SPOILERS: Through Naruto chapter 342 and/or Naruto Shippūden episode 112/ the second year of Shippūden.

NOTES: We've never seen anyone show romantic interest in Hinata. As influential as it was on my becoming a KibaHina fan, I don't consider Kiba's worrying about her during the chunin exams as overtly romantic (see my story "Recovery" for that). As a result, I can't help thinking, along with all her other insecurities, that Hinata is insecure about herself as a woman, and her baggy, shapeless clothes back up my theory. Since she wants romance, I believe having it offered to her by someone she's comfortable with would be tempting and pique her curiosity, even if it's not from her preferred source. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Naruto.

CHOOSING FATE

Chapter 10: Home

Kiba had been about to kiss her. She was sure of it, and it confused her to no end.

Initially, Hinata had thought that moment before he'd left her for revenge had been just another hard-to-restrain impulse inspired by her pregnancy. After all, he had said, "sorry," like he did constantly lately when he perceived he'd done something she felt embarrassed about. Again it had hurt her, being wanted only because of the tiny spark of life within her, but it also hurt her that the situation she and her family had put him in was causing him so many discordant impulses. Naturally, she muddled over it, and when she would recall the moment during quiet times by herself, she began to reevaluate what had happened.

The sunset's vibrant colors had cast his skin into deeper shades of bronze, but she was sure the apples of his cheeks had been darker still when he'd stopped himself. Despite having had countless little awkward incidents between them since she'd become pregnant, he had never blushed at any of them. Then there had been the dumbfounded look in his eyes and pounding pulse in his neck, as though he had been startled by it. Also, all of those other uncomfortable moments had been about her care in general—to hold her hand reassuringly, to open a door for her, to lift and fetch objects for her. There had been nothing welfare related about that moment.

It was because she was acutely aware his focus on her well-being was due to her pregnancy that this situation stood out. To her knowledge, Kiba didn't go around kissing girls to comfort them. So what had motivated the attempt? More importantly, how did whatever it was factor into their relationship and how she felt about it? Despite how circumspect he might have recently been about his personal life, she couldn't imagine him not coming out and saying he liked her if that was how he felt; he was too straight-forward not to. Then again, her need to bear a Hyūga heir prohibited them from having a permanent family relationship. Would he not tell her how he felt because of that?

It was all very confusing.

The possibility that she might be someone's love interest was a foreign concept. A part of her was intrigued by the prospect, but she mostly felt conflicted because it wasn't Naruto. Her life had been barren of any hint of romance save for her singularly intense interest in the hard-working, always-surprising, often-neglected, orphan ninja who never gave up. Naruto had been her inspiration for years, and her adoration for him was the one thing that was truly hers—no mission or duty or clan rule could take it away from her. She secretly shared a bond of struggle with the blond boy that none of their peers except Rock Lee would ever understand because, regardless of how diligently the others might train to hone their skills, everyone else had innate talents; their abilities came naturally to them. No matter how unrequited it might be or continue to be, she cherished her love for Naruto because it was the only aspect of her life that had involved free choice...until now.

She had chosen to keep the baby, and everything was changing. Why shouldn't her perceptions about love change as well? Her infatuation with Naruto was simple and immutable: she loved him from afar and cherished those brief moments when they interacted. As much as she might dream of a future when he would fully acknowledge her as a both a ninja and a woman, until that day came, she was safe from the complications of a real romantic relationship. This reliable constant, having something simple in her life even if her feelings were not reciprocated, was reassuring to her. For she knew, based on her own family, how complicated relationships could get. Given the example her clan set, how realistic was it to try to cling to her simple view of love?

Even Kiba, quite probably the simplest soul she knew, had accepted the new complexity of his life. He was an outcast and could no longer see his mother, but he would share their child with her and the Inuzukas when the time came. She was going to bear his child, and he cared for her deeply. Yet he accommodated her need for space and resisted his own instinct to be closer because he didn't want to be a burden on her.

She realized she had more in common with Kiba than she'd ever though possible. She denied her own preferences because she didn't want to be a burden on her family and teammates. And although his inherited ninja abilities came naturally to Kiba—indeed, he relished them like no one else of their generation—now that he was on his own, he was clearly struggling just like she had always struggled to meet her father's expectations. Regardless of Kiba's superior survival skills, he was not suited to living alone. Although Akamaru was his dearest friend, Kiba was used to living happily with other humans, part of a pack; yet she often felt suffocated by her clan and longed for solitude. Kiba got bored easily and savored variety. The monotony of his fallback profession was no doubt difficult for him in the same way the violence of a ninja's life was less than ideal for her gentle soul.

One event had complicated so many facets of Kiba's once-simple world, but as a result, she could relate to him better than she ever had before. Despite this, she felt like it had never been harder to communicate with him. She just wished she had someone to discuss it with.

Unfortunately, that someone would normally be Kiba. Shinobi didn't usually show weakness, even among friends, but he would always listen to her troubles and give her an off-handed yet insightful and honest comment that would somehow make her feel better. In realizing she couldn't talk it through with him, she became aware of a treasured aspect of her relationship with Kiba she had taken for granted. Although she felt a hint of shame, she realized she missed that more than anything else. It was not just because he was away but also because that special part of her life that was normally occupied by him was now empty. Once she had figured out the source of her sense of loss, she couldn't stop thinking about it and him.

The question was, what should she do about it?

More importantly, what should she do about the occasional, fleeting thoughts, like the flicker of movement glimpsed out of the corner of your eye, in which she wondered what it might have been like if Akamaru hadn't barked and Kiba had succeeded in kissing her...

Although Shino's observant, contemplative nature made him very good at imitating others, it disturbed Hinata greatly to see him in the guise of Kiba because, despite his skill, she could tell he wasn't who he portrayed. She knew Shino had to keep up the ruse until Kiba returned, but it reminded her so much of Kiba's possession by their attacker that she insisted Shino use his own voice when they were alone.

The situation had a pleasant side effect, though. Since they ate dinner together each night, she was able to catch up with her old teammate and even touch on personal issues. Given the Aburames were as strict, if not as traditional, as the Hyugas, she hadn't been sure he would accept, let alone approve, of the decision to keep the child. Shino's implicit support of her situation was reassuring; he even offered to train with her when his schedule allowed, since it was unsafe to train with anyone who didn't know she was pregnant. If she couldn't go on missions, at least she would stay fit and keep her skills from going dull.

As inconvenient to Shino and subtly unsettling to Hinata as their deception was, the one who fared the worst was Akamaru. Despite his brave front, she could tell the dog was deeply unhappy being away from his partner. Even when wounded in the hospital, because there was almost never a time when one was injured and not the other, Kiba and Akamaru were always together. So she did her best to give Akamaru as much attention as she could after dinner each night before Shino left.

The days passed with their deception undetected by any higher authority.

It was late afternoon, and she was going through her stretching and balance exercises before dinner when she sensed him. She didn't need her byakugan; she somehow just knew. Straightening, she turned to see Kiba crouching on the outer wall with Akamaru, not unlike how he'd looked when she had last seen him. She was surprised by the intense rush of happiness she felt from just seeing him back and safe, like her heart was a bunch of balloons that had suddenly been released, but there was an odd tension to him, not the usual restrained energy but something unpleasant. He dropped to the ground with an animal grace she had always admired then approached her slowly. The setting sun behind him threw his face into shadow, making his expression indiscernible.

Once he was close enough, she saw his brow was furrowed, but not in anger. He was normally easy to read, his feelings uncomplicated; it surprised her that she couldn't interpret the strain on his face. Just as she began to wonder what it might be, he reached for her. She couldn't repress the little yelp of surprise that escaped as he held her tight, his nose pressed into the crook of her neck as he inhaled deeply and trembled. She trembled in return, unsure about what was happening but exhilarated by the exotic locale of an intimate embrace. Yet she was so concerned about him she didn't even blush. Feeling he needed it, she daringly raised her own arms to return his hug, and he let out a sighing grunt as the tension in him eased.

"I missed you." Despite the simple words, there was something complex in his tone.

"Did you...?"

She felt rather than saw him shake his head. "Not me, but it's done."

They were both ninja, but neither of them would ever be assassins; they were unsuited for it. Something had happened, but you didn't ask other shinobi directly about difficult missions. "You're all right?" It was the best she could do—offer him the opportunity to tell her more and let him know she cared.

Straightening, he let her go as his eyes slid away from her. "I will be." One of his hands lifted as though to touch her again then fell back to his side. "Thank you." His lips quirked up but it couldn't be called a smile. "I'm sorry I-"

"Are you ready for dinner?" Tired of his apologies, she refused to acknowledge this one and took his hand instead. He had suffered so much turmoil because of her; it was as though he had lost his once-intrinsic sense of certainty. During his absence, she had realized holding his hand and giving him simple, indirect commands seemed to assure him. If that would make him feel better, then she would keep taking his hand until he felt stable again. Consciously, she ran her thumb over his knuckles, as he had done so many times with her.

He responded with a hint of a grin. "Yeah, dinner would be nice."

Hinata woke to the sound of a whimper, and the sudden flashback to the morning of the attack caused her heart to race. Then she registered that she was in her bed in her room, and her pulse normalized. A minute sound from outside her window had her activating her byakugan. Kiba was curled on the bit of roof that jutted over the window beneath hers, and Akamaru twitched in a restless sleep on the ground beneath.

Perplexed and worried, she scanned the rest of the house. It was considered a violation of privacy and strictly discouraged by her clan, but she couldn't help herself. Her decision to keep the baby had pushed the envelope of her father's endurance enough. How would he react to the shinobi responsible for her pregnancy sleeping outside her window like a stray cat?

Her heart rate sped again as she saw her father was the only one to have stirred, but to her surprise, he simply laid back into his bed and turned away.

Confused, she got out of bed and opened the window. There had only been a few times they had ever gone on missions together without Akamaru; it seemed wrong to see Kiba curled in sleep by himself. She reached out, and after the first shake of his shoulder he took her hand and started licking the back of her palm. Both startled and embarrassed, she held perfectly still until, in the middle of the third lick, he stopped.

In a quick movement, his eyes opened and he shifted to all fours, letting go of her hand. Glancing up at her, his irises were wide in the dim light of the half moon. The tension in him eased. "Sorry."

She offered him her hand, and when he took it she whispered. "Come inside."

With a nod, he let her guide him into her room. It was only when he was standing in front of her, looking down at her with an attentive gaze, his hand in hers, that it occurred to her she had a boy in her bedroom. It was not a situation she had ever imagined possible, and given how improper it was, she couldn't help the blush that stained her cheeks and the thoughts that flitted through her mind about why boys weren't supposed to be in the rooms of young ladies. Her curiosity regarding what it would be like to be kissed reared its troublesome head, causing her glance to fall briefly to his lips. Then he ran his thumb across her knuckles, and she was reminded this wasn't any boy. This was her dear friend and teammate, who cared for her only as a friend and teammate. She was hardly dressed provocatively, and it wasn't as though they were going to do anything illicit. So she let that childhood restriction go to focus on the real situation.

Tugging his hand, she guided him to a pair of cushions for them to sit on. "Kiba, is this about my pregnancy?"

He nodded. "I was away from you for so long that I...needed to be near you." There was apology in his tone. "I didn't think I'd wake you."

"I think it was Akamaru." When Kiba's eyebrows knit with worry, she sandwiched his hand between hers. "You've been away from him a long time, too."

With a blink, Kiba's expression grew resolute. "He's my dog. You're my mate. You're more important."

His mother had mentioned that before, but it was the first time he'd brought it up. Kiba and Lady Inuzuka had both been so casual and frank about a term she considered rather crude. Wife or spouse or even lover indicated deeper intimacy and involvement, while mate sounded purely carnal, as though the only significance was sex and offspring. Given how loveless some arranged clan marriages were, perhaps mate was a more honest term, but it was difficult to believe any relationship with an Inuzuka would be so passionless. Kiba had always been more ardent in his friendships than anyone she'd seen, other than Naruto.

The thought of Naruto caused her heart to lurch with longing, but it also inspired her to consider the question: What would Naruto do?

"It's not right that you and Akamaru should be separated on my account." She had almost used the word "unnatural," since the man and his dog were usually inseparable. Kiba was incomplete as a person and a ninja without his dog. They relied on each other in a way she envied; she did not want to come between them.

"This won't be forever," insisted Kiba. "We'll live."

Why was he so willing to suffer and so unwilling to consider less difficult possibilities? "But there must be other options. Why can't you both stay here?"

He blinked at her, his expression holding more than surprise. Glancing around, it was as though he had suddenly become aware of where he was. Despite the dim moonlight filtering through the window, she couldn't help noticing his cheeks darken and his averted gaze. At last he murmured, "Hinata, it's not proper for a guy and a girl who aren't related or married to share a room."

Unable to help herself, she giggled. His shocked look and deeper blush made her giggle all the more, and she had to cover her mouth with her free hand to muffle the sound. Kiba had never been particularly vulgar when it came to his observations of the women they encountered on their missions, but he was suggestively appreciative of the fairer sex. She had always assumed Kiba had kept his comments clean because their master had been a woman, so she couldn't help finding it funny to hear such a prudish comment coming from him. Then again, considering her recently acquired knowledge of Inuzuka customs, maybe it wasn't so unexpected.

His gaze grew disgruntled. "What?"

She remembered how sensitive he used to be about getting laughed at in the Academy. He had never been the best of students, and more than once he'd gotten into a fight when a classmate foolishly questioned his intelligence. While others had likely taken his reactions as an extension of his aggressive cockiness, she had always believed those fights had been a defense mechanism, a means of covering up his feeling of inadequacy when it came to academics. Although Kiba hardly prided himself on his intellect, like Shino, neither was he comfortable about needing things explained to him, like Chōji was. So she intentionally tried to mollify him first. "You're right."

Leaning forward a bit, his tone was suspicious, but there was a hint of good humor in it, as though waiting to be invited to join her in her joke. "Then why did you laugh?"

She leaned forward a bit and smiled. "Because I'm already pregnant."

His eyes widened at the realization, then he started chuckling. When his chuckling grew louder, she released his hand to cover his mouth with both of hers. "Shh!"

For a moment he had that deep, warm look in his eyes, the one he'd had just before he'd almost kissed her. It made her acutely aware of their gender differences in a way that was not only shocking but also surprisingly tantalizing. Blushing, she pulled her hands away, suddenly shy about meeting his gaze.

"Hinata..." He spoke her name with a breathless reverence. After clearing his throat, he spoke again, his voice back to normal. "Hinata, even if your family allowed it, I'd feel bad about Akamaru trashing your tatami while not being able to buy replacements."

It was not something she would have considered, and it saddened her that he had become so conscious about the financial concerns of everything he did. Still not meeting his gaze, she gestured toward her window. "We could build a platform for him or lay out some planks." If Kiba could not see the possibilities himself, she'd help him.

After a moment's consideration, she heard Kiba shake his head. "It just seems wrong...disrespectful for me to stay here, knowing your dad doesn't approve of your decision." When he took her hand, she looked up. There was sincere appreciation shining in his eyes. "You're amazing for even offering, but I...I need to be in a place that's mine, where I belong. Besides, I've already done so much work on the cabin, and the Akimichis would probably notice if I wasn't there. They might ask some questions I'd have trouble answering..."

He was right, and it surprised her that he had thought of it first. Then again, he wasn't offering any potential solutions. "What about me moving in with you?" She said it without thinking it through, and her pulse sped up as she processed the possibility. It was a daring option, one she would have grown faint to even consider just two weeks earlier, but the more she thought about it, the more viable and practical it seemed.

Kiba's only response was his mouth hanging open in mute shock.

Her father had told her to do as she saw fit, and it really was a sensible decision for many reasons. "While the Akimichis might notice your absence, they shouldn't notice a second person, and if they do, I can just say I'm visiting. We're teammates, so it shouldn't be considered strange." The more she talked, the more empowered she felt and the more right the idea seemed. "That way I can be near you, and you can be with Akamaru at the same time. Plus I'll be able to help you prepare your cabin for when the baby comes. It shouldn't be just you doing it, and I really want to help." There was a wonderful, stirring feeling in her chest, like birds taking flight. It almost made her feel free; she could escape her clan, if only until summer, and help setup her baby's home. "And you can be even more on top of what I eat. And-"

"Hinata..." His tone was unusually serious, and his eyes held trepidation. "Hinata, I..." There was an odd tension, as though he was going to say something intensely meaningful. Then he dropped his gaze and shook his head. "I'm not going to insult the kindness and sacrifice of your offer by turning you down flat, but I will warn you." When he looked back up, he was grinning. "My place is only halfway renovated, and it's not getting electricity any time soon. But if it's what you want, if you think you can handle it, handle being around me that much, I'd love to have you there."

She wanted to hug him, and the impulse startled her. The desire to be so close to another, to express affection so warmly, had died with her mother. An idle thought had her wondering if carrying an Inuzuka child was somehow making her more like an Inuzuka, though she imagined Kiba would never have hesitated in responding to such an urge. Instead, she squeezed his hand. "Let's go tomorrow after dinner."

Standing up, she removed the sheet beneath her comforter and placed it under the window. "Will this do for you and Akamaru tonight?" There was a warm pressure on her shoulder, and she turned to look past his hand and into his smiling eyes.

"Thanks for the thought, but I'm not going to sleep in your room, Hinata." Her gave her shoulder a squeeze then moved to perch on her windowsill. "You've made me feel very reassured, so I think I can go." He sat there for longer than was necessary, just staring at her, then gave him self a shake and her another grin. "Good night. See you tomorrow."

There was barely a sound made by their passage, but she sensed Kiba and Akamaru leave. Although it took a long time for the excitement in her to die down enough for her to sleep, once she did, she dreamed of hugging everyone she knew and then woke with a smile.

DETAILS

Tatami = mats made from the the folded stalks of rice and sweet rush, a traditional Japanese floor covering

THANK YOU to all my reviewers—especially DreaminginOctober, heartsXkisses, Greatness Alone, Little Hoarder, and Hellewise14 for reviewing multiple chapters—I really appreciate it!