DISCLAIMER: THERE IS A THIN LINE BETWEEN LOVING AND OWNING. THEREFORE, I DO NOT OWN NARUTO OR ANY OF ITS CHARACTERS.
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A.N. Thank you guys for the comments. If ever I leave you hanging in some chapters, it simply implies that I intended to do that, ahehehehe... well... hope you guys are still there. I speed post, huh? Too fast, too furious.
By the way, thank you also for reminding me to keep sane. I'm sooooh embarrassed to have made so many mistakes in my fics. Hope i don't disappoint too much! >
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Who would have thought that Hinata would not end up with Naruto after all?
This made me laugh.
ButI had it in mind several years ago. And I put myself in the position of being her true prince, her true love. I was there, just like so many other young males, lingering about her presence, hoping to get noticed.
But how could she notice me that way?
Maybe I have been around a little too much that she mistook my waiting presence for siblinghood.
Naruto's absence uplifted our spirits as much as we thought of the blonde as a dear close friend. We were given a light of hope despite the sickening idea of gaining Hinata's favor while he was gone.
Perhaps wehave assumed too soon that Hinata was up for grabs.
The current hot news of town broke me.
So I am stupid after all, thinking that the competition was among ourselves, the young childhood friends. Naruto was nowhere in the race and it made me actually think I was the one who could have Hinata. Not once in my now feeble mind did I think that the others and I would lose to the man of our senior, the promising ninja -Hatake Kakashi.
What about me?
The question was plaguing me ever since I found out she was officially engaged. Maybe other men have been asking the same question at the moment, but to me, it bore a deeper sense of pain that I have beenwondering aboutthat since I first saw her blush at the sight of Naruto.
I had been the closest, the one who could legally touch her hand and get away with it. It had been sheer happiness to have her close and call out my name before, and now, I will lose with utter helplessness. I will lose completely.
All I could think of right now was how daft I was to have the jounin leave me off guard, snatching my beloved Hyuga right before my very eyes. The jounin came so much like a storm in my sleep, me waking up to find that everything I worked for and loved -gone.
How naive I was! To think that the jounin was taking Hinata for ramen out of gentleman courtesy -how was I not able to sense the romance twisting between them? All those bare moments, those times that I have felt someone lurking behind the shadows, thinking that the jounin was there simply because of his patrolling duties -I, of all people close to her, had been fooled.
Shino must have felt the same way, but as usual, the insect freak took a deep breath and concentrated on a different feeling that I could not bring myself to feel -happiness for Hinata. For once, I wanted to ask Shino for some extra pair of spectaclesto coverthe grief probably sparkling from my own eyes.
Akamaru was slightly depressed as well, probably thinking that his master did not get, would not ever get what he truly desired. Perhaps my loneliness rubbed off my partner.
It was such suicide to walk in the hospital this morning, walking up to the children's ward, seeing two distinct people in a warm embrace and there I was, just like Shino, supposed to smile at them.
The jounin greeted us with his usual aplomb and left afterwards.
Out of habit, Akamaru hopped into her arms as she bent down to caress him.
The embrace Hinata shared with Kakashi, her sweet gestures with Akamaru made me think the painful. The entranced look she gave the jounin as they hugged and the longing glance for him as he left, made me think the question all over again.
What about me?
The scent of the engaged left me speechless, she was of a different feel today. Her countenance was glowing.
Hinata quickly asked for a break, saying she had to treat her friends for some tea.
The head nurse obliged willingly. Who could resist such a girl?
"Its been a while since we've gone out together," Hinata said with a polite smile. She was walking betweenus two as she carried Akamaru in her arms. "What's new?"
Shino shrugged.
I wanted to cringe. I put on my everyday smirk and eyed her. "We should be the one asking that. You've been too occupied working here. You're busier thanwe are-people with missions."
Hinata laughed softly. "Not really. In fact, I'm at my most relaxed. I'm used to it, I guess."
"Here we are," Shino said as we stopped in front of the tea house.
We let her enter first and followed behind as she chose seats for our group. She sat across us both and it couldn't have been more convenient and painful. Oh to watch her pretty face from the distance.
Shino ordered a pot of jasmine tea and I wanted to laugh. Were we too obsessed with her that we wanted to drink something that tasted just the way she smelled like? We are definitely crazy for her.
I watched earnestly as Akamaru teasingly lick her pale fingertips. The simple action poked the other half of my longing.
Ah… sick carnality.
How I envied so many other things right now. Aside from Kakashi, I craved to be my dog, Akamaru and have the pleasure of tasting her skin. A faultless beckoning for my partner but a raging hunger for me.
She was wearing her jacket, which used to be oversized. It was still large but now the front clung to her breasts that now it gave me unhealthy fantasies. Her long hair was draped over her shoulders, slightly brushing over Akamaru's fur as she leaned closer to the small dog. How I would kill to comb my fingers through her long tresses.
"When are you getting married?"
My eyes widened and I darted toglare at Shino. Did I hear right? It was shocking for him to ask such a question. Was he sure? Oh my…
Hinata blushed. "Next year. After my birthday."
"Oh. That's still a long way," Shino replied.
I wondered where Shino's silly eyes were looking. Were they focused on the blush, or on the same thing I was grazing on earlier? Drop it, I thought. Getting a hard-on in a tea house isn't a pretty sight.
On her birthday, have I heard right? Cool. Maybe I'd still have a chance with her. I wanted to laugh and holler a loud 'all right!' but that would sound and appear too freaky.
"Kiba-kun? Are you alright? You look dazed," she said, concern in her soft voice.
No, I wanted to answer her, I'm not okay. I want to hold you, damn it. "Yeah. Just doing some thinking." Yeah right.
Hinata frowned. Perhaps she knew me too well. I never just said that I was 'thinking.'
The waiter came back and served our teas.
The scent drove up against my nose, giving me different sorts of feelings. Holy crap, was Jasmine Tea an aphrodisiac? No, I told myself clearly as I found myself staring once again at her breasts. I cowered in my seat and pushed my eyes away from her.
"You two are starting to freak me out," Hinata said. "You're so silent. I mean, Shino-kun is not that talkative but you, Kiba-kun? Something must be up."
Gods, she wasn't stammering. And gods... was he that obvious? "Haha… well, I've a lot in my mind, Hina-chan."
Hinata smiled faintly. "Haven't we all…?" She gave Akamaru one firm hug and put him down beside her.
Shino took a sip of his tea and sighed. "I have a question for you, Hinata-chan."
"Hai?"
He cleared his throat.
It made me wonder what he was so interested with all of the sudden. I took my teacup and took one little sip.
"Do you love him?"
I almost spat the tea out but I stopped myself. I put my teacup down with a thud I almost broke it. How could he ask such a question? Was he blind behind those dark shades of his? Was the look in Hinata's eyes not evident of such emotion?
I felt anger rising up within me. I'm angered because of Shino's ignorance, not of Hinata's feelings but of ours -but of mine. How could he do this, ask her and she would answer truthfully and we would hear. I would hear right from her pretty little mouth that she loved the ninja more than she would ever love anybody else.
Hinata's gaze was on her own teacup, the fury fuming from my ears unnoticed. "Y-yes…" she paused and took a deep breath. "Yes. I love him."
I glared at Shino now and he just nodded. I would strangle him later. But I knew, I understood completely what he wanted.
Shino needed to hear the truth from Hinata herself, so that he could manage his feelings and know what she truly wanted. He also did that on purpose -to shut us both, to shut me up -to awaken me from my loving dream of having Hinata to myself.
"Okay. But now I have to confess," Shino said all of the sudden, shocking me. "Do you know that I like you, Hinata? I like you. I probably love you. But don't mind me, I'm going to be happy for you knowing you love Kakashi. I observe that he will make you happy."
Oh. Heavens. Was he serious? Was this freak actually Aburame Shino? Damn it. He was a real freak! Curse it all. Now I really laughed as I looked at Hinata. She was astounded obviously. "Don't mind Shino here! You know how weird he is!"
Hinata bit her lower lip.
Shino turned his head towards me and said, "I just settled my feelings, Kiba. I'm sorry if you couldn't."
Dang. He was really going to earn some smothering later. I'd tear him, limb from limb, this imbecile. How could he say such things anyway? "Settled my feelings my ass, Shino. You don't know what you're talking about!"
"At least I know when to stop."
If there was one thing I wish I had, it was Shino's calmness. He was able to think clearly, talk clearly without showing any kind of emotion. I was the total opposite. I was close to exploding. "Shut the hell up!"
Shino just smirked at me.
It drove me mad to have him do that to me. I was about togrowl and grab him by the collar when a familiar voice called out to us. I looked at the entrance and saw someone I didn't want to see right now.
"Oi, everybody!" he greeted us happily. "Hina-chan!"
No way was this happening. Naruto was a real spoiler. I sat back down in my seat. He was not going to sit with us now, was he? "Get away, baka. We're having some serious talk here. Not now."
"I like talking," Naruto exclaimed as he invited himself to Hinata's side, sitting comfortably beside her. He signaled the waiter for one extra teacup. He looked at us and frowned. "Seems like the temperature round here is hotter than tea."
"Why are you here?" I barked. "And who gave you permission to sit beside her?"
"I give myself the right to sit beside my precious friend," Naruto simply replied. He grinned at us. "I'm here because Hinata wasn't at the hospital. We're working there together. Just couldn't work without her."
I watched Hinata blush and I clenched my fists harder, it reminded me of how she was infatuated with him. And wait, did he sound attached to her, like they have been together for years? Damn it! So he was checking her out now! Not in my presence. "You better hell shut up or I'll throw you out of here, damn it!"
"Oh yeah? I'm not fucking scared of you, Kiba," Naruto said in a deep serious voice. He leaned back against the chair and raised a brow. "Like I've said, I've been hell and back. Your likes don't scare me."
I was about to grab the new nuisance by the neck but Hinata spoke up.
"Please. Both of you are acting like children," Hinata said in a calm voice. She was slightly trembling and that blush of hers was across her cheeks. "Kiba-kun, sit down. Let's just relax and have tea, okay?"
Goodness she was something. My peaked mood slowly drained from me, I sat back down without energy. I growled at Naruto as he snorted at me. "I just couldn't see why we can't be left alone."
"We are all friends here," Hinata said softly, eyes on teacup.
Her statement made my stomach turn into knots, and Naruto grumbled.
She smiled at Shino and reached out to touch his hand for a while. "I appreciate what you told me." She drew her hand back and took a sipfrom her own cup. She moved inches from Naruto's body and kept a safe distance. "I thank you for respecting my decision."
I wanted to smack Naruto and Shino in the face but I respected Hinata. Though I chose to ignore her words. I knew the situation, the three of us were in love with her and we couldn't act anything out to change it. No, correct that. There were four of us in here that was in love with her. Akamaru was also there on her lap, nuzzling against her thigh.
What about me?
Hinata parted her lips to speak when her eyes widened.
The three of us have been staring at her, I guess, since we quickly looked where her eyes were.
At the sight of the protector, the cousin, I wanted to laugh mockinglyas I thought, was he in love with her too? Would he sit with them in the table of failures, surrounding the beautiful princess whose heart was held by the man who outsmarted them all?
Hyuga Neji crossed his arms across his chest and snorted. "What is this? How could you sit here, Hinata-sama, with all these blockheads?"
I frowned. Maybe he was indeedin love with her. Neji was no longer a pain in the ass, if I remember correctly. He was not a smug like he used to be. But now, he was that proud son of a bitch like he was years ago. Talk about growing up.
"Then you earn yourself a seat," I said sarcastically.
"I'd rather not," Neji said.
"Neji-niisan," she called. Hinata quickly stood up and took another chair. "Please, sit beside Naruto."
Was this really happening? The four of us in one place? Someone should get a camera and take our picture. We will be the laughing stock of Konoha. We must have looked so funny. All at this lovely girl's mercy. Oh Hinata, I would have left if only I didn't love you this much.
And of course because of her, Neji sat beside Naruto and they might as well explode with tension.All of us now were similar to magnetic like poles.I currently sat beside Shino, and Hinata sat on another chair placed between me and Naruto. My talkative, sardonic side was hushed up.
It was amusing how Hinata got Neji to sit with us and beside Naruto, who he obviously did not favor right now.
Hinata smiled and held her hands together. "I cannot believe I have the four of you here."
We all averted gazes from each other. No one was in the mood to eye one another.
"I want to thank you all," Hinata began, her eyes sparkling. "You all are special friends. I love each and everyone of you dearly. I'll take this opportunity while I have it… I have one favor to ask all of you."
I wanted to ask her the same thing. Would you change your mind?
"All of you are part of me. My friends are limited and the four of you are closer to me than any other girl friend is. And I just know that I couldn't bare to have any of you angry with each other, just the way I could not bare to have any of you out of my life. So… I wanted to ask if…"
Don't ask me to forget about you. Don't ask me to love the idea of you getting married. Please don't ask anything because I know I'd agree. I'm a dog at your feet, have mercy, Hinata.
"If you all could be godfathers of my children," Hinata said, a deep blush on her face. She giggled softly. "I know I'm not married yet but... Please?"
I couldn't help but to glance across the table and watch their expressions. This was something alright.
Neji kept his eyes on the teapot. He was in deep thought. I couldn't really tell what was going on inside his head just the way I couldn't figure my own thoughts.
Shino -the only sane creature around,smiled and nodded. "My pleasure, Hinata-chan."
Naruto's wide eyes softened and he actually smiled. He was disappointed, I can smell it. He was a bit teary and I couldn't blame him. If I wasn't in front of men -them specifically, I would have cried till I dried my brains out. He sighed and nodded. "Same here. I'm shaken and surprised that you actually settle down to marry that old idiot. I mean, you could chose any of us in this table, it might have been better. But… your mind is made up, huh?"
Hinata nodded slowly and it pulled me apart. She was dead serious about Kakashi.
"You're really weird, Hina-chan," Naruto said with a laugh. He scratched the back of his head. "I'll agree today, but it doesn't mean I'm giving up. The wedding is months away."
I don't know what came over me. I just nodded and took Hinata's hand in mine and closed my eyes, trying to remember every single memory of us together.I was too carefree tomake a move and noticethat she was ayoung woman perfectly capable of falling in love and choosing the one she truly desired.
She was supposed to be mine. I was the best friend, I was also her protector. I was the longest one with her, the one who admired her ever since. But she was someone else's and she loved the idea.
Godfather... That would be awkward and strange, painful and killing to be part of her life in such a way. But at least, I knew, just like everyone else in the table, her favor was a beautiful one, because she did not push us away.
Instead she asked us to be part of her life forever, to share a bond with her marriage and children.
It was bittersweet.
I squeezed her hand againand nodded. And like I said... "Who could say no to you, Hinata? I'd love to be godfather to your children." I let her hand go, she not knowing how painful it was to do so but I saw the invisible string that bound me to her -it was still there, I love her too much.
Hinata wiped the tears from her eyes as she held her fists against her heart. "I'm too glad. I love you guys!"
I shrugged. "Well… its obvious we all love you too." I must have sounded corny, but everyone in the table knew how I meant it, no matter how oblivious Hinata was to my real meaning.
Neji finally moved from his musing and raised a hand.
We all stopped breathing. Even Hinata's happy face froze.
"This calls for sake," Hyuga Nejisaid in a flat voice. And with a weak smile he added, "Cheers, everyone. Our little Hinata is getting married."
A.N. Okay. That, obviously, was Kiba's POV. Hmm... I don't know what to say. But i am sure that I love you all for reading my story.
By the way... This is the end... NOT! ahahahahaha...