouted at them and I never called them names. "Don't you dare say a bad thing about Kiba or his family! They aren't disgusting, they're probably a hundred times cleaner than you'll ever be in your life with the way you keep acting." I glared hardly at her. Her green eyes widened, and Hideki's navy blue ones did as well. "They're more of a family to me in the past three years than you two have been. You should take notes on them, you'll learn alot when it comes to loving your siblings!" I walked over to my old seat and sat there.
"Ho-how dare you speak to me that way! When father hears about thi-"
"What?! That I'm finally telling you off when I've let you get away with it for three years?!" I cut her off.
"You'll be punished!" Ayame shouted at me.
"Okay! I don't care!" I started. "Ayame, you're a ninja now, you need to grow up and take responsibility! You can't keep acting like a spoiled brat who always gets her way! If you keep acting like that, people aren't going to take you seriously! If you want to be a poison specialist you need to be taken seriously!" I told her logically. "Put aside your difference with me and make it work for this team, at least until we make chuunin." I finished as I crossed my arms and leaned back against the back of the chair. Ayame pouted and stood up, saying something about going to find Ino, leaving Hideki and I alone in the room.
"You're right." Hideki told me. I looked up at him with a confused look. "About her needing to stop acting like a brat; even father doesn't take her seriously." He said with a small smile. I just looked at him weirdly. "What?"
"That's the most you've said to me in three years..."
"Oh, well...I've never had the chance to be alone with you. Always had father in the other room."
"Oh, so you hating me was because of father's influence."
"I don't hate you, never have and probably never will." My navy eyes widened a bit. "Botan, you are my best friend. You know me better than any one else; I-I just can't stand up to father, no matter how much I want to, it's just, I can't. It's hard to explain..."
"I get it, I do." I told him with a small smile.
"I-I, I think it's cool you're becoming a vet, I really do. I know how much you love animals, I can see it. You always loved playing with birds and squirells and peoples cats and dogs; but father can't see that."
"He thinks that becoming a vet, it'll make me soft, that it's to much of a gentle job to be considered a ninja occupation." I told him. "And he's right. I am too soft hearted, and that's why I want to be a vet, I don't have what it takes to go and kill people." Hideki walked up the steps and took the empty seat to my left, the one Kiba usually sat in.
"I've missed you, you know. I don't know if Sasuke's told you, but I ask him how you're doing in class, and in general."
"Really?"
"Well yeah. He tell's me that you're doing great, with your medical training and with school. It make's me sort of sad that you can't share it with me." He smiled sadly at me, he set a hand on my shoulder, but quicky removed it when he heard a growl. "Wh-what the heck was that!"
"I-I don't know." I looked around me, then I heard a whimper; I knew exactly what it was. "Aori!" I called. "Where are you!?" I heard a bark coming from inside the desk. I leaned down and saw the blue-grey puppy. I smiled at her and pulled out from the whole. "What are you doing here? Did Kiba sneak you in here?" I asked her, she just barked and went to lick my face, I laughed and hugged her. Hideki gave me a strange look.
"Uh..."
"Oh, this Aori, my dog! Well sort of. Hana said I could have her about three years ago, but seeing as mother doesn't like animals, or...anyone for that matter she said she'll keep her at the Inuzuka house with all the other dogs. Although, I don't know what to really do with her, she's a ninkin dong, like Akamaru."
"Can't you use ninkin too?" Hideki asked, I shrugged.
"I-I don't know. I think it's a family thing, like how Sasuke has the Sharingan?"
"Hm, well maybe you can! I mean it hasn't been unheard of, ninja using animals as partners."
"Y-yeah I guess...I'll ask Hana about it later when I go over for my lesson."
"How's that going by the way?" he asked. "The vetranary training?"
"Oh, great! Now that I'm an official ninja, I can start working at the clinic! I'll just be a nurse or something like that seeing as I'm not skilled enough to be a full medical nin, but Hana says after I make chuunin I'll be considered an actual medical nin." I explained to him.
"That sounds really cool." He smiled. "So, do you also know about human medicine?"
"Oh yeah, animals and humans are very similar, the only thing different is the illnesses and what the animal can and can't have for treatment. I mean, I wont be like one of the medic nin's at the hosptial but I can cure some injuries and stuff." I smiled. "Just because I specialize in animal's doesn't mean I can't treat humans as well."
"That's really...cool. If only father knew! I'm sure if you just told him what you told me, I'm sure he'll treat you the way he used to..." I shook my head.
"No, I don't think he will. He's stubborn, once his mind is made up there is no changing it... a trait we get from him." I laughed.
"Hey, it's nice to see you two getting along." I jumped and looked down to see Kiba, Hinata and Shino.
"H-hey guys." I smiled at them, waving a bit.
"I see you found Aori. I thought seeing her would be a good idea, I just forgot she was in here haha." Kiba laughed nervously, and I narrowed my eyes.
"You moron!"
"Hey! I had other things on my mind!"
"What food?!"
"Well..yeah!" Hideki looked at the two of us weirdly.
"Uh...and you're friends?" He asked and I shook my head.
"Nope. We're aquintences."
"Pfft, we're experiment buddies." Kiba winked, and I blushed.
"WHAT!?" Hideki shouted.
"Don't listen to him. It's a joke his mom and sister pulled on us yesterday, he doesn't mean it literal."
"Of course I do! I mean you were wearing my cloths last night! And you're wearing my jacket." Kiba kept going, and my face got redder. I glared at him, and Hideki glared even worse at Kiba.
"You stay away from my sister!"
"Oh so you're playing protective brother! Where were you last night when your dad was yelling at her!" Kiba snarled. Hideki's face dropped and he looked down at the ground. I sighed and glared at Kiba.
"Don't listen to him, at all, Hideki. Kiba's a moron, and the cloths thing, well he got me all wet and soapy last night that I had to clean up at his house and he lent me his cloths.."
"Why were you wet and soapy?" Hideki, Shino, and Hinata all asked, well Hinata suttered it.
"Oh we were doing the dishes." Kiba shrugged it off.
"Well, why are you still wearing his jacket!?" Hideki asked.
"That's because I gave it to her. It was chilly out last night, and since I've worn it once, and it's a bit too small, I let her keep it." Kiba explained like it was no big deal.
"Hideki! What are you doing!" Ayame's voice filled the room. We all jumped and turned towards Ayame, who was standing in the bottom door way with Ino and her team behind her.
"He-hey there Ay-Ayame." Hideki greeted nervously.
"You aren't supposed to be talking to her!"
"Who says!"
"I do!"
"Well you aren't the boss of me!"
"I think I am!"
"Oh really?!"
"Yeah, I'm older!"
"Well Botan is the oldest out of all us, I think she makes the decisions!"
"Psh, what ever, like I'd ever listen to that flea bag." My eye twitched as my hands balled into fists. Aori growled down at her. "Ew! What is that thing!"
"This THING Is a DOG! Her name is Aori!"
"She looks like a mutt..." Ayame pulled a disguested face and turned away. My eye twitched.
"He-hey there Ayame!" Kiba greeted her with a wave. His hood was down, showing off his messy brown hair. Ayame turned around and gave him an uninterested look.
"Hi, you are?"
"I-I'm Kiba, we've been in the same class for like, four years!"
"Oh! You're that dog boy that Botan likes so much?" My face grew hot, every one looked at me and I shook my head.
"I don't like him that way. He's to stupid for me to like him..."
"Yeah! And plus she's to ugly." My eye twitched when he said that. Ayame smirked at his words.
"Hm, I guess we have one thing in common."
"Really! What's that?!"
"We both think that Botan is ugly..." Ayame laughed as she sat down on the table. After a few minutes the class room started to fill up, and we all just sat there waiting for our jounin sensei's. The door opened and a man smoking a cigerette walked in.
"Team ten?" He asked, bored. Ino, Shikamaru and Choji all stood up.
"That's us..." Shikamaru answered boredly.
"Right, come on." their sensei walked out of the room, team ten following behind him. Next came in two women, both with long wavy black hair; one had crimson red eyes and the other had black eyes.
"Team eight?" Called the one with red eyes. Kiba raised his hand.
"That's us..." He shrugged his shoulder's walking towards the women, with Hinata and Shino behid him.
"Team six?" Said the one with the black eyes. I stood up.
"That's us, miss." Hideki, and Ayame stood by me as we stood infront of our new sensei.
"Oh, triplets. Joy." She said sarcastically. I blinked. "Come on, lets go. See you later Kurenai." Our sensei waved good bye at Hinata's.
"Excuse me, how could you tell we were triplets...?" I asked.
"You all have the same face, different features yes, but all the same face." We all blinked and thought the same thing. 'What...?' She led us to a training ground, where distantly I thought I saw Neji. "Right, well let's introduce your selves, tell me your likes, dislikes, hobbies and dreams and or goals."
"Why don't you start first, I mean it's only curtious for the oldest to start." I spoke up. Hah! What was Ayame saying about no manners?
"Huh, smart one. I like it." She smirked. "I am Aikihiro Midori. I like alot of things, books, food and I don't like a lot of things like spoiled brats-" Haha, she's going to Ayame. "and punk kids who think their top dog-" Haha...top dog. "I don't like cat's either, blasted things. I like dogs, not cats. Their lazy I hate laziness. I also hate lateness, the two L's learn them! Lateness and Laziness, they will not be tolerated! I have lots of hobbies, reading, eating, and well dreams and goals? To get you three into shape and make you chuunin so I can get away from ya!" She laughed. I like her! "Now, whose the oldest out of you three?" She asked Ayame was about to raise her hand until Hideki elbowed her in the stomach. I raised my hand. "Go."
"Uhm, well. My name is Mikazuki Botan. I like animals, perfferably dogs-" Aori barked from behind me. "I like Aori of course haha, uuh I like my best friend Hinata! And I guess her cousin too, I don't like my sister-" I glared sideways at Ayame. "Because she's to immature. I don't like pears, or vegetables!" I made a yucky face. "My hobbies are working with Hana Inuzuka at the clinic and spending time with Aori. My dream and my goal is to be a great veterinary medical ninja!" Midori looked at me weirdly.
"...Seriously? Hah! I didn't know Inuzuka had a mini-me squirt!" Midori laughed and I cocked my head to the side in confusion. "You just need the red markings on your face and you'd look almost like a splitting image of her! Haha!" Midori-sensei laughed, once she calmed her self she coughed. "Okay, whose the middle child?" Hideki and I looked at Ayame, who sighed loudly.
"I am Mikazuki Ayame, I like boys, flowers, plants and poisons. I don't like my disgusting sister because she spends so much time with animal's she's become one, and I hate the colors blue, white and black. Their to cold, I like warm colors like pink, red and orange. My hobbies are spending time with my mom in our garden and making poisons, and their antidotes. My dream and goal is to become a poison specialist, the best in all of Konoha and to show that being a poison specialist is a hundred times better than being a vet." I sighed and shook my head.
"...You hate your sister because she likes animals? What are you five?" Midori asked seriously. "Oh well, okay, boy. Go!"
"I'm Mikazuki Hideki. I like training, and cooking. I don't like being lazy and doing nothing, I also don't like to use genjutsu, I perfer to use ninjutsu and mainly taijutsu. My hobbies are training and cooking, my dreams and goals is to be a jounin." Hideki smirked.
"Huh...you need a life kid!" Hideki looked at her weirdly. "Anyway, I know I'll have a lot of work to do with you three, I can tell there is some sibling rivalry going on, and it'll make the team work thing a bit hard, but I'm sure we can over come it. Meet me here tomorrow at seven." We nodded. "Good...now. I'm hungry lets get some food."
"Oh, MIDOOOORII!" A deep male voice called out, Midori groaned.
"Yes Gai!? What is it now!?" Midori glared at a man with bowl cut hair who was wearing a green body suit. I blinked at him. He looked funny.
"I was just wondering if you'd like to have lunch with me!" He asked with a ginormous smile, that pinged. That wasn't normal.
"I can't Gai, I've got my genin team today."
"Oh!" Gai smiled even larger, if that was possible.
"I'm guessing you want to meet them?" Midori-sensei asked, he nodded eagerly.
"Yes of course! I would love to meet your youthful students! Perhaps both of our teams could train together!"
"...Don't count on that happening."
"Bu-but Midori!"
"Shut it Gai! Do you want to meet them or not?" he nodded. "Ugh, you're a bother. Why do I put up with you?"
"Because my sweet, you love me." Gai winked, drapping an arm around her shoulders. I blinked and looked at them weird. Midori was in a relationship with this guy?
"...If you say so." She replied dully, taking his arm off her shoulder. "Go on, introduce yourselfs." She ordered.
"I'm Mikazuki Hideki." Hideki replied, bowing a little.
"I'm Mikazuki Ayame." She winked in Neji's direction, which he ignored of course, and I glared at her.
"Oh, dog girl!" Midori shouted at me, I jumped and nodded.
"I'm Mikazuki Botan."
"Botan!" Both the girl and the boy who looked remarkably alike to his sensei gasped. I blinked at them.
"Yes?"
"You are THE Botan!?" the other boy asked with a giant smile. I ndded. "Oh it is so nice to finally meet you! We've heard so much about you from Neji!" I looked at Neji with a raised eyebrow.
"Oh really? Funny, I haven't heard a thing about you two." I glared at Neji, who just looked away.
"Well I am Rock Lee! Master of Taijutsu!" Lee saluted with a smile. It seemed that Hideki is going to have a new sparring partner.
"I'm Tenten. I mainly use weapons, all kinds of them." This sort of caught Ayame's interest.
"Hyuuga Neji.." Neji said, not looking at us.
"How do you two know eachother?" Midori asked me, referring to how I new Neji.
"I'm over at his house every day for breakfast and dinner..." I answered casually, Midori still gave me a weird look. "I'm friends with his cousin, Hinata."
"Oh, I guess that makes sense..." She gave me a weird look but paid no mind to it.
"How about we all have lunch together!" The man named Gai suggested and Midori sighed and shrugged her shoulders in defeat.
"I guess..."
"Actually, sensei..." I spoke up. As much as I wanted to get to know my new sensei, and Neji's team, but I had to get to the clinic.
"Yes Botan?" She asked, glaring at me. I bluhed nervously and looked down at the ground.
"We-well you see, uhm, I-I promised I'd be at the clinic soon, for my veterinary lessons..."
"Oh, fine go ahead! But tell Inuzuka to expect you an hour later for now on." I nodded and smiled at her, I bowed to her, and at Neji's team.
"It was nice meeting you all. I'll see you later Neji." I smiled and waved at them, then began to run towards Hana's house. Once I reached Hana's house, I opened the door and walked in.
"Hey there Botan, I wasn't expecting you until later, or at all... I thought you'd be busy with your new team." She smiled at me, I made a face and she raised an eyebrow. "What is it? Whose on your team?"
"My siblings..."
"Oh..."
"Yeah, my sensei is gonna let me leave around two every day so I can come here for my 'veterinary lessons'."
"It's one..."
"I told her that I needed to leave."
"Oh... Who is your jounin sensei?" She asked as she grabbed some books and placed them on the table.
"Akihiro Midori, she seemed to know you."
"Oh, that's because she does. We've worked together a few times, and plus when ever her dog gets sick she comes to me."
"Oh, I guess that makes sense." I nodded as I sat down at the table and took the book that Hana slide towards me.
"Alright, today we're studying toxin's, what types are there and what are the effects they have on animals." I nodded my head as I opened a book about different types of toxins. I began reading, everything I was taking in was slightly simular, like I heard it before. I turned the page and gasped. "What is it? Do you not understand something?" Hana asked me from the kitchen, she was making tea.
"No, it's just, this plant! It's one my mother grows in the garden! She told me and Ayame about it once, how when boiled it can sooth an upset stomach, and when gridned up and mixed with water, it's can be an anti-biotic when placed on a wound." I looked from the book, Hana walked over to me and looked over my shoulder.
"You're right, I guess living with a gardner comes in handy huh?" She asked and I nodded, I continued to read the book, each page I saw a familiar plant and I knew what it did, or I found something new about it. I heard a small thump on the table and saw a cup of warm tea, Hana smiled and I smiled back, picking up the cup and taking a sip.
"I'm home!" Kiba's voice rang through out the house but I ignored him, I had to keep reading.
"Hi Kiba, how was your first day as a gennin?" Hana asked as she placed a cup of tea on the table, I heard Kiba sit down.
"It was alright, Akamaru seems to like our team mates, so they can't be that bad." Kiba shrugged, taking a sip of tea. "Hey Botan! What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with your team?" He asked me, but I didn't really pay any attention to him. "Hey, Botan!" He called to me, again I ignored him. "BOTAN! I'M TALKING TO YOU! HEY!" Kiba shouted waving a hand in my face. I sighed and looked at him. "Now you notice me."
"I knew you were home, I'm just busy learning!"
"Oh...hey shouldn't you be with your team?"
"I got out of it early, and I get out of training and missions every day at two for now on, to continue my studies."
"...Lucky."
"So Kiba, who are your team mates?" Hana asked as she set a note book and pencil beside me so I can start jotting things down.
"Oh, Aburame Shino, that bug guy and Hyuuga Hinata. She's Botan's friend. She's really shy, and Shino's really quiet. Their weird, but Akamaru seems to like them." Kiba shrugged, drinking his tea.
"That's nice." Hana smiled as she took a sip of tea. "Anyway, I'm sorry I have to cut this lesson short. I've been called in at the hospital, seem's like someone's cat got kind of disease from a dog, the other vet's don't know what it is." She told me as put on her shoes. "You can stay here, I should only be a few hour's. Bye!" She walked out of the house, closing the door behind her.
"So, what are you reading about?" Kiba asked me as I put the book down, opening the note book that Hana gave me. I turned back some of the pages in the book and began writing down the names of differnt plants and herbs and what they are for.
"Oh, toxin's and how to cure them. Most of the cures have to do with plants and herbs, things I know a bit about because of my mom."
"I thought you didn't get along with your mom?"
"I don't, when I was younger, she'd tell Ayame and I about some of the plants and what they do." I answered, as I wrote down about the plant on my current page. I turned to a new page of my note book and began writing about the toxin that is mentioned.
"Oh, you're taking this really seriously, with the note taking and stuff."
"Well yeah, it's what I want to do." I ansered him, took a sip of my tea, and went back to writing.
"So, what's your sensei like?"
"...Different. I don't think she like's us very much. Well I know she doesn't like Ayame, or she isn't going to."
"Oh? Why's that?"
"She said she hates spoiled brats." I smiled at him, then went back to my work. I heard two barks and I looked down to see Akamaru and Aori running around, their playing put a smile on my face. "Hey, are Akamaru and Aori from the same litter?" I asked him.
"Oh, no. They actually have different parents, which is weird, Aori is about a year younger than Akamaru." Kiba answered as he stood up, with his cup in his hand; he walked towards the kitchen. I continued to watch Akamaru and Aori, and then something that Hideki mentioned earlier.
"Hey Kiba!" I called out, he poped his head out from the kitchen.
"Yeah?"
"Aori's a ninken dog right?" I asked him, looking over at him, he gave me a stupid look.
"Yeah, why?"
"I...I was just wondering, Hideki mentioned something earlier and it just popped in my head."
"Oh...what'd he say?" Kiba asked, opening the fridge, I raised an eyebrow.
"He...he asked if I can use ninkin because of Aori." I started. "I told him no, because it's a family trait, right?" I asked Kiba, who was standing there with a bowl of meat balls.
"No." He shook his head, taking a bite from a meat ball. "Ninkin isn't a family thing, it's just a dog thing."
"Huh?" Kiba held out the bowl of meat balls.
"Want one? Their cold, but still good." He offered, I stood up and walked over to him and took a meat ball from the bowl; I began to eat it. "Ninkin isn't just a family thing, it's the art of having the dog as a partner in combat. Not all of our dogs are used for ninkin, just the ones that have a good amount of chakra, Aori just happens to be one of the lucky ones. The only problem is that, we don't have any one to train her, and seeing as she's attached to you, we just assumed that she wasn't going to be used for combat so we just gave up on her." Kiba shrugged his shoulders. I looked down at my half eaten meat ball, and took another bite. He was right, they were good cold.
"Oh, so...she isn't going to learn to be a ninkin?" I asked, looking down at her. Kiba put down the bowl of meat balls and went into the cubboard and grabbed some jerky.
"Probably not." Kiba shrugged, I grabbed another meat ball.
"I-Is it possible fo-for me to have Aori as my partner?" I asked him, he chocked on his jerky.
"Wh-what!?"
"Well, I don't want Aori's potentiall to go to waste." I said before I bit into my meat ball. "I mean if it's okay, and all."
"I-..." Kiba was, for once, lost for words. "I-I don't see why not. I mean, if you really want to?" He asked me, eating another piece of jerky.
"Re-really!" I exclaimed with a large smile, he nodded. "So, you'll train with me?" I asked hopefully.
"Nah, get Hana to teach you. I'm sure she'll be thrilled, I mean she's already teaching you to be a vet, why not some new techniques?" Kiba smirked as he put away his beef jerky and took the bowl of meat balls and placed them back in the fridge. "Anyway, I'm going to go take a bath. Come on Akamaru!"
After that day, Hana began training me in not only in veterinary medicine but in the ninkin art as well, my speed, stamana and chakra improved as well. Things with my team, haven't really improved much, Hideki converses with me during training and missions, but he still wont talk to me infront of our parents. I know Midori-sensei has her suspicions when she see's Neji and I arrive at the training grounds together, his team and mine don't train together, it's just she chooses the training area next to Gai's.
It's been about a couple months since we were formed as a team and the only thing that's improved is Ayame's attitude towards me. She still hates me, she tells me that every day, but she puts up with me for the sake of the team, I guess when they made up the teams they were right about something, putting the three of us together was smart, being triplets we have that natural instinct to help eachother out. Ayame found this out the hard way when we were sent on our first C-Ranked mission, to esscort this lady to her home in the land of rivers, it was a four day trip, on the way back we were attacked, I was already on the ground from one blow and I hurt my arm pretty badly, I was about to be attacked again but the attacker dropped dead, literally. It seemed that Ayame and injected him with a paralyzing toxin; with that we went back to Konoha uneventfully.
Since the day were put into teams, I hadn't really seen much of Kiba, and for some reason it was bothering me. Perhaps it was because I was so used to seeing him everyday. That's probably it. My appearence changed a little since I was first oppointed as gennin, I no longer wear my forhead protector around my waist, instead I've pinned it to my left sleeve of my jacket. My hair isn't pulled into a regular pony tail, but a really low one, sort of like Neji's except my hair isn't tied as low. Other than that, I haven't really changed much.
The chuunin exams also happened, which of course my brother and sister wanted to participate in, I found that we weren't exactly ready, and we weren't. We all failed, it was a surprise that we even made it to the preliminaries, yes apperently so many of us passed the first two exams we had to have a preliminary round to throw out the ones that were left. During the third exam we were ambushed by the sand and sound villages, some time during this the Third Hokage was killed, which is where I'm at, the Third's memorial service, along with all of those who lost their lives.
It was raining heavily, and I found it ironic that it was raining on a day like this, on a day in which we were all gathered to moarn over those who lost their lives. I stood inbetween Hana and Kiba, I couldn't even look up from the ground, I could feel tears coming to the corners of my eyes. I wrapped my arms around me and I fell to my knees, he had been such a kind and loving man who cared for every one in the villiage so much! It was a mistake for him to be taken away from us. I didn't care, I let my tears fall from my eyes, I started crying. I didn't remember the last time I cried, perhaps I've never cried before, that or I haven't found the need to cry about anything before. This was my time to cry, this was a reason to let tears fall. I remembered that the third Hokage told me to always love my family no matter how badly they treated me, because, in the end, all you've got is family. I took those words to heart, it was because of his words that I never started to hate my family, ever, no matter how many times they insult me and my dream, no matter how many times they've ignored me or pretened I didn't exsist, I have always loved them.
I felt an arm around my shoulder's, I looked up and saw Kiba with a sad smile on his face. I sniffled and I hugged him tightly and cried; I felt Kiba hug me back in return. I felt comfortable, I felt like If I kept crying on his shoulder then all of this would be okay; I didn't know why, but I liked it, so I continued to cry on his shoulder. When the ceremony was over, Kiba helped me to my feet and the rain had stopped, I looked up from his shoulder and saw the clouds beginning to fade away, letting the bright sun peak through. Kiba and I began walking down the street, along with every one else; we caught site of Hinata and Shino and we caught up to them. Hinata turned and looked at us, with a smile on her face, Shino just stood there; the four of us continued to walk the street. As we were walking I felt Kiba's arm slide from my shoulder, I stopped and looked at him, he was staring ahead at something so I followed his gaze. He was looking at my sister Ayame, who was looking at us with a raised eyebrow. I looked back from her to Kiba, he had a guilty look on his face, as if he was caught doing something he wasn't supposed to. Hinata and Shino noticed we weren't following them and stopped and I noticed Hinata's saddened look towards me, and it confused me why was she looking at me like that, then I noticed Shino's frown, it was directed towards me too, which made me even more confused.
Why was I so upset on why Kiba looked guilty! Why was I feeling hurt, or betrayed? Why did I feel like I've been punched in the stomach? I couldn't take my eyes off Kiba, I was waiting for him to look away from her, or something! Then he did, he looked down to Akamaru, then he looked at me with what seemed to be guilt and shame. With that he walked away from me and towards Ayame, she looked towards me with a smile and linked arms with Kiba, the two began walking away. I couldn't move, I was frozen to the spot, I didn't know what was wrong with me. I've known that Kiba has had a thing for Ayame since we were kids, it wasn't any thing new to me, but what was she doing with him! She hated Kiba! She hated animals, especially dogs! It made no sense! None of them made any sense.
"Bo-Botan...?" Hinata called. "A-are you al-alright?"
"Can't you see Hinata? She's Jealous of her sister, Why? Because she likes Kiba." Shino stated as a-matter-of-factly. My eyes grew wide in realization. Shino was right. I liked Kiba! Ater so long of telling everyone that I didn't like him, I wasn't trying to convince them, I was trying to convince my self that didn't like him!
"Wh-what! No, th-that can't be-be right! Bo-Botan do-doesn't li-like Kiba! On-only as a fri-friend!" Hinata defended me but I shook my head, looking at the ground.
"Hinata, Shino's right." I told her, I heard her gasp and I began walking, I walked passed her. "I...I-I like Kiba. There's no running from it any more Hinata. I-I like him, and it took me up until now to realize it." I looked at her and forced a smile. "Bu-but it's okay! It's just a crush I-I'm sure it'll go away in a matter of weeks, maybe a month! I doubt it'll turn out to be anything serious!"
If only I had known then what I know now, I might have been able to tell my self to move on and forget about dog boy, but I didn't, I was naive and clueless with puppy love, literally. There was no way any one could predict that I'd end up liking Kiba for this long, well no one but Hana. Besides Hinata, the only girl I had to talk to was Hana, it didn't take her long to figure out that I liked him, she could tell after a few weeks of observing how I acted when ever he was around. My face flushed, I started playing with my fingers, I stuttered, and apperently it was also the way I looked at him. One day she sat me down, when no one else was home thankfully, and talked to me about it, saying that I didn't have any ordinary crush, I liked him alot and it would take a lot for me to get over him. Then I knew she was right, although having Akamaru and Aori play around with eachother for two years didn't help; if I didn't know better I had thought that Akamaru and Aori had a thing for each other.
"If I didn't know better, one would think that Akamaru and Aori hand a thing for each other." A familiar male voice called out my thoughts. I jumped and turned away from the two dogs with a blush on my face. I turned and saw Kiba standing there, leaning against the wall with a smrik.
"Uh-uhm. I-I wa-was just th-thinking the sa-same thing haha." I laughed nervously, he gave me a weird look.
"Really? That's weird." He smiled at me, walking away from the wall and towards me. "I haven't seen you around lately, where have you been?" He asked, taking the seat next to me.
"Oh, uhm. Here and there, working." I smiled as I watched Akamaru and Aori run around eachother. I had gotten a job with Hana at the hospital, and I'm nearly always there.
"Oh yeah, Hana told me you recently got a position at the hosptial! That's great, congrats!" He punched me lightly on my right arm, which I winced. "Oh, did I hurt you?"
"Oh no, it's just a little tender."
"Why?" He asked, obviously confused. I peeled off a white bandage to reveal a red tatto in a weird shape of a flower, the tatto matched the one on Hana's left arm. "Hah! I see you've copied my sister in another way!"
"Hey! I idolize her!" I glared at him peeling the rest of the bandage off. I guessed it was time to take it off. "Plus, my name is Botan, the peony flower also known as the June flower. We both thought it was fitting." Kiba laughed at me.
"So, what'd you get on your other arm?" he asked, noddng towards my left arm. I smirked and I stood up, turning the other way and I peeled off the white bandage. "Hah! No wonder your not wearing your forhead protector around your arm any more. You got it tattoed to your arm instead!" I smiled and I sat back down, holding the bandages in my hands.
"So, not to sound rude or anything considering this is your house but..." I started. "Why are you here? Aren't you supposed to be with Ayame?" I asked him. For the past year or so they've been an item, something I was heartbroken over. I had wanted to be Kiba's first girl friend, his first kiss, I wanted to hold his hand down the streets and to hug him when I wanted to.
"Oh, uhm. I kind of...broke it off with her." My eyes grew wide as I looked at him.
"Why!? I thought you were in like, love with her!"
"Nah, she doesn't like dogs, I mean how can I be with someone who hates dogs? It's like she hates me. I didn't realize it until Akamaru tried to lick her face and she pushed him away calling him a disgusting mutt. I couldn't stand it, I guess you were right about her. She's a spoiled brat." Kiba shrugged his shoulders, he didn't seem too upset over the break up.
"Are you sure you're okay? I mean you two were together for a really long time."
"Yeah I'm great, actually I feel releaved. Plus, Shino doesn't like her and well Hinata obviously doesn't like her, she's just to nice and shy to say anything. How can I be with someone who doesn't like dogs and who my friends and team mates don't like?" Kiba shrugged, leaning back against the wall of his house. "Besides, I kinda missed being around you. I know it's a bit lame, and even then we didn't really hang out a lot, but I missed coming home and seeing you there. I guess being with Ayame ment that I couldn't see you, and when I noticed how much you've grown and changed I guess...I felt guilty. I missed two years of being able to watch you grow as a ninja and as a girl, that I'm sorry if I hurt you." Kiba smiled sadly at me. I smiled at him, then it fell when I realized what he ment by "grown" and "grow as a ninja and as a girl".
"YOU PERVERT!" I shouted at him, punching him in the face.
"OW! WHAT THE HELL!" Kiba shouted, holding his face. "WHAT WAS THAT FOR?!"
"FOR BEING A PERVERT AND LOOKING AT MY CHEST!" I shouted at him.
"WELL, THEY'RE RIGHT THERE, IT'S KIND OF HARD NOT TO STARE AT THEM!"
"That still doesn't mean you can defile me and stare at my chest!"
"Well, if it's any consilation they're a hell of a lot bigger than Ayame's. I guess she stopped puberty early! That or she missed something in the family that got passed to you instead!" I punched Kiba agan. "OW! WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR!"
"Well... I don't know! Probably for still being a pervert and staring at girls chests!"
"Well, Ayame's was more of a lack there of- OW! Stop hitting me!"
"Stop talking about girls chests!"
"I'm a guy! It's what guys do!"
"Oh, so guys talk about their female friends chests all the time?"
"Yeah! I mean no! NO! We don't! I mean! Guy's look at girls chests! I mean what else is there to stare at? Wait, No...NO! I DIDN'T MEA-OW!" Kiba sighed as I hit him again. I glared down at him and turned around.
"I'm going home. Tell Hana I stopped by. Aori, come." I called out.
"Hey! If it means anything, you got a nice ass too!"
"SHUT UP KIBA! AND STOP LOOKING AT ME!" I shouted over my shoulder as Aori and I walked to our home. It wasn't really that far from Kiba's, it was relatively close. It wasn't really big, but it wasn't terribly small either, it was..cozy and it was big enough for Aori to sleep in too. Speaking ofAori, she's grown! She's big enough for me to ride on, well so is Akamaru, but she isn't as big as Akamaru. I pulled out my key from my flak jacket's pocket and opened the door, Aori rushed in and I laughed at her.
Alot has changed in the past two years, I've made chuunin and saved up enough money to buy my own place, after Sasuke had left the village he left me his appartment, saying that I had more need for it then he would. (I missed Sasuke terribly, but at the same time I could never forgive him for what he did to the village and to his friends.) Hinata and Neji offered to help me move all my things from my parents house to the appartment, I was greatful. In the past two years, Hinata and I have grown to be like sisters, and well Neji, he acts like an older brother would, he is protective of both Hinata and I and it warms my heart thinking about it. He never really shows it alot, but when no ones really around he opens up alot more, usually when ever he and Hinata are over for dinner. After living in Sasuke's old appartment for a year and a half I finally had saved enough money to buy this small house around the corner from the Inuzuka's, like I had said, it wasn't huge, but wasn't terribly small, just right.
I walked into my room and set my key's on my dresser and I walked over to my bed, stopping to look at my self in the mirror. Kiba was right, I did grow as a girl, I wasn't a girl anymore but a young woman. My hair was still tied back in a really low pony tail, and my bangs still framed my face, but they were to long that the ends were pulled into my pony tale. I no longer wore my Konoha head band on my arm, but instead I had the symbol tattoed onto my left bicep and a tattoo idetical to Hana's on my right bicep. I wore my flak jacket all the time, even at the hosptial, and I had the zipper zipped down a little, it was to tight in the bust area and I can see why Kiba was staring.
"That perv. He could have at least had the decentcey to NOT look." I sighed as I un-zipped my flak jacket. I wasn't an idiot, I wore something underneith, it was just a white a low cut spegetti strapped shirt. I placed my flak jacket on my bed, I walked over to my closet and grabed a cream shirt, which the sleeves cut off at the shoulders, and a black skirt. I slipped on my casual cloths and looked at my self in the mirror; I nodded at my self and I grabbed my keys and walked out of my room. "Come on Aori, we're going to see Hinata." I called to her, she followed. We walked out of my house, but Aori turned and walked towards Kiba's house. "Aori! When I say we're going to see Hinata I don't mean we're going to Kibas!" I called to her, she just cocked her head to the side and gave me a look telling me, "but I want to go..." I sighed and shook my head, walking in the oppisite direction. "Fine go see your doggy boyfriend!" I smirked over my shoulder, Aori just nodded and continued to walk towards Kiba's house; I sighed and shook my head.
"Hey Botan!" I heard a male voice call from behind me, I turned around and smiled.
"Hey Lee, Tenten, Neji." I greeted them. "Where you guys headed off too?"
"We're going to go meet people at the BBQ place. Want to join us?" Tenten asked.
"I-I don't want to impose."
"Nonsense! Having you there would make it even more enjoyable!" Rock Lee brought and I laughed at his kindness. "And plus! It's Lina and Shibano who are buying." Ah, Lina and Shibano, I remember them, they caused such havoc around the village the past two years. I also remember Lina being the girl that I saw with Neji everyday, I think he likes her but he is to proud to admit it. I was pretty sure it was originally supposed to be Lina and Neji, but Shibano wanted food and invited people so I shook my head.
"No, It's quite alright, I was headed to see Hinata anyway."
"Aw! That is sad to hear! Perhaps one day you would let me treat you to Barbeque!" Rock Lee proposed and I laughed. He has always been able to put a smile on my face and cheer me up, even with out knowning.
"I would like that Lee, it'll be a date." I laughed at his reaction. He started smiling and doing a small dance.
"I cannot wait until our date Botan! For it will be the best date you have had yet!" Lee proclaimed. I wanted to tell him it would be my first but I couldn't ruin his moment.
"I'm sure it will be. Enjoy your evenings!" I waved at them and began my way towards HInata's house. I stopped walking when I saw two familiar figures walking towards me, I smiled when I saw who it was. "Hinata!" I extended my arm up in the air and began waving at her, and then I noticed Shino. "Hi Shino!" I greeted him as the two began walking closer.
"He-hello Botan." Hinata smiled at me, Shino nodded at me. I wasn't really close to Shino as I was with Hinata, but I began to like him and respect him as a ninja, I guess it goes with him silenting cheering Hinata on.
"Where are you headed?" I asked them.
"To-to eat some Barbeque." Hinata replied and I raised an eyebrow.
"You too?" I asked, Hinata gave me a confused look. "I just saw Lee and his team, they were going to eat Barbeque, something about how Lina and Shibano are buying." Hinata nodded.
"Ye-yes. We heard that ev-everyone was being in-invited." This sort of made me sad because no one came to find me to invite me to the festivities.
"Hey guys!" I heard Kiba's voice, I turned around and looked at him, he was walking with a familiar brown haired girl known as Shibano. "There you are Botan! We went over to your house to fetch ya!" Kiba smiled, I blushed a little bit and looked away.
"Hey I'll see you guys in side!" Shibano told us and ran inside the Barbeque place.
"So why was Aori at my house? She's usually with you." Kiba asked as the four us walked into the resteraunt.
"She wanted to back and her doggy boyfriend. Why else?" I laughed as we heard familiar voices.
"Do-doggy boy-boyfriend?" Hinata spoke up, obviously confused.
"Yeah! Can't you tell? Akamaru and Aori have a secret thing for eachother, they just don't want to comit yet. HAH!" Kiba laughed loudly, as he sat down next to Choji, near the end of the large table. Hinata and Shino sat across from Kiba, and I sat down next to him.
"Botan!" Sakura and Ino greeted me with a smile, I smiled back at them. It seemed that in the past two years Ino matured, alot, and no longer hung around Ayame, Ino says that Ayame was acting like a brat, plus she was always ditching Ino for Kiba. Ino and Sakura also became friends again after the chuunin exams, and soon Ino began hang around me alot, I remember about a year ago she said she was sorry for being mean to me and not sticting up for me around my sister, I forgave her.
"Hi guys."
"BOTAN! You are here!" Lee exclaimed with a cheerful smile and I laughed, nodding my head.
"So it seems."
"Perhaps maybe, you would still like to go on our date, even though you are here now?" Lee asked hopfully and I nodded.
"Of course, I look forward to it." Kiba gave me a weird look.
"Since when are you and Rock Lee a thing?"
"We aren't, but earlier they invited me but I didn't know everyone was coming, so Lee said he'd take me out one day." I smiled at the brown haired boy.
"Hey! You changed your cloths!" Kiba exclaimed, causing people to look over at us, I sighed and nodded.
"Yes Kiba, I did. These are my casual cloths."
"Your shirt..." Kiba started.
"What about it?"
"It's... low cut." He replied, blinking. I followed his gaze and noticed he was looking at my chest, my eye twitched and I punched him in face. "OW! WHAT THE HELL BOTAN!"
"What'd I tell you earlier! Stop looking at me!"
"Well, I can't help it! Your shorter than me and they're RIGHT THERE! I can't help but stare at them!" This time Kiba was punched not only by me, but by Sakura, Ino, Tenten and surprisngly Lina.
"YOU SHOULDN'T BE LOOKING AT A GIRLS CHEST TO BEGIN WITH!" we all shouted at him.
"Ow..."
"Tsk tsk Kiba, you should know better than to stare at a girls chest in her presence! No matter how well formed they may be." Lee glared at Kiba, then his eyes went wide when he realized Tenten, Lina, Sakura, Ino and I were glaring at him.
"What ever do you mean Lee?" Tenten gared at him.
"I-I mean that, men like us shouldn't look at you lovely ladies in such innaproprate ways!" Lee covered up nervously. We all looked at him intensly but went back to barbequeing our food.
"Hey! Why does he get away with saying something about your guy's boob's and I get punched for noticing them!"
"Because you're the one being caught looking!" Ino scolded.
"Well, it's not like I'd get caught looking at your chest!" Kiba glared at the blond, who glared at him and punched him. "OW!"
"So you only look at Botan's?" Ino asked, raising an eyebrow. "You've been single for what, a day! And you're already checking out other girls! God, Kiba you're such a dog."
"Well you know, I look like a dog and I have dogs! Put two and two together Ino!" Kiba argued. The two continued to bicker back and forth and I sighed, shaking my head. Once my meat was done cooking, I placed it on my plate and began eating it, having small convorsations with Hinata.
"Let's see how Botan feels about this! Botan!" Ino called over to me, I looked at her with a piece of beef about to be put in my mouth.
"Oh don't bother Ino! You know she isn't go to answer you! Plus I highly doubt she cares!"
"We'll see about that dog boy!" Ino glared at him. "Kiba thinks that you don't mind him staring at you inoppropriately!" I blinked at her and blushed really red.
"Hey! that's not what I said! You're twisting my words around!"
"I am not, that's exactly what you ment and you know it!"
"It is not! Why would I want to offend her!"
"I don't know! You dated her sister for over a year Kiba!"
"Hey! Don't be bringing that up! I already talked to her about it, she seems fine!"
"Yeah to you! You're a boy and are completely oblivious to the fact that the poor girl has been head over heals for you for years!" Ino spilled, my face grew redder and I looked down at my food, hiding my face. I didn't want to be here any more. I heard the table get quiet and I could feel all eyes on me.
"Wh-what? No way! Botan doesn't like me!" Kiba stuttered.
"I-I th-think tha-that's en-enough ar-arguing Kiba, Ino." Hinata spoke up, noticing how uncomfortable I was. I had thought I hid my feelings for Kiba really well, but it seems almost every one could see right through me.
"Botan doesn't like Kiba." Choji spoke up with a mouth full of beef. "She's too quiet for him. I always thought she liked Shino or Shikamaru or Uchiha. Never Kiba." He took another bite of his beef. I swallowed my last piece of beef and set my chopsticks down. I stood up, everyone's eyes were still on me. I faced them and forced a smile, pretending I wasn't embarrased at all.
"We-well tha-thank you for the me-meal. I-I have to be going now. Busy day to-tomorrow." I bowed and ran walked away from the group and out of the resteraunt. I exhaled and leaned against the wall of the building. "That was close! I should go get Aori." I mumbled to my self as I walked in the direction of the Inuzuka house. When I arrived I stopped and stared at Akamaru and Aori, who were sleeping against eachother. It was sort of cute.
"Cute, huh?" I jumped and turned around and saw Kiba leaning up against the wall. I nodded, I turned my attention back at the two dogs with a smile on my face. "I'm sorry, about at the resteraunt. I didn't mean for you to get embarrassed. I mean, it's totally awesome that you like me."
"I don't like you like that." I told him.
"Huh? But Ino said-"
"I used to...when we were kids. It was nothing but a silly childhood crush. It didn't mean anything, it went away after you ditched me for Ayame after the Thirds Funeral." I told him, still looking at Akamaru and Aori. I hated lying, it felt awful afterwards but, I didn't want Kiba to know that I wish I could have what Akamaru and Aori have, with him. I didn't want him to know at all about my feelings for him, I just wanted to keep them at the friendship level.
"Oh...I'm sorry. I-I didn't know." He apologized, I heard him walk towards me.
"It's fine. You liked Ayame, I wasn't going to stand in the way of that." I shrugged.
"You know, for someone who doesn't get along with their family, you sure do stick up for them alot."
"They're my family. In the end, all you've got is family." I told him.
"That may be true but, you've also got the family you chose and who chose you, the people that love and care for you no matter what the cost." He smiled at me and wrapped an arm around my shoulder and pulled me in a side hug. "Remember that, okay?" He asked as he looked down at me.
"Where'd that come from?"
"We're a family. All of us, we've all been through the same hardships, and we've all survived it. Everything we've went through, it's not something Ayame or your parents could ever understand. We may all be friends, but it runs deeper than that, we all share this connection that no one else has; once Naruto returns then the family will be complete." He smiled down at me, and I up at him. "Ayame couldn't understand why I would stick up for you all the time, or why I stuck up for Hinata or Naruto any of our friends. I realized that, she was never around...she was to busy doing her own thing to really care about anyone else."
"Sounds like her." I smiled and rested my head on his arm for a moment.
"Sorry to ruin the moment but, This is kind of a nice view." Kiba laughed as I elbowed him in the stomach. "Ow, sorry!"
"You idiot! We were having a nice moment and you went ahead and ruined it! You perv."
"I'm a sixteen year old guy! What do you expect from me!"
"...Obviously not much!"
"Heeey!"
"I'm going home, I'll be over in the morning to get Aori!" I pulled away from Kiba and turne around, walking towards my home.
