Well, here it is - chapter 7! I got a bit lazy during the holidays, so I didn't write as much as planned, but I started again the other week and wrote two chapters in one sitting! I had Pray - TommyHeavenly6 as background music.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy it - let me know either way! :)

Thanks again to everyone for commenting, reviewing and mailing me with suggestions and support!

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Kiba's full attention was on Hanabi's body pressed against him; his lips locked with hers. He didn't notice the rain had stopped. He also failed to notice the presence of Naruto and Hinata standing behind him.

"Ahem."

Kiba stood straight and looked up, facing the pine tree the couple were leaning against. His head turned slowly as he stepped discretely away from Hanabi.

"What was that about, bro?" Naruto asked, barely able to stop himself from grinning from ear to ear. Finally, he had some dirt on Kiba.

"Ahh... uhh.. well..." Kiba laughed nervously, scratching his head. "Hanabi had something in her eye you see, so I was just helping her to get it out, you know?"

He felt a sharp elbow in his ribs, origin: Hanabi. The dog ninja didn't dare look at her, for fear of what was in her eyes.

Naruto's grin widened as he crossed his arms. "Oh really? Well that's awfully generous of you, isn't it Kiba? You're such a gentleman, aren't you! Isn't he, Hinata?"

Hinata nodded slowly, desperately trying to follow what was going on.

"So, did you manage to get it on...oh sorry, I mean... get it out?" Naruto asked smugly.

Kiba's cheeks were getting redder by the second. He spoke slowly and deliberately. "Yes Naruto, we got the pine needle out of her eye, so it's no big deal."

He glared at his blonde friend, daring him to pursue the dangerous path he was treading. In response he got a wink and a shrug. "Well that's great, we wouldn't want a Hyuuga going blind; what a waste of a bloodline limit!"

"Oh shut up, fox ass!" Hanabi piped up.

She was fuming. She was shaking, but not from the cold anymore. This was pure, concentrated rage. It exuded from her every pore, in every direction. Kiba took another step away.

"All of you, just shut up! Honestly! I can't believe you!" she exclaimed, glaring at Naruto. "Or you, for that matter!" she began yelling, this time turning her attention to Kiba. "All of you... just... just... die! Argh!"

With that said, Hanabi ran into the woods, a confused Hinata running after her trying to catch up.

"Oh, great work, fucktard." Kiba hissed, pushing Naruto in the chest.

His friend grinned as he took a step back. "Hey, let's give credit where credit is due, pedo-"

"Don't you even dare!" Kiba growled, fist raised.

The blonde ninja's eyes flashed conspiratorially. "Well, at least we're even now."

"How do you figure that?"

"The pants issue; you've forgotten already?"

Kiba shook his head and groaned. "Dude, your memory is way too long when it really doesn't need to be. Besides, I've already made up for that thanks to your recently acquired drinking problem."

Naruto wrapped an arm around Kiba's neck and whispered, "That may be true, but at least this makes things a lot more... interesting, eh?"

The blonde winked again before Kiba pushed him away. He was beginning to get annoyed with Naruto's cocky attitude. "Seriously dude, if you mention this to anyone..."

Naruto was already sauntering out of the woods, hands in pockets.

"Naruto, I said if you mention this to anyone-"

The blonde shinobi waved a hand in the air and yelled back, "Yeah, yeah, I got it. Besides, how long have you known me? You know I've got your back!"

Kiba watched his friend walk back to the village and wondered what to do next. Should he return to the village, or go looking for the girls? Hanabi didn't seem to be impressed with the excuse he gave when they were found out, but what was he supposed to say? Not two hours earlier he'd considered her just a friend, his teammate's little sister. She was dangerous prey. He knew that and surely she must realise the severity of the situation he was in. He sighed audibly. He would have to 'talk' about this with her, to clear the air and make sure they both knew what was going on, and where it was going to lead; if anywhere. Kiba grimaced. He hated 'talks'. Girls always wanted them. 'But I only want to know what you're feeling...' 'It'll bring us closer to each other...' 'When you say that, it makes me feel...' 'Does this dress make my butt look big?' He rolled his eyes as he remembered the hours and hours of painful attempts of various girls trying to draw his 'feelings' out.

This time it couldn't be helped though. The situation needed to be clarified somehow, regardless of how this was going to end. He couldn't let it go as it was and risk being accused of leading the girl astray. Kiba, tired and broken, set off home.

Bastard, bastard, bastard! Hanabi repeated as a mantra in her head as she ran from the group. That bastard! How could he? He was given a perfect opportunity to tell both his sister and her...boyfriend -she cringed at the word- how they felt about each other. Why didn't he? Had she really misread the signals? Was she just a plaything to him after all; all well and good in private, but not 'girlfriend material'?

Tears streamed down her face as she raced through the woods, branches and twigs scraping at her face and clothes. She vaguely heard her sister yelling her name in the background, but she didn't want to talk to her now. It was all too mortifying. That nine-assed fox knew exactly what was going on, too! That was the worst of it! Those two were probably back there laughing over the foolish young Hyuuga who was so easily led into his arms.

Infuriated, she continued running until she reached a grove. She stopped suddenly and stood at the edge, panting and glancing across the unlikely empty space placed deep in the woods. She heard footsteps behind her; Hinata had finally caught up.

"I don't want to talk about it."

Hinata said nothing, but took her sister's hand in hers and squeezed it.

"I mean it, there's nothing to talk about. It's my life and I am sixteen you know! I'm old enough to take care of myself!"

Her older sister nodded and stood silently, waiting.

Hanabi glared at her sister and shook her hand free. "I know what you're doing, so back off! There's nothing to talk about, and even if there was, I wouldn't talk about it with you!"

She saw the last words stung, but she was still too furious to care. It was all just too frustrating! Nothing seemed to be going right! She wasn't a great believer in fate, unlike most of the Hyuuga clan. Even her sister had proven there was a way out of the path laid out for her by others. But why did it seem impossible for Hanabi to get what she wanted? It wasn't as if she'd not been trying, and he had seemed genuinely interested; she was sure of that, despite her previous doubts. It was just... things kept happening. She had no control over that. Or did she? Now that she thought about it, the majority of the problems and mishaps that had occurred so far all had one root cause: Him. That nine-assed fox idiot, who everyone seemed to adore for some bizarre reason.

Hanabi looked over at her sister, who was obviously struggling over whether to say something or not. That fox idiot...who is incidentally now dating my sister. Hanabi pondered. An idea was hatching...

She'd been trying to keep them apart since she couldn't stand the guy, but what if she tried bringing them together instead? That way he would be out of the way, busy with her sister. Hinata would be happy, Hanabi would definitely be overjoyed... Everyone would be happy! Well, maybe not the fox ass, but who cared about him anyway? Hanabi brightened up and walked over to hug her sister.

"Thanks sis, you always know the right thing to do to cheer me up!"

Hinata, more confused than ever, hugged her sister back and replied with a simple "Un".

Hanabi took her sister's hand and the pair started back to the village. The younger sibling had a lot of preparing to do.