AN: Hi sweeties! Daddy's back!
Except Daddy won't be sinning this chapter.
This chapter is a purposed to feed my KibaHina craving AND to prevent any potential NaruHina in the future chapters.
And you will notice that I screwed some of the canon, like how Kiba ships Naruto and Hinata together, but you know, Naruto's pretty bouncing off of Menma's dick now and Sasuke's dick in the future.
So please enjoy this KibaHina chapter! Please R&R and criticize to benefit me! I love all of you!
(Also I wrote a little song. Jesus, it's so hard. I'm just good at writing instrumental songs. So please forgive my crap song-writing skills. It has that modern ballad vibe, or in other words, Ed Sheeran vibe.)
"You know," Kiba mumbled to Hinata in the blue night, "the pond is so beautiful on Friday nights."
Kiba tapped one of the two bottles of vodka between them. He had been waiting for one of these nights when he would have an "unofficial date" with Hinata. Tonight was the night he had planned to tell her how he had been chasing her after lots of years.
"Really?" Hinata whispered. She can't seem to get over her whispering. "I never really noticed. But yes, it is really gorgeous tonight."
Oh, the pond? Sorry, what I really meant was your eyes.
Kiba wanted to tell that to Hinata right away, but he had missed the three-second reply opportunity. He patted Akamaru's head with blooming roses under the red Inuzuka markings on his cheeks. Was the night ever really that hot? He took a deep breath. His black jacket suddenly turned tight.
"Guess I should take you out here more often, huh? This is the second time we went out for end-of-the-week relaxations near the school pond. When was the first time I took you out here again?"
Hinata stared at the sky, trying to recall the past. "I-I believe it was . . . um . . . eighth grade? Yes, I think it was. But you, Shino, and I were there. Why didn't Shino come with us tonight?"
"Oh!" Kiba scratched the back of his head. "He needed to attend to his beetles. He has been . . . experimenting and breeding the insects to each other."
While the experimentation was not a lie, the rest was. Shino usually experimented once every fortnight. Tonight was not one of those nights.
"Ah. Such a shame. B-But at least it's gonna be quite peaceful here." Hinata chuckled softly. "I bet you two would break out in a verbal fight again about something. Then I will play the role of a peacemaker."
Kiba bit his cheek. That's exactly what would've happened.
"Y-Yeah. You're right."
Kiba picked up the transparent bottle of vodka with a hint of tangy orange and gulped a generous amount. The liquor burned in his mouth and chest. The sweet orange aftertaste stung his lips and tongue. It shook him awake.
"K-Kiba-kun, are you sure no-one would catch us? I'm sure wine is banned in this school—well, maybe every school. I don't want to risk us getting in trouble."
Kiba gazed at her pale white eyes with a reassuring grin on his face.
"YOLO, I guess. We'd be lucky if Coach Asuma or Miss Kurenai catches us; those two have some vices, especially Miss Kurenai, when it comes to alcohol and vodka. If it were someone else, that I do not know. But hey." Kiba winked at her. "I'll make sure you won't get in any trouble."
Hinata nodded and stared at the bottle. She didn't want whatever Kiba had offered her, though.
"Thank you . . . but I'd rather go under the same consequences as you and with you, Kiba. I wouldn't like seeing you carrying another burden for me."
She gently rotated the bottle, making the liquor dance. Kiba gripped the grass with a proud smirk. He couldn't believe how a shy girl transformed to a proper lady.
"A strong, independent woman, I see. I've been questioning myself about what my type of girl is and that just fits the picture."
Confidence! There we go, Kiba Inuzuka! You got this!
"Uh-uhm . . . you really think I am strong?"
"Sure you are! You put up with my crap since we were nine, Hinata! You gotta be like Supergirl or something 'cuz of that."
"Oh . . . well, you're the first person to ever acknowledge me like that, Kiba."
Hinata's heart was racing like a horse, zooming across the plains with not a care in the world. She rested a loose fist on her large bust. She didn't know what to do. Smile because she was complimented or lose her mind.
But one thing sure was in her mind.
Did he just say . . . I'm his type?
Ridiculous.
Maybe.
It was a good thing the Hyuga clan was blessed with eyes to see inside a person and look at their pressure points. That's why the Hyuga are not only the best hand-to-hand fighters, but also the best medics. It was an even better thing that those were not the only ones that Hinata saw inside Kiba.
She had been suspicious. Kiba was protective. Kiba acted as a loving guardian more than Neji had ever been. Kiba was willing to risk his fang-like incisors he was proud of to defend her from bullies who told her how ugly her eyes were. In turn, she chewed on everyone who made fun of how Kiba smelled too much like a dog.
She adored his canine smell. She wanted to wrap herself in his smell and sleep in the warm comfort.
They were inseparable. They always exchanged smiles and kind words and hugs and even subtle pink blushes when they flatter each other. When they weren't together, they messaged each other about random things, from the chirping of the crickets until the peeking of the sun. She even shot him some quality memes even when he didn't ask for any. And Kiba thanked Kami that he was close to someone who had his appreciation of memes.
And they'd repeat the same process, without ever acknowledging each other that they had been in love for so many years. They eventually got tired of keeping something so heart-aching a secret for such a long time. It was just a matter of time until one of them finally admitted it.
And then Naruto's personality which was similar to Kiba's threw her off. She had been infatuated for a short while, but she shook it off after they invited the two out for pizza. She wouldn't dare take Naruto away from Menma. Their brotherly love might have vanished if she did so.
"Um . . ."
She quickly downed five gulps of vodka. She didn't know what came to her. It was just a random thought. She coughed as the alcohol blazed inside her. Kiba patted her back. He was keeping himself from laughing. He found her quiet and squeaky coughs adorable.
"You okay? I should've told you to take slow sips."
"W-Will I be intoxicated?"
"Nah. Those were just four gulps. It just depends on you really. You can fight the dizziness, can you?"
"Yeah." Hinata took a deep breath and looked forward. She slowly felt better. "I think I'll stick to juice boxes."
Kiba wanted to punch the air in victory. He had been planning this. And he wasn't even a fan of planning. She wouldn't want to handle the spirits, and without anything else to drink, he'd offer to go back and get her a second option. He got up to his feet, discreetly tucking his phone under Akamaru's paws. Kiba had been teaching his best friend on what to do. They shared mischievous smiles with each other.
"I'll go back to my dorm to get you juice. Akamaru will keep you company."
"Be careful," warned Hinata as Kiba ran back enthusiastically.
It's all up to you now, Kiba. Can you tell me that you love me?
Kiba's dynamic aura was replaced by the serenity of the dim night. She stroked Akamaru's ears gingerly. She had been looking forward to this moment. And she was expecting that Kiba would do something grand.
She felt like a firecracker with the spark, slowly slithering to the powder. She was vibrating like crazy with the excitement. She wondered what her soon-to-be-boyfriend would do.
She stroked through the floppy ears of the Great Pyrenees. It tickled her fingertips.
"Your partner is such a sweet person, Akamaru. I promise to cherish him and our moments."
The dog whined. The smell of Kiba was gone. It was the signal that he was waiting for. He revealed the phone between his head and paw and nudged Hinata. She arched her eyebrow and picked up the gadget. Once she pressed the Home button, an image of Kiba holding up his index and middle fingers on Hinata's head while she bashfully hunched her shoulders was flashed. She chuckled.
"What next?"
Akamaru got up and tapped the Photos application. Hinata was speechless at the contents of his phone. All of the photos—literally all of them consisted of either Kiba alone or both of them together. Even in the videos, they were the ones inside them. Hinata smiled.
"He didn't even bother sorting out which of these photos according to who's in them. What do you want me to do next, Akamaru?"
Akamaru booped his nose on the latest video recorded. Kiba was holding a ukulele. Hinata didn't expect Kiba to play that instrument. She only knew that he played the acoustic guitar. But it wasn't a surprise he did confide in her that he wanted to play the ukulele someday. She tapped play.
"Yo, Hinata!" Kiba waved from the video. She did a tiny wave back. Kiba was in his dorm room. "If you're watching this, then everything must be going according to plan. And you know me. I was so stressed with coming this up, so please, bear with me."
"So what you're gonna do is lie down on Akamaru, facing the pond. Don't worry; my buddy's a strong dog."
Hinata complied. Akamaru wasn't really taken by the weight. Hinata was just ninety pounds anyway.
"I assume you've done that already, so uh . . ." In the video, Kiba scratched his hair. "Just listen to me do this thing?"
The video was cut to another scene. The camera was in another angle. Kiba's legs were crossed on his bed. He started strumming the chords, G, D, B, and A minor, and repeated the playing. His mouth was twitching. He opened his mouth and coughed.
"Back when we—dammit! Cut!"
Another scene. Kiba was in the same position again, with a more confident look.
"I wrote a song for you, so it's hard for me. So . . . let's do that again."
Kiba was strumming again, with a more proper tempo and beat. He took a deep breath and gazed at the camera.
"Back when we were nine . . ."
Hinata felt her blood pump to her cheeks. She rested her head on her palm and watched intently.
"You moved to our block. And ooh . . . I thought you were fine."
He kept on strumming with a stoic expression. He gulped and sweat beaded down on his forehead. Hinata cringed; she could feel Kiba's nervous heartbeat.
"Fuck, I forgot."
Hinata uncontrollably cackled with an innocent intent. It was to be expected; Kiba didn't really have the best memory. The video was skipped to another scene, so Hinata calmed down. She still had slight giggles as she watched.
Once Kiba was halfway through the sung verses, the spirit of panic was evident in his slit eyes. He slowly stopped strumming and set the ukulele down on his bed. He pinched his nose, with a disgusted look on his face.
"Akamaru, please don't take a dump on Shino's bed."
Another cut.
Hinata paused and patted Akamaru's pack. The canine had a sorry look in his squinted eyes. She gave him a flowery smile.
"It's okay, Akamaru. I'm sure Shino understood."
Akamaru barked when she scratched the dog's head. Akamaru sure was a ridiculous dog. Hinata continued the video. There were already huge and horrid bags under his eyes. Hinata's mouth was ajar when she saw the dedication and hard work present in Kiba. It was amazing, how far he'd go for her.
She caught her heart yearning for Kiba. She allowed the cardiac muscle do whatever it pleased. And she knew what it was telling her.
She wanted Kiba.
No.
She needed Kiba.
A lump formed in her throat, having never been this needy and desperate before.
She continued and pressed the middle of the screen.
"All right. It's really, really, really early in the morning and Shino's trying to sleep. I negotiated with him that I'd pay for his bugs' food for the rest of the week in exchange for recording this for you. I accepted his . . . fair offer, even if I have to give up a few bags of dog food . . . for Akamaru, of course! I mean as much as I like dogs, I wouldn't go far to eating their food . . . yeah . . ."
He popped a red pellet in his mouth.
"Anyway!" He clasped his hands together. "So I decided that I will play the chords here and I'll sing in real life! Pretty sweet, if you think about it. But that's because I don't know how to play the ukulele while singing. Shit, I'm still just an amateur in this bad boy actually. Forget what I said earlier and sit on Akamaru's back like a chair. He's got this."
Once Akamaru got on all fours, Hinata sat on his back, like a princess riding her royal steed. She was careful not to shock him with too much weight. She assured if the dog was alright. Akamaru howled. It seemed he was okay.
"Now, what you're gonna do is pause the video so that the real-life me wouldn't have a hard time with the timing. Once my buddy starts barking, then you can play it. So like . . . pause it."
And pause she did.
For once, she was confident with herself. No more of that weak façade. No more "Little Princess Hinata-sama." She had to be strong.
Strong for Kiba.
Strong for her love.
She couldn't recall how Naruto infatuated her; but that didn't matter anymore. All she knew was that her yearning for Kiba was more than she thought it would.
Once Akamaru heard the dog-whistle from Kiba, he started to bark continuously until Hinata played the video again. Akamaru's barking died. Kiba started strumming the chords.
"Hey, don't look at the trees behind you until the end of the song, okay?" Hinata nodded and listened to the melodious tune. He had gotten more in rhythm and the notes were more accurate. And just over a single night! It was impressive.
"Back when we were nine."
Hinata's eyes perked up once she heard the authentic voice of the boy behind her back. She giggled and gazed at the clear water. She moved her slim body to the rhythm. Kiba's voice wasn't really made for singing, but at least he was trying his best.
"You moved to our block. And I didn't know if we can be friends or not.
But I thought you were fine—
though I didn't really expect that you'd be mine."
Kiba paused for a moment. She handed her frigid apple juice behind her. She punched the straw in and listened to Kiba clear his throat.
"Then one faithful day—
you were teased by assholes who didn't like your eyes.
Got brave then said, 'Quit it, you guys!'
Protected you, and then got beaten up . . .
And then, we both cried like babies and whined.
'Til my mom came—told us that everything will be alright.
She scared 'em away and said, 'Son, you were great.'
She invited you for some hot chocolate.
And then said that you liked my brew.
You shuffled right out of our house.
But you did something unthinkable.
Oh . . . on your way out, you blew me a kiss."
Hinata remembered the scene all too well. She sent him a small flying kiss, disregarding her bashfulness. She respected Kiba for at least having the guts to defend her when no-one else would. The following day, Kiba started hanging out with her. He ranted about how his mom annoyed him about such a small gesture of gratitude. Back then, he didn't really understand meaningful kisses were to a person.
Well, a kiss was basically just touching another person's skin with one's lips, right?
Kiba changed switched to his chorus.
"Oh Lady Hinata! Will you please be my girl?
Oh Lady Hinata! I want you here by my side.
I mean, I don't exactly believe in forever.
But I know I can give you something more than forever!
Oh please, Hinata! My love goes long as the horizon.
So accept my offer! I'll pour out all my heart for you!
Hinata's chest had never felt so restricted before. She was bleeding all over, yet she wanted to bleed even more.
She caught the sound of plastic behind her. She fought the temptation to look back. Perhaps Kiba wanted to keep something a surprise.
"Six years have passed, we were fifteen.
I texted you on the phone, 'How you've been?'
And you said that you weren't doing fine.
Snuck to your house, and stole some of Mom's wine.
We lay down on your backyard, getting a bit drunk.
We listened to the radio, playin' 70's Funk.
I asked you what's wrong, and you said you don't have many friends."
"While you cried, I held you close to me.
Probably more intimate than we're supposed to be.
I assured you that I'm all that you need.
And that caring for you is part of my creed.
So you stopped, with a smile, you took a long rest.
Before your eyes closed, I heard you say.
'Kiba, you're the best.'"
The nostalgia crept in close to Hinata's frigid spine. She started to feel a comforting heat spread across her body. As if to regulate her increasing heat, a river leaked down from her eyes to her heaving chest.
Kiba changed his voice to a softer tone. The Kiba from the video slowed down to a quiet strumming of strings.
"Oh Lady Hinata, I want you to be my queen.
Oh Lady Hinata, don't you realize I love you so?
And so there's only thing I want to know.
I just want to know if you love me or no.
And I know that there isn't a forever.
But we can make that possible if we're together."
"Oh, another year passed, we're now sixteen.
And yes, I'm feeling like I'm in a dream.
And now I'm waiting for your answer.
So can you tell me?
Will you be my girl?"
The video faded with the weakening resonance of the chords. The cold wind blew Hinata's purple hair to the east. She wiped her cheeks with the sleeve of her jacket. She placed her fist on the valley of her breasts, feeling her strong heartbeat.
"What do you have that you aren't letting me see, anyway?"
"Hmm? Oh, uh . . . I got you some sunflowers. I know that you prefer sunflowers over roses, so . . . yeah."
"Kiba . . ." Hinata squeaked. Kiba handed the bouquet, with his arms wrapping on Hinata's warm cloth. The sunflowers had a radiant vibe, standing out from the gleaming pond. She ran her fingers through the puffy petals.
"Let me see you."
Once Kiba let go of the bouquet, he presented himself in front of Hinata. There weren't any changes in his clothes; he was just having an all-body blush. Hinata assumed he was just embarrassed to present in front of her. She laughed silently.
"When you serenade a girl, I believe that you should sing in front of the girl."
That just made Kiba more embarrassed than he already was. He scratched the red Inuzuka mark on his left cheek.
"Yeah—sorry . . . and the first verse was kinda crap. But ya know . . . I don't have much lyrical genius yet."
"Oh, I understand. It isn't easy writing a song so—"
"The tension is killing me, Hinata. Please."
He knelt down in front of the sitting queen. He put his right hand on his heart and kissed the hand of Hinata, grabbing it with his left. He met her white gaze. When the moon that lulled him to sleep was hiding behind the clouds, he always imagined Hinata's special eyes. The stunning expression just kept him up, more alert than ever.
He gulped a hard lump from his throat.
"Will you be my girlfriend, Hinata?"
There wasn't any hesitation at all. Kiba's head hit the olive grass, with Hinata's hair tickling his brown skin and her lips getting to know his. That was the only time Kiba was glad to be unable to see Hinata's eyes. He closed his eyes and allowed the playfulness of Hinata grasp his lips and tongue. He closed his eyes and just let everything flow.
Even with his eyes shut, he could see it. He could see the light, leaking through cave he was lost in. He remembered why he was in the cave again.
He guided the lost Hyuga out.
