Toko has the courage...or does alcohol have something to do with it? Or a certain mischievous dog? Read to find out and if I don't at least get a few reviews for this one, I don't know that I'm going to want to continue.

Chapter 4: I Love You

Toko made her way home, not sure why she felt like breaking down all of a sudden. Just as she was getting ready to turn the corner she ran into Kakashi. She had talked to him on occasion but never in depth so found it unusual when he spoke to her. "Hey, what seems to be the problem?" He was slumped, one hand in his pocket the other holding one of his Icha icha paradise books.

"Nothing. I'm fine." She sighed, not wanting to explain it to a man she barely knew.

"Well where's Kiba, you're usually went him. I figured if I ran into you, I'd find him." Kakashi arched his eyebrow at her and she just sighed again.

"H-he's on a date. With Sakura."

"A date with Sakura?" Toko wasn't sure if it was hurt she heard in the mans voice but by the expression his eye gave, he didn't like the sounds of it at all. "Well how would you like to hang with me for a little bit. I may not be much fun, but I'll at least treat you to something." She could barely make out the smile that laid under the mask.

"I guess, but I have to drop these groceries off first." She gave a hint of a smile, not sure if she should be happy that a man nearly twice her age was offering her dinner but did her best to not think much of it.

"I'll help with those." He offered a hand to her taking a couple of the bags and followed her to the house. Her mother was home and looked at Toko curiously when she saw Kakashi following behind her, more groceries in hand.

"I just ran into her. Offered to eat dinner with her tonight since she didn't seem to have the company of Kiba." Kakashi chuckled as he tried explaining it and Toko merely glared at the man as they quickly departed before her mother had time to respond. The trip to wherever he was treating her to dinner was short and right before they turned the corner he told her to close her eyes. She never caught the name but when they sat down and she opened her eyes, they had managed to end up at the same place as Kiba, Sakura and the others.

"Kakashi! What are you up to!" She yelled at him in a whisper and watched as he rubbed the back of his head.

"I-I have a confession...wow this is really hard. I'm kind of in love with Sakura." He chuckled, "And when you told me Kiba was on a date with her-"

"Crazy psychotic man entered the picture." Toko finished off his sentence, laughing at him and realized she had gained the attention of the group.

"Hey it's Kakashi and Toko!" Naruto yelled across, "You two should come join us!"

"Whatever you say Naruto." Kakashi rolled his eyes, standing up. Obviously things were going the way he planned and Toko followed. When she went to sit inbetween Sakura and Kakashi, she felt a hand catch her arm. She looked down to find Kiba's eyes nearly pleading her to sit next to him and abided only to find that the minute Sakura and Kakashi were next to each other they couldn't take their eyes off of one another. "She kept bringing him up." Kiba whispered in her ear, sending shivers down her spine.

The shivers didn't go unnoticed by him and he asked, "Are you cold? Here use my vest." Not realizing he was the one to blame for the sudden shivers.

"So Toko! We hear you're going to be eighteen tomorrow! A fall birthday eh, that's pretty awesome for you." Naruto began making conversation and Toko blushed almost as bad as Hinata used to.

"Y-yeah. I-I guess." When she couldn't get herself to calm down she felt Kiba's hand rubbing her back trying to soothe her and let her know it was okay. No one was here to interrogate her, that's what she had to remember but she had gotten used to only hanging out with people one on one that when it came to groups, she didn't know how she was supposed to be.

"Hey we're all friends here, right guys!" Naruto laughed, "It's okay Toko, anyone who's a friend of Kiba's is a friend of ours. Believe it."

This caused Toko to giggle, "You're just as rambunctious as Kiba said."

"And so she speaks!" Naruto said it as if it was a declaration causing everyone to burst out laughing.

"I think I'm going to go get a couple drinks, anyone want anything." Kiba was grinning ear to ear as he stood up asking the group, "I want a shot of whiskey!" Naruto took up the offer quickly.

"Make that three." Sakura spoke up, glaring at Naruto. He should of known perfectly well that he wasn't the only one who drank whiskey.

"You want anything Toko?"

"Um Kiba,, she can't-" Naruto was intervening and Kiba glared at him, "I'll cover, if anyone tries saying anything."

"Just a strawberry Daquiri." Everyone stared at her in awe that she even knew alcoholic beverages and she pointed out, "I'm a teenager, I'm going to try things. And I shouldn't drink something as strong as whiskey. Mom will pick up on it quickly."

They all just shrugged it off and let Kiba get the drinks, enjoying the rest of their night amongst friends and food. Just as quickly as it began, it ended. Kakashi taking Sakura home (the others sure they were now an item) and Naruto and Hinata heading off to their apartment, leaving Kiba and Toko to one another once more. They walked out into the brisk air of the night and Toko was glad he had let her borrow his vest as she wrapped it tightly to her form. "So that was fun." Kiba leaned down as they walked, grinning at her.

"Y-yeah." She slurred, she had had a bit more than intended, "Who who would've knowwwn. That we'd all get to spend time with the one's we like." She had no consciousness of what she was saying, but her innerself was screaming, "Shut up! Shut up! SHUT UP!"

"One's they like?" His eyebrows were arched and he had stopped walking, grabbing her arm, "Toko, why won't you just admit it!"

"Admit what?" She giggled still slurring but slowly she was coming down from the buzz.

"Toko. I think, I like you and last night I was sure you said you loved me. Why won't you just admit it?" He was nearly begging.

When he told her he liked her, it hit her hard, and she was wide awake, "Kiba, I-" She looked up at him, they were so close to each other, faces merely inches away. And before she could finish the sentence, Akamaru shoved her into Kiba, closing the space between them, she kissed him. When they pulled out of it, both were flushed, "I love you." She whispered.