Chapter 9: Without Kiba
Shino walked to the academy that morning in disbelief. Had he really referred to Kiba as a friend? Had Kiba really become his friend? Had Kiba really become such a big part of his life? It was troubling him a great deal.
He stopped in front of the academy gates. Time went by quickly when you had a lot on your mind. Was Kiba going to be there today? After all, Kiba's mother HAD wanted to keep him home because of his injuries, but maybe she had changed her mind.
Shino walked inside the schoolyard, waiting for the bell to ring. He sat on a bench. Hinata saw him and walked over to him.
"Good morning Shino," she said politely, but you could tell she was worried about Kiba.
"Good morning," Shino replied.
Hinata looked around. She was most likely trying to spot Kiba, who didn't seem to be there.
The bell rang and all the students headed towards the school.
"Let's go," murmured Hinata as she too turned and walked towards the school. Shino got up and followed suit.
The noisy students marched into the classroom and took their seats. Shino and Hinata were the last ones to come in, but they did so quietly unlike their overly talkative classmates.
Shino sat down and looked around, but he couldn't see Kiba anywhere. Obviously his mother really HAD meant it when she said he wasn't going to school. Kiba was NEVER late for school.
Hinata also looked around for Kiba, who usually sat beside her. Today his seat was vacant. This upset Hinata quite a bit, considering how fragile she is and all.
Iruka walked in and started pounding on his desk to get the class' attention. After a few minutes with no success Iruka finally yelled, "SIT DOWN AND BE QUIET!!!" I suppose you might have guessed that this is the return of the ultimate "I am the teacher" voice.
The students finally noticed that they were being yelled at and decided to pay some attention to Iruka.
Pleased, Iruka smiled. Then he started to take attendance. Iruka called out the names, but Shino only caught a few—like his own, and Hinata's. Iruka kept going down the list alphabetically until he got to "Kiba Inuzuka" which was when he paused and said, "Has anyone seen Kiba?" Nobody said anything. Iruka started to yell, "KIBA INUZU"—
CRASH!!! A dog smashed and leapt through the window. Shino recognized this dog at once. It was Kuromaru, the dog who did the house cleaning and ate Kiba's lunch in revenge. He had a note in his jaws.
"—ka?" finished Iruka, thoroughly taken aback. He was not quite used to this thing yet since they never taught it at teacher's college. Maybe he should start a course on the crazy things that happen when you apply for a job as a teacher, but for now he had to pay attention to the present situation.
The dog set the note down on Iruka's desk and then jumped through the broken window and out of sight.
Iruka walked forward and picked up the letter warily, as though it would bite him. It was covered in dog drool. Iruka looked it over and was silent.
Finally a kid with blond hair asked, "What did it say Iruka-sensei?"
Iruka looked at the blond haired kid and then read, "Dear Teacher, I am displeased to inform you that my son Kiba will not be coming to class today due to head injuries. Sincerely, Mrs. Inuzuka."
Some of the kids in the class laughed, they had all thought he was kind of mental anyways, but they had never thought that he would have to stay home because of it.
Shino and Hinata, however, did not laugh. Hinata looked more upset, as though it was her fault, and Shino had mixed emotions. On one hand he was thinking, "Peace and quiet," but on the other hand he felt bad that Kiba had to stay home.
Iruka regained his composure after a moment and decided to try and start teaching the class once again.
Shino was a student who usually pays attention in class, but today his mind was wandering. He tried to go to his world of bugs and buzzing but was unable to do so. Every time he tried, his thoughts were interrupted by thoughts of how Kiba was doing. Why was this? Was Kiba suddenly more important to him than his bugs? Could it possibly be that he missed Kiba?
Thinking of this brought his thoughts back to his thoughts that morning, of how Kiba was his friend and had affected him. It must have been true. But no. It couldn't possibly be true. Yet he noticed all the empty spaces throughout the day that Kiba usually filled, like making Iruka angry by sleeping in class, the random conversations at lunch, and the yelling. Could it be that Shino actually had made a friend without noticing? He had to know, and the only way to do that was to see Kiba again. Once he did that he would know for sure.
Going alone was not an option though, he needed support, he couldn't go alone. And who better to ask than Hinata?
"Hinata, we are going to Kiba's house," said Shino.
Okay, so maybe he didn't ask. He just forced her to. But this is HINATA so it is relatively easy to force her to do anything.
"O-okay," stuttered Hinata.
And so they headed off in the direction of Kiba's house.
They walked in silence because Shino didn't like talking, and Hinata had figured that out by now.
They arrived at Kiba's house a quick as a flash!
…A not-very-quick flash that is.
They walked up the front steps and rung the doorbell. They could hear dogs barking from inside the house. The door was answered by Kiba's mother, who looked at them, smiled, and let them in. She said, "So, you came to visit Kiba?"
"Y-yes," murmured Hinata.
Shino nodded.
"Well then I will show you to his room," said Tsume in reply.
The two of them were led upstairs and down the hall to Kiba's room. The door was closed. The door had all sorts of things stuck on it with tape, such as a "beware" sign, pictures of Kiba, pictures of dogs, and a pirate flag.
"You go right in and visit him," said Tsume, who then turned and went back down the stairs.
When she was gone Shino turned the knob and opened the door, only to see—
Kiba was standing on his bed in his smiley face boxer shorts watching the newest Peter Pan movie, shouting along, "I DO BELIEVE IN FAERIES!!! I DO! I DO!!!"
"O-oh m-my!" gasped Hinata putting her hands over her mouth, blushing from head to toe. Nothing like this ever happened in the main house! She couldn't believe that Kiba was standing there in front of her in his UNDERWEAR!!! Oh the embarrassment!!!
Poor Hinata, so young and innocent. How old would she be in her first year at the academy? Like, six?
Shino lost all his respect for Kiba. Not like he had any, but still.
Kiba turned to look at them at the sound of Hinata's voice.
"Oh, hi!" said Kiba cheerily, giving a little wave.
Shino looked at Kiba in a different way for the first time, he did not see him as the annoyance that he once did, but saw that Kiba was kind and caring, and was the only person who ever noticed him. Kiba was the best friend a person could have.
Just then Kiba's sister Hana came bursting into the room. "KIBA!!! MOM SAID YOU HAVE A GIRLFRIEND!?! Shouted Hana in astonishment.
"WHO TOLD YOU I WAS IN LOVE WITH WENDY!?!" shouted Kiba slapping his cheeks.
Hana then points at Hinata, "Her name is Wendy?" Asked Hana.
"What? NO! THAT'S NOT WENDY!!!" shouted Kiba in disbelief, "That's Hinata."
At this point Hinata fainted from embarrassment. After all, Kiba was STILL standing there in his underwear.
Hana shrugged and left the room, "Still so young, but what a ladies man," she sighed.
Shino was standing there but then decided to leave, he had gotten the answer he was looking for.
He just left Hinata where she was on the floor.
As he was walking down the hall, Kiba noticed him and called desperately, "Promise me you won't tell anyone about my love for Wendy!"
Shino smiled, just a little bit, but if you were looking really closely you could see it.
