A/N: Here's another chapter, children.

Originally, I thought a nice little bonbon chapter showing Hinata's and Kiba's remaining affection for each other would be a nice segue into something more plot propellant, but then I decided to describe what Kiba's going through a little more. It would be too rushed otherwise. It might still be. Let me know in your reviews. I wanted to show that he's still really conflicted inside. I hope it makes sense and does not seem like he's losing his mind, going multi-personality or something.

I hope the dream in this chapter isn't too over the top. It just came to me and seemed to fit.

I'm going back through this story and "After All" and editing mercilessly. I'm not changing anything that's going to affect plot, though. I'm looking at sentence structure, tense errors, plot points that contradict each other, inconsistencies in my use of Japanese vs. English, etc. Please point out mistakes or weirdness if you see any.

On another note, I'm thinking about taking the Kanku/Ino side pairing and the potential Shika/Tema/Ino triangle from this story and spinning them off into a separate story. I can see it taking on a life of its own, and I don't want to interrupt the flow of this story with too much side material. Any thoughts?

The Naruto series is still not mine. Darn.


Chapter 9: Story Day

It had been a month since Hinata's reunion with Kiba. He'd moved his belongings back into the apartment, but with the understanding that he was not yet "officially" living there again. He would stay with Shikamaru or his mother any time he felt the need to be alone.

Kiba swung on an emotional pendulum. He went from being warm, kind and loving to being cold, quiet, and defensive, and across the spectrum in between. It was exhausting for him and Hinata both.

Their relationship was strained, but slowly on the mend. It seemed for every couple of steps they took forward, there was a step back. Every day, she told him, "I love you, Kiba-kun." He returned the sentiment about half the time. Otherwise, he simply gave her a questioning look. This hurt her worse every time he did it, but she remained persistent.

There wasn't much physical contact between them. On good days, there would be hugs. Occasionally, he would cuddle with her in bed instead of merely being there as a human pillow as she nestled close to him. They hadn't kissed since the morning of Pein's attack on the village. Any time Hinata tried to kiss him, Kiba drew away, apprehensive. He'd already given in too much.

He had forgiven her, but he feared letting his defenses down too quickly could be a fatal decision. He'd get sucked back into her and forget everything. He knew he couldn't hold onto this forever, but he wasn't ready to let it go just yet.

The thunder seemed to shake the whole village as torrential rain beat down on the windows of Konoha's homes. The village hadn't seen a storm like this in quite some time. Kiba woke with a start after a particularly loud thunderclap and found himself alone. He stood up, pulled his shirt on, and padded downstairs.

This was going to be one of his middle-of-the-road, slightly-responsive-but-numb days. Whether he would return Hinata's "I love you" this day could not be predicted any more than the results of a coin toss, even by Kiba himself.

He found Hinata curled up on the couch with a mug and a book. "Good morning," he said in a quiet monotone.

Despite his attempt at a subtle entrance, she jumped in surprise, spilling brown liquid down the front of her shirt.

"K-Kiba-kun! Good morning." She blushed from embarrassment, but smiled at him anyway. "Please excuse me while I change." She put down the book and cup on the table next to the couch and ran up the stairs to her closet.

He wandered across the room, casually surveying the end table. He could smell that the beverage was chocolate. He recognized the book as the last one they'd read together.

He didn't hear the sound of the washing machine starting. He stood there, transfixed on the book's cover.

"Okay, all better..." Hinata entered the room again wearing a fresh blouse. Her face fell when she saw Kiba's expression in reaction to her drink and reading material. He looked as if he'd seen a ghost.

"I'm... sorry..." she walked toward him. "I know that used to be our tradition, not mine, but I have grown so accustomed to it, and I didn't know if you would..."

"Yeah... It's okay. I get it."

It was customary for Kiba and Hinata to have "Story Day" when it stormed. Kiba would make hot cocoa and they would laze in bed, reading to each other.

"I moved down here so I wouldn't wake you," she explained timidly. "I didn't know when you'd be up."

"It's really okay," he replied, closing the gap between the two of them and giving her a small, almost automatic hug. "I should get dressed and go, though. I had a rough night. I think I need some space."

"Bad dreams again?"

"Yeah."

Kiba had a recurring nightmare that crept into his brain at least once a week. Hinata lay dying, blood at the corners of her mouth. In the frustrating way that many dreams went, Kiba was restrained from helping her or interacting with the scene at all, mute and immobile - a captive, silenced audience. She would use one of her last breaths to weakly call out, "Naruto… kun…" The Uzumaki would rush to her side. He would kiss her, smearing her blood on both of their faces, before she went limp in his arms.

Hinata did not know the specifics of this dream, but she knew it had to be something very bad. He usually slept like a log, but when he dreamed, he tossed and turned and woke up multiple times in the night. In the morning, he would usually go out for the day.

"You'll catch your death out there right now!" She held onto him tightly. "Besides, I know what Akamaru smells like when he is wet. Shikamaru would kill you both, and your mother would not be too happy, either. She keeps all the dogs inside when it rains for a reason." She looked up at his face with a shy smile.

He couldn't help but laugh a little bit at her comment. "When you're right, you're right..." He inwardly damned his weakness for the Hyuuga heiress. "And you're right."

"...K-Kiba-kun?" Hinata asked nervously.

"Yeah?" he answered. He was unsure of how he felt at the moment. 'Story of my life these days,' he thought.

"Would you care to join me for Story Day?" she proposed.

He lost focus for a moment. The image of her dying in the dirt flashed in his head, but it was different. He saw himself beside her this time, holding her hand while Sakura healed her. She was going to be okay. They were going to be okay.

He decided he was willing to take another step toward the return to normalcy. Maybe the nightmares would stop if he did.

"Well… Since I'm stayin' put anyway, why not?" He made his way to the kitchen. He found a cup sitting on the counter and a pot of cocoa on the stove with the low-set element keeping it warm.

"I was hoping you would accept," she said sheepishly behind him. "Story Day alone is almost worse than sleeping alone." She moved forward and ladled some of the sweet fluid into his mug. "It's not as good as yours, but I tried."

"I'm sure it's fine." He soon discovered it was more than fine. It was delicious.

In addition to the vanilla extract he usually added, she'd stirred and served it with a cinnamon stick. The subtle flavoring danced across his taste buds as he sipped, inducing a tiny sigh of pleasure. This was home revived. Chocolate and the girl he loved.

"This is damn good, babydoll."

She brightened with hope when he used his pet name for her. "Thanks..."

Kiba's brow crinkled in thought. "We're gonna have to talk with Lady Hokage about our situation, you know." Tsunade performed the majority of ninja marriage ceremonies in Konoha, and she required couples to go through counseling with her before she would marry them.

"I..." Hinata had been so focused on fixing their relationship herself, she hadn't thought about that. "Y-You're right. What do you think she'll suggest?"

"We won't know 'til we see her, I guess..."

"Well, I suppose I will go get my coat." Before Hinata could turn away, Kiba caught her by the wrist.

"We can't go today... It's Story Day. Traditions have to be observed." He smiled genuinely for the first time in what seemed like forever. "Besides, I can't have you gettin' sick again. Seems like I just nursed you back to health not too long ago."

Kiba put his arms around Hinata again while she giggled. He was still a little gun shy, but he was starting to get more comfortable with her, and it was getting harder and harder to avoid touching her. His mood had elevated over the course of their conversation. He rarely budged from his established waking demeanor, but today was different. This was a breakthrough.

"So, how far did you get into that book without me, hmm?"

"Oh... not very far. We can start over if you'd like." Her pale lavender eyes shone with excitement into his.

"Nah." He brought his head down slowly - carefully - and gave her the briefest, softest of kisses. "I think I remember what happens."