Yo! Chapter two is here. It took me soooo long to get over my lazy but finally I got around to it!~ Hinata is so cute, I love her lots and I'm glad to be writing this so I hope you reader-tachi like it too!

Enjoy~~

The day went as per normal. Natsuki was a real social butterfly and the other kids loved her right away. She had easily befriended two of the other girls of the small group of children that came to the kindergarten and played happily all day. The oldest child, Touya, who fancied himself as somewhat of a leader of the boys group, had even let her play tag with them when they all went outside to play near the end of the day. She fit right in with everyone. Right now, she, Touya and three other boys were lying on the grass on the far side of the yard with their eyes closed and their faces all dappled pink from running and laughing. Hinata watched them fondly as she sat on the edge of the sand pit with two of the girls, her jeans rolled up and her bare feet buried in the sand. Erika and Momoka were pushing their little hands down as far as they could which presently, was up to their elbows.

It was nearing the end of the day; very close to three o'clock Hinata thought. She was yet to air out the futons that the children had napped on and water the flowers that ran along the length of the short brick fence out the front of the kindergarten. Then there was cleaning up...

The sun was warm.

Maybe later.

Slowly, parents were beginning to trail in through the gates, met by their children who came skipping to their mummy or daddy and hugging them around their legs, already babbling excitedly about the events of the day. Hinata stayed seated knowing that none of the parents expected to her to get up and come and talk because mostly the children who attended her kindergarten had done so for quite some time and if they had something to discuss they would come over themselves. Either they that or they were rushing and had to be on their way quickly. Hinata waved at each one and smiled at the children as they called, "Bye bye Hinata sensei!"

Naruto was the next parent to come. He stood looking slightly lost at the gates, casting around for his daughter. Hinata wondered if she should get up.

"Daddy!" shrieked Natuski, jumping up from her grassy spot and flying across the yard straight at her father whose face lit up in one of his dazzling smiles and bent his knees to receive her. Natsuki didn't slow for one second and when she came close enough, Naruto caught her under the arms and pulled her into his arms, her legs flying out on contact from the speed of her approach. The tiny girl giggled wildly in delight and Naruto snuggled his cheek into her curls and then covered her face in kisses. The sun warmly lit the scene and both of their eyes were closed into their smiles. Natsuki was as adorable and charming as her father. Hinata really couldn't do a thing. She was weak against him. Naruto let Natsuki kiss him softly on the lips, her little hands splayed on his whiskered cheeks. So cute and Hinata couldn't help but laugh as she got to her feet as she spotted one of the mothers standing by the fence waiting for her out of the corner of her eye.

Clearly Naruto had missed having his daughter around all day.

The woman at the fence spoke to Hinata about her son not coming in next week because they were going away but the teacher wasn't really paying attention. She knew it was very rude and she hoped the other female couldn't see the way her eyes kept skipping from side to side to watch Naruto from behind her big dark sunglasses.

A few high school boys walked past and the woman left, leaving Hinata free to gaze at the man at the gate, unable to leave the kindergarten because Natsuki was insisting on having her daddy meet all of her new friends.

As she watched, one of the high school boys from a moment before stopped to tap Naruto on the shoulder, letting his friends go ahead and Hinata was graced with a completely new side of Uzumaki Naruto. His handsome features twisted into a confident smirk as the two males bumped fists and Naruto puffed out his chest slightly as the two began to interact.

The student was shorter than Naruto with raggy brown hair and two triangle strips of red, painted Hinata assumed, on his cheeks. His smile was crooked and sarcastic. The uniform shirt he wore was untucked and his top two buttons popped open, the collar unpressed. The boy moved his arms to swing a pretend bat to demonstrate something and Naruto nodded as he picked Natsuki back up, holding her carefully in the crook of one arm.

In an instant both male's faces softened and Hinata watched Naruto introduce Natsuki to the boy. Bending to look into Natsuki's face, the boy smiled widely and spoke gently to the little girl who nodded and took his three fingers when he offered his hand for her to shake. Naruto used his free hands to half jokingly punch the boy in the face when he muttered something with a mocking face. He backed away a step and a half with his hands up showing his palms looking half apologetic and half teasing. Naruto was frowning but lightened up after a moment and clapped a hand on the boy's shoulder before turning to wave at Hinata who blushed and waved shyly back, and left with Natsuki waving over his shoulder. Hinata lowered her hand, replaying Naruto's smile as he waved at her in her mind. It was so warm and he had looked right at her...

But it was useless being hopeful wasn't it...

The high school student remained, his eyes on Hinata. And then he started walking down the footpath towards her and she wasn't quite sure what she should do. There were other children left to look after and play with but with the boy walking toward her she couldn't very well leave when he was looking right at her. So she stood and nervously fingered the pocket of her apron.

"Hiya," he said casually and now that he was close Hinata could see that he didn't look half as young as he had standing with Naruto. He wasn't a boy, but a man and looked a bit too old for high school. He was tall, but not as tall as Naruto but she would still have to lift her chin to look at him, which she didn't. His eyes were narrow and twinkled mischievously. Hinata raised her soft purple eyes to him through her fringe when he called to her, her gaze running around the edges of the markings on his face and finding no shaky lines or paintbrush strokes. Not painted?

"Hey," he said.

"Hello," she replied.

"I'm Inuzuka Kiba," he said. Hinata introduced herself too giving him a strange look.

Just randomly talking to strangers? The boy seemed a little over friendly but she didn't know whether she should be wary or not.

"I know who you are Hinata sempai, or Hinata sensei I guess it is now," replied Kiba and Hinata's eyes widened and she did lift her face to him this time.

"I-I-I'm sorry, I-I." She had no idea who he was. She flushed, embarrassed by her stuttering but he just laughed.

"We went to the same school but I know you don't know who I am. Kinda kept to yourself I remember. But we've never spoken before, I just sorta know you by name. And by face I guess," said Kiba, shifting his weight to his other leg. Hinata just stood with her mouth open but no words forming.

"You were second year when I started high school," he added helpfully. Hinata did the math and looked to him questioningly.

"Then you should be finished. I've been finished two years this year. I'm 20 and you should be 19..." she said, falling into the conversation's pace.

"Yeah but I uhh..." This time it was Kiba's turn to blush. "I failed my last year so I'm repeating this year..."

"Oh..." Hinata stood back.

So he was a rebel. A rebel might be dangerous to the children...

Kiba lifted his hands defensively and showed her his palms just as he had with Naruto.

"Hey, hey, I'm not a bad guy, I'm just not that focused. I'm doing it right this year, for real Hinata sempai."

"That's good I guess," Hinata murmured smiling a little, still a bit unsure why the boy was being so friendly but not really feeling uncomfortable. He seemed nice enough.

"So...How come you're only one year older than me and you're running a kindy all on your lonesome?" asked Kiba. The woman blinked.

"Oh um, my family owns this place and my mother used to look after it but she got sick and passed away last year so I um... took over." Explained Hinata, feeling a pang of sadness in her chest.

"Oh, I'm sorry..."

"Its alright, I'm doing fine."

Awkward.

"So, how do you know Uzumaki san," ventured Hinata, proud of herself for being the one to change the atmosphere. Kiba smiled knowingly at her and she blushed under his sharp eyes, feeling her lips tremble even though she wasn't about to speak.

"We played baseball together when I was a first year and he was a second so we got to know each other pretty well." Hinata nearly passed out.

Naruto had gone to Konoha High? And she had never come across him? How? Wait! Second year? Hinata's year? He was only 20? He sure hadn't waited long to start a family... Highschool sweetheart?

Kiba read her surprise.

"Like I said, you kept to yourself." He grinned. Hinata flushed.

"Oh... Mmm I suppose I did..."

"You're pretty much heads and heels for Naruto sempai aren't you?" asked Kiba abruptly.

Hinata's breath hitched. "What, no I... I'm not I just...!" she stumbled and once again Kiba laughed, his tone a little mocking but not malicious. He was amused.

"You've got it pretty bad; you go bright red whenever I say anything about him."

"I don't..." protested Hinata feebly.

"You so do, I probably don't even have to say 'Naruto', just 'Uzumaki' or like, 'orange' will do it." Hinata's face grew red as Kiba teased her, tucking her chin in and looking up at him with an embarrassed pout on her beet red face. There was a silence and suddenly Hinata was aware that all the other children had gone home in the last few minutes without her noticing.

"That's kind of miserable, liking him," said Kiba not looking at her, his gaze across to where he and Naruto had stood at the gate. Hinata looked too.

"Yeah."

"So you know then..." the boy asked, trailing off. Hinata knew that he was awkward about finishing the sentence with something like "that he's not over his wife". He was a single father, Hinata knew because he did more than just dropping Natsuki off. He did the shopping and he was overflowing with love enough to come from at least two people for his little girl. But he must have made Natsuki, so beautiful and bright with someone he loved so much. That kind of incomprehensible love...

"Yes," she replied. She felt Kiba's eyes on her.

"You can't help it though right?" Hinata felt uncomfortable.

"Mmmm..."

Silence.

"I have to go home," said Kiba after a minute.

"Y-yes I suppose you should."

"I'll see you tomorrow I guess. I walk this way you know."

"Goodbye Inuzuka kun," said Hinata with a small smile that was returned with a wolfish grin and a, "Kiba is fine, Hinata sempai."

He adjusted his bag and was on his way. Hinata went in to air the futons, her head already full of Naruto as soon as she was alone with herself.

Useless right?