Wow...it has been a LONG time since I've been on here! Sorry folks! Well here it is, the VERY delayed chapter 2 of Sweet memories. And thanks to everyone who reviewed! Particularly RAIKIM4everlover :) I thought I had posted chapter 2 up a long time ago but obviously I didn't! So thank you for the review!
Now read, enjoy and comment below! :P
Hinata awoke to find something large and wet nudging her face. She was about to scream when she realised that the large wet thing was in fact Akamaru's nose. "H-hello Akamaru." She reached out her hand and stroked the large dog's muzzle. She smiled as he wagged his tail and nuzzled her hand. "Where is everyone?" She asked herself, it wasn't until then that she realised she was in a hospital bed at the Konoha hospital. How did I get here? Did I pass out during the mission? Hinata was deep in thought about what had happened when she was disturbed by the sound of an opening door. It was Kiba, her team-mate walking in with a large bag in his hand.
"Hinata! You're awake!" The look of relief on his face caused a slight blush to appear on Hinata's face. Why am I blushing? It's only Kiba. He walked over to the bed and sat himself in the visitor's chair next to it.
"Hello Kiba-kun. I'm sorry for passing out on the mission." She looked down at her hands; yet again she had ruined another mission.
"Don't apologise Hinata. No one could have known about that trap. It wasn't your fault." She gazed at him with gratitude in her eyes. Somehow he always knew what to say to make her feel better.
"Um, Kiba-kun? Could you, could you tell me what happened during the mission? Kiba stared at her in shock which caused her to blush again. What's wrong with me? I shouldn't be blushing. She thought.
"You don't remember? Well I guess it's not surprising with what happened." He looked at her for a moment before he continued. " I'm not sure how much you remember so I guess I'll start from the beginning. Do you remember what Shino's insects found?" Hinata nodded to show that she did. "Good. Well after that Kurenai sensei told you to search the area with your byakugan. He paused, as if the next part was difficult to say.
"Please Kiba-kun, tell me what happened." Hinata urged him to continue. He looked at her, his eyes fighting back tears.
" I'm not sure what happened but. You started screaming. It…it was terrifying." Hinata could do nothing but stare at him. The only other time she had ever known him to cry was when Akamaru was infected by a ninja from another village. The pathogen had caused Akamaru to transform into a larger, feral version of himself and attack everyone including Kiba. It was a good thing that Kiba was able to inject him with a vaccine that destroyed the pathogen and saved Akamaru's life. Hinata gently placed her hands on top of Kiba's shaking ones. He gaped at her for a moment before it was his turn to blush.
"Kiba-kun, please don't be upset. I'm OK now honestly I am." And she meant it to, since waking up she hadn't felt the slightest bit different. In fact, she felt very refreshed, as if she had just stepped out of a hot spring. Kiba studied her as if trying to see if she was lying. Eventually his face softened and he sighed as he spoke.
"Well OK then, if you're sure you're OK." He smiled at her but she could tell that he was still convincing himself that she really was OK "Oh yeah I almost forgot!" Kiba said as he reached for the bag that he had put on the floor when he came in. "I got you some food when I went out, but I couldn't remember what people give to each other when they're in hospital so I just got a bit of everything." As he was saying this he tipped the contents of the bag on to the bed, Hinata's eyes widened as she saw a variety of fruits, pastries and chocolates roll out of the bag.
"Oh Kiba-kun you really didn't have to!" she gasped as she eyed up a particularly tasty looking cinnamon bun. At this Kiba grinned before picking up one of the pastries.
"Well it wasn't too much trouble and besides, I was hungry to!" They both laughed and tucked into the food. Kiba really is the best friend a person could have, Hinata thought as she ate. She noticed how his scruffy brown hair complemented his deep chestnut-brown eyes and wondered why she hadn't really noticed how attractive he actually was. No Hinata! What are you doing he's your best friend! You're just friends! You're just… Her thoughts were interrupted as Kurenai entered the room followed by Lady Tsunade.
"Hello Hinata how are you feeling?" Tsunade asked as she looked over Hinata's medical charts. She couldn't help but wonder why the Hokage would visit her personally. Isn't she busy with her duties as the Hokage?
"I feel fine Lady Hokage, Thank you for asking." Hinata replied to the Hokage's question as she watched her walk around the edge of the bed. It was becoming increasingly obvious that she wasn't here to check on Hinata's condition and she knew it.
"That's good to hear. Are you up for answering a few questions?" She nodded her head and answered the Hokage's questions as best she could. The first few questions were simple; they were just to check how much she remembered before she activated her byakugan. After that she began her report on what she saw beneath the building they had searched.
"The building was clear; no evidence of anyone being there recently, but beneath the building was a cavern. It was incredible, it must have been close a kilometre long and was completely natural. I couldn't find any way to get to it from the surface either."
"I see. Was anyone in the cavern? Was there anything that suggested Orochimaru was there?" Lady Tsunade pressed on with the questions.
"I…I can't remember. I'm sorry Lady Hokage." Hinata tried to remember what caused her to pass out but every time she tried to remember a wave of fear would wash over her. Something had made her lose consciousness, and that same thing didn't want her to remember what happened.
"It's alright Hinata, just go home and get some rest, report back to me if you remember anything."
"Yes Lady Hokage." Hinata replied she watched the Hokage leave the room. Once the door was closed behind her everyone seemed to relax a little.
"Hinata, I think I should warn you. When I told your father about the mission he didn't take it well. You may get another lecture when you go home." Hinata nodded to show she understood. To be honest she wasn't surprised that her father was displeased; he had never truly accepted her as his daughter. She didn't know the real reason for his behaviour but she always felt it was because she was weaker than everyone in her age group. Kurenai left after that leaving Hinata and Kiba alone. It wasn't uncomfortable for Hinata to be alone with him it was just…..different.
"Hinata? You are alright aren't you?" Kiba knew her well enough to know that something wasn't quite right, but he couldn't tell if it was just him or if she really had changed. It was subtle but he had noticed it, she was shier around him. Most people wouldn't notice but he did. And there was something else too, he was totally sure but he thought she….smelt different.
"Don't worry Kiba I'm OK I promise, I just want to get out of the hospital." A grin spread across Kiba's face that made Hinata want to smile back.
"If you want to get out of here I could give you a ride on Akamaru's back." That really did make Hinata smile, Kiba hardly ever let anyone ride on Akamaru's back and the last time he let her it had made her feel brilliant, she felt stronger and more alive than ever before.
"Uh huh!" Hinata replied as she nodded with a smile across her lips.
"Alright then! C'mon!" Kiba said loudly as he grabbed her wrist and tried to lead her out of the hospital.
"K-Kiba wait!" Kiba turned around and was about to ask her what was wrong but he could see what was wrong. When they had brought her to the hospital they had changed her out of her shinobi uniform and into a hospital gown.
"Ah…err…sorry Hinata. I'll….just…wait outside." Kiba had turned red as he let go of Hinata and left the room with Akamaru following him. After about 5 minutes Hinata left her hospital room fully kitted in her shinobi uniform. Like everyone else her age Hinata's uniform was specially made for her. She had the usual shinobi shirt, sandals and trousers that fit her perfectly but on top of that she wore a long lilac jacket with a white hood and sleeves. Her leaf shinobi head band had never once been worn on her forehead, she felt more comfortable wearing it around her neck.
"Ready to go Hinata?" Kiba was waiting in the hallway just as he said he would be, with Akamaru waiting by his side. Hinata smiled and nodded but before she could say anything Kiba picked her up by her waist and put her on Akamaru's back.
"Kiba w-we can't ride Akamaru through the hospital!" Hinata almost whispered it as she watched Kiba sit in front of her on Akamaru.
"Sure we can! We won't get trouble…well not much anyway. Hold on!" Akamaru suddenly shot forward and raced down the halls, getting more than a few shouts from angry medical ninjas.
"Kiba!" Hinata screamed as she held onto Kiba for dear life. She loved riding around on Akamaru but it always terrified her when he ran. They ran out of the hospital before anyone could catch them and headed down the busy streets of Konoha.
By now Hinata had relaxed enough to enjoy the ride; Akamaru was running across the roofs of the buildings so as not to cause any more trouble in the streets. Hinata had always liked the view from the rooftops and especially loved the view from the Hokage faces.
They continued to race across the rooftops and Hinata couldn't help but smile, I've smiled a lot today she thought as she leaned against Kiba. She could feel every muscle in Akamaru's body move underneath his fur. She had never really noticed before but she could feel the muscles in Kiba's body move in perfect sync with Akamaru. She couldn't help but think that they were born to be partners.
The ride across the village ended far too quickly for Kiba, but they was nothing he could do about it, they had arrived at Hinata's home…her father's home. Suddenly things were not so fun any more. He jumped from Akamaru's back and helped Hinata down. She wasn't smiling any more and that brought up so many emotions in him that he never felt around anyone else. He wanted to scoop Hinata up in his arms and destroy anyone who took her smile away from her. He hated her father, sure he had disliked a lot of people but Hiashi Hyuga was the only person he truly hated.
"Thanks for letting me ride on Akamaru's back Kiba, I had fun." Hinata gave him a half-hearted smile before turning towards the mansion-like home that was more like a prison to her.
"Hinata?" Kiba called out without thinking and had to try to come up with something to say before things became awkward.
"Yes?" Hinata said as she turned back to him wondering if anything was wrong.
"I…well err…don't forget you still have to train with me OK. " Kiba silently cursed himself for saying something stupid but he couldn't change that now so instead he grinned at her. But to his surprise she giggled at him.
"Don't worry Kiba-kun I haven't forgotten. I'll meet at the training grounds tomorrow OK, Usual time?" Kiba was a little stunned with what she had just said to him Kiba-kun? Since when did she start calling me Kiba-kun? He didn't think about it long though, instead he grinned even more at her and started to walk back towards Akamaru.
"Tomorrow it is then. See ya Hinata!" He waved before jumping back to the rooftops and heading home. Hinata waved back and watched her team-mate leave. He really is a nice guy she thought. Smiling to herself she opened the gates only to find her father waiting for her inside.