Author's Rant: Ok I'm trying to get back in the inspiration for this story and I think I might know where to take it now that I've deleted the parts I don't want.
Gaining Ground
Two days.
It's been two whole days and Kiba was getting absolutely nowhere fast. The deal was planned to be successful in a fourteen day time lapse but judging by the pace of how things were moving along, there might need to be an extension. If he'd been in his right mind a few days ago, he would've never agreed to help Neji bond a closer relationship with his daughter.
It was none of his business how Hyuuga raised his kid and he, himself, had his own life to live instead of rolling around Snob Hill. Bills, job, homework, Akamaru—who's been needing his special attention since getting up in old age—and now this.
Kiba had been warned by Neji that he'd be taking the full two weeks off just so the process would be much simpler to manipulate if he was around more often. Kiba agreed to the arrangement since the idea was a decent one . . . until adding two and two together, realizing that he'd have to spend all that spare of time with the icy jackass.
Don't getKiba wrong; as much as he cared for the tiniest Hyuuga and enjoyed her sweet company, Kiba still despised the Satan's favorite pupil, Neji-Jackass-Hyuuga. This was a punishment Inuzuka bestowed on himself and now look what he's gotten himself into? He was forced to listen to Neji's suggestions, they'd argue about whose ideas had better solutions and in the end Neji's intellectual comebacks wore Kiba to the point of throwing caution to the wind and saying fuck it.
Every decision he had in mind, were shot to hell. Neji refused to see from his end of the spectrum.
Like right now when Kiba had offered for today's bond time to in a more colorful environment such as the city park to make Hinata more comfortable with expressing herself? Neji disagreed explaining that they should stay in her room where she was more familiar with the scenery.
It was safe to say that they'd fell out for a few minutes after Kiba told Neji to go shove those baby blocks up his ass. A while later after he'd stood outside massaging his forehead and keeping a Bible-lock on his temper, Inuzuka sighed deeply in his chest and returned inside the neighbor fortress, submitted to doing this Neji's way.
This was doing little good during the first two hours they'd been in here. Nothing has transpired between the Hyuuga family for the pass one hundred and twenty minutes, except nervous eye exchanges and at least four words via Neji asking Hinata if she was hungry. She didn't bother to answer, but gingerly shook her head no.
Kiba was close to snatching them both to the floor and making them talk to each other but quickly thought against it for Hinata's sake. If there was one thing Kiba knew better of, it was exerting any sort of angry in front of a little child. Wouldn't he have his reasons for doing so though?
He was getting really sick of this and had to continuously remind himself that he only had twelve days to go with little help, but it's fine. This was just a favor. Nothing more. Once he finished up here he was taking his happy ass right back to his place and crashing for the rest of his life.
Until then he was going to need to do some good damage control so he could leave here with a clear conscious. "Ok," He grunted loud, snapping the pale eyes in his direction. "This is going nowhere," He turned to the male Hyuuga, giving him a disgusted once over. God this man . . . Was it possible to hate someone on sight?
Neji was decked in a dark crimson polo shirt, tucked to his waist in a pair of light khaki pants, a chocolate brown belt, some white socks and his hair tied loosely over his shoulder. This style was overkill compared to Kiba's acid stained blue jeans and jet black graphic tee with the yellow words 'Big Dog' printed on the front. His usually present sweatband was discarded for later use, giving his maple brown spikes more freedom to frame over his ears and forehead. "You wanna make the first move?"
Neji blinked at him as if he were a foreign object, "I beg your pardon?"
"Move, breathe, shake a leg, something," Kiba stood, stretching out the kinks in his arms after having to sit in this stupid yellow armchair and surveying the process. "Stop slinking in the corner like you're depressed. It's pissing me off." Then he eased a softer, and yet stern expression down to the little girl dressed in a Pooh Bear red sweater and dark blue jeans with white ribbons clamped behind her ears to keep her hair off her face. "And you babe, loosen up will ya? All these toys in this room and you wanna just sit in the bed?"
Even with that commanding order, neither Hyuuga budged from their safety zones. Kiba tooted up his bottom lip, narrowing his eyes. "Am I talkin' to myself here? Geez guys come on make some kind of effort," Still not a single word responded to his wishes. Hinata was far too timid and Neji, well Neji was just being his usual brooding self.
"Hinata," Kiba walked over to the tiny makeshift bed, his weight slanting the edge down to his end as he ruffled her mop of hair. "C'mon kiddo. Ain't there anything you wanna play with your dad? Like dollies, house, tea time?"
Hinata opened her mouth to speak, but she made the mistake of looking to her father. Neji unconsciously fixed an artic stare in her direction, freezing all reasons inside her throat as she wiggled back, shaking her head.
Kiba caught the reaction and quietly glanced off to see Neji's face scrunched in a concentrated scowl. He was going to say something to break off his hard focus, until inwardly realizing Neji probably wasn't aware he was making this expression. Hell, he does it so much it probably comes second nature when he's tensed or deeply in tuned on information. It was something Kiba discovered over the couple of days when Neji was closely studying Kiba's interaction with his daughter or when reading a book.
His eyes became tensed and specifically trained to give all his attention to one thing at a time when in heavy thought.
This, for some reason or another, gave Kiba an idea that he should've tried earlier on. "Gimme a sec," He pushed off the bed, a mile-wide grin splitting his face in half.
Neji thinned his lips, zeroing in on Kiba's retreat. "Where are you off too?"
"Shut up and stay put," This didn't hold the bite of insult as normal when Kiba made it to the door, steering his weird grin to Neji. "I'll be back. Chat for a bit until then." The door was evilly closed right behind him, sounding the click of a prison cell.
Kiba paused at the doorway, pressing his ear to the wooden entrance and waiting. This wasn't his full plan but maybe with him being present Neji couldn't perform as he should. Kiba was supposed to be his clutch but Neji was a grown ass man and didn't need to be afraid of carrying a conversation with his child.
Now alone, something would hopefully spark off.
Neji shifted ashamed to feel this uncomfortable around a toddler. His toddler to be exact and the same was happening for her. He drew in his lip between straight pearl white teeth as he dared to be the first to break this tension-thick barrier. "Darling," He mentally winched when Hinata averted her baby doll eyes to the warm colored coat of her fox teddy instead of looking him in the face.
Ok, fair enough. She was just as nervous as he was. Kiba obviously left them alone to offer him a chance on his own to see how much he could handle. The only way he'd find out is if he put in some kind of effort. So he tried once again, a bit of confidence entering his leisure stride over to her twin sized bed, turning to the side to perch his bottom on the corner.
Neji clasped his hands together, rubbing over the calloused years of hard work and paper cut wounds. He too avoided looking her straight in the eye, only side glancing her every few seconds—wait. What was wrong with him? This was his child for God's sake. How could he sit here acting as if she were some kind of vicious viper that'd strike at any given time? He had to get a hold of himself.
Taking a deep swallow of air, Neji gained better perspective of this situation and turned his torso to fully face her, eyes unknowingly willing up the look. "How have you been today?" He started off with all he had as ammo. It was a poor start but an opening none the less.
"Ok," Hinata peeped softly, face still muffled half into her teddy bear.
"That's good to hear," That chance lead to a dead end. How had he been able to ask open point questions with owners of very prestigious corporations but when it came to his own flesh and blood, she stomped him hard. He never imagined this would be so difficult. "Um," he scratched behind his neck, rubbing over the bulk tensing a hard knot from stress. "How have you liked having Kiba visiting?"
Hinata's face popped up, the first time today she was willing to look at her father as her bubble face tugged into a smile, "I happy daddy! Kiba so silly. I weally like him. He nice and funny."
. . . well . . . that was a transformation. But at least she was willing to talk. "Ah, I see. What do you like about him?"
"Kiba say funny stuffs, I laugh lots." Hinata giggled, crawling hastily to the edge of the bed to sit by daddy. "Kiba have bwig puppy. He say I see soon."
"Did he now?"
"Huhuh," Her head bobbed back and forth like an energized bobble head. "Kiba say he like tea time and pways dollies. He no like girly dolly, he like big boy dolly. Kiba say I always pway with girly stuffs."
"You don't say," Neji gently chuckled, relieved at her willingness to speak with him. He perched his elbow on the top of his knee and dropped his chin on the back of his knuckles, offering her his full attention. "Tell me more."
"Kay!" Hinata hadn't missed a beat as she amply detailed all her favorite characteristics revolving around a certain brunette, never letting up on all his basic qualities. Some of the jokes he'd told her, promises made she was sure he'd keep, and other private conversations shared that weren't so secretive anymore. Neji listened only asking one to questions in between the times she took a much needed break. He learned some very interesting things he was pretty sure Kiba didn't want relayed out to the world, but then again the young man should know better than to confide such private facts to a tiny tote.
Some of the things she said stirred a small longing in Neji's stomach; such as her endless list of fun loving and easy going talks, with the mention of him vowing to scare the monsters away. Those were things Neji should've promised her. These conveys were supposed to be reserved for him, and yet Kiba was absorbing all her devotion without so much as lifting a finger while he struggled to earn a smile.
It was neither jealousy nor anger he felt towards Kiba because of this. Maybe pinches of background envy; he was on the outside looking in. Kiba had that special something he was missing.
But what?
"Aww, would ya look at that?" Kiba playfully cooed at the doorway. "Baby girl has daddy wrapped around her widdle finger."
Neji had something to say but stopped short. Whether it was to try to maintain some kind of civility or because Kiba was standing there with a metallic tray of his best china filled with cups of something steaming. "What do you have there?"
"Tea," Kiba said simply, kicking the door shut behind him. "I figure we could have a cup, chat, discuss boys—"
"Boys are icky" Hinata interrupted.
"Always remember that babe. They spit fire and fart poison too," Kiba warned and continued. "So anyway we could talk about our hair, sample perfumes, and paint our nails, the works."
Neji blinked. "Tea?"
"Tea pawty!" Hinata squealed, scrambling over the bed—or rather her father had to grab her by the rim of her jeans and help her down before she hurried over to her plastic table set, adjusting everything for a cozy tea gathering. She'd pulled out many chairs, and in each she placed a new animal teddy or fairytale creature as her guests.
"Ok love, ya got Mr. Wuggles?" Kiba questioned as he set up the arrangements.
"He s'ck!" Hinata said from inside her walk-in closet, looking for some outfits to wear. "Mr. Wuggles, say he no come cuz' his tummy make noises."
"Aww he's got a stomach ache again eh?"
"Yep, I give him gween gooey stuffs but he no like it," Hinata crawled backwards holding up a pink sweater before scrunching her face at it and messily tossing it back inside. "He take nap so he no come today."
"Alright, more for us then."
That feeling of being on the outside looking in returned fast as Neji silently witnessed the strange conversation between Kiba and his daughter. Mr. Wuggles? How much more did Kiba know about his daughter then him?
Neji's pondering state unintentionally had him studying Kiba's movements more closely, lips pulsed in thought. Kiba wasn't a dashing handsome person, but he was ruggedly attractive in his own roguish kind of way. His dress attire could do some work, being in those odd graphic designs and stain washed jeans with the metal chain hanging loose from a belt loop. Then there was his hair. It appeared course, unkempt and possibly greasy with that expensive gel, he loved to buy, but it suited him.
Neji had come to terms with his opinions of the same sex years ago when he'd dated Sasuke during his younger days as a secret lover. Even then he didn't fully allow himself to think he was into men, until attempting to pursue Naruto for himself. Luckily no harm was cause and the events lead to them being close friends, but since then Neji had experienced dating his own gender. Only three men had tickled his fancy but only to warm his bed and to keep from getting emotionally attached.
He hadn't tried for getting into a relationship. He had too much going on to consider one.
But that didn't stop his eyes from wandering over potential lovers.
Kiba wasn't what he'd say an ugly fiend. Far from it really. He did fairly well with his boyish charm, that toothy grin and the tattoos . . . well they were very fitting on him on his deep tanned skin. It's just his background left much to be desired and add that to his horrible temper, and smart mouth.
No. Neji couldn't find himself being able to handle such a firecracker. He'd likely get high blood pressure and suffer a stroke if having to deal with Kiba on a forever scale.
"Yo!" A large hand waved in Neji's face, snapping him from his mental observation to find the subject of his thoughts standing in front of him, hands on his narrow hips and eyebrow cocked with an attitude. "Ya comin' over to sip tea? We ain't got all day ya know."
Neji frowned, "What kind of tea?"
"Sweet."
The frown hardened a tad, "I don't do well with sweets."
"To damn bad 'cause I ain't making more," Kiba looped his fingers around Neji's forearm, yanking him off the bed and rudely shoving him to the tea set. He'd under estimated Neji's body strength because when the taller man refused to budge, Kiba wasn't moving him.
Neji held firm, looking over his shoulder at the person, still trying to move him forward. "Stop already. You're wasting your time."
"Why won't you go?" Kiba angrily hissed, using his shoulder to push forward.
"What am I supposed to do?"
Kiba gave up and walked around the idiot to snap his fingers in his face, "Drink tea and be hearty. You can't be this naïve." At Neji's serious look Kiba knew he was indeed being honest. "Have you ever played with her before?"
"No and who told you to mess with my china set?"
"That's not the point jerk. Why haven't you ever played with her?"
Neji's eyebrows surged pass his hairline as if it were plainly obvious, "I'm a grown adult, Inuzuka. How will it look for my daughter if she sees her father playing with imaginary—things? She'll get the wrong idea about her paternal authority and assume her father is weak. Is that what you want her to believe?" he spat.
"No, I'm hoping she'll realize that you're actually human," Kiba returned just as coldly. He rolled his eyes and turned on his heel. "Fine stay there being a dick. Guess you don't wanna make a difference with your own kid—" A vise like grip coiled around his bicep. Kiba was getting this intense sense of déjà vu.
"Fine," Neji lowly agreed. "I'll try but I'm not able to drink sweet tea. I don't have the stomach for anything sugary."
"Yeah, yeah, just lemme go," Kiba snatched his arm free and went to join the tiny girl who thankfully been too busy putting on the finishing touches to her little party to pay her father and friend's scuffle any mind.
The little rainbow decorated chairs were far too small for Kiba to bend and sit on. His weight would make the fragile structure collapse so he chose to sit Indian style on the opposite end, lightly pushing side some of the teddies. Hinata picked out a purple animal printed chair and sat her plump bottom there, all smiles. "Weady?" She beamed.
"Of course," Kiba cleared his throat and picked up the lukewarm kettle pot, tilting it over into one china cup at a time. "How was your day Ms. Golden Week? You look lovely this morning." His voice deepened and he upturned his nose, snobbishly.
"T'ank you. I be good Mistew Monday," Hinata tried not to giggle as she fell into her older womanly tone. "You make lots of monies at cookie shop?"
"Yes, but it does get rather dreary there sometimes. I cooked a batch of chocolate chips, but Ms. Thursday refused to eat them."
Hinata gasped. "She bwig meanie!" She leaned over and patted his hand sorrowfully. "It ok Mistew Monday, I eat cookies ta'night ok?"
Kiba appeared fakely stunned as he cupped a hand over his chest, "Why thank you Ms. Golden Week. I'm very touched."
"Hmph," Hinata up turned her nose, taking a clumsy sip of tea. "It fine. Ms. Thuwsday stupid poop face."
"Hinata!" Gasped Kiba, wagging his finger. "Young ladies shouldn't say such naughty things."
"Yes, I sorry."
Neji hadn't the slightest idea what was going on. Kiba had went from scolding him like a child to being this new person in a sort of role playing scene with his child. She was just as into the play as he was, sipping tea, talking to the inanimate creatures, all the while revealing this side of her he couldn't say he'd ever seen.
He didn't know what possessed him to venture further. He wanted a closer view maybe? Perhaps to comprehend to some degree what it was these two could share that he couldn't.
Neji was beside the table, towering over the made up conversations, looking like a sore thumb as all eyes suddenly turned to him. Yes, he even felt the teddy bears were glaring at him as if he'd interrupted some juicy gossip.
Hinata balled up her bottom lip, tilting her head to the side at her father, then looked to Kiba.
Kiba was too busy giving Neji a look, like he needed to fuck off or say something. But with seeing how stuck in the twilight zone he was, Kiba decided to lean a hand, mentally shaking his head at the person who was supposed to be smarter than him. "Ms. Golden Week," he said in his phony rich man's voice. "Do you mind? I invited my friend Mr. Friday over for a spot of tea and he was running a bit late."
"Oh?" Hinata blinked up at her father surprised. "Daddy you Mistew Fwiday?"
The ball was thrown in Neji's court. He gulped, had felt the deep pull of nervousness before he said slow and precise, "Yes, I am."
Kiba's scowl disappeared, replaced with a cooler smile. "How come you're so late Mr. Friday? Were you busy at the Candy store with Ms. Valentine?"
Neji paused, then caught on, "Oh yes, yes I was busy. We had a shipment of . . . of," Come on. He could do this. "Ginger snaps come in late."
"Ew," Hinata grimaced.
"I mean gingerbread men and gum drops," He fastly corrected. "The ginger snaps are for that terrible Ms. Thursday."
Kiba mouthed good job and padded the space next to him. "Take a load off Mr. Friday."
Neji took his place on the floor, bumped on the shoulder by Kiba who winked at him and pushed over a cup of tea. "So," Kiba chuckled darkly. "Tell us about your job at the Candy Shop while you drink up. The tea is to die for."
Drink sweet tea. Right . . . this was going to be a long tea party.
But Neji was willing to try.
And for once he could say he was glad Kiba was near to help him. Though it was a quiet secret he'd keep to himself.
TBC: I'm trying guys. Bare with me^_^.
