-We Will Never Part-
Disclaimer: I don't own any recognizable content!
-Chapter Twenty Four-
-Visitations-
"Left! Left! Left! Left!" she shouted loudly while jamming buttons on the controller grasped tightly in her hand. Hinata had never been one for video games; never really saw the appeal of experiencing adventures and whatnot on a computer or television screen. She much preferred her adventures to take place in books; that way her mind, her imagination, could fill in the important parts of what was going on.
But today Kiba had brought over the game system and a couple games and insisted they play it. Once Hinata had gotten a hang of what each button did and how to control her player in the game, she found she actually quite enjoyed it.
"Shoot! Shoot! He's on your left! Your left!" Hinata continued to shout at Kiba, instructing him to kill some of the enemy soldiers they were battling against. She'd gotten really into the game, becoming intense about each and every move they made.
She would not loose! Not if she had anything to say about it.
"Duck! Duck! Yes!" Hinata exclaimed, having killed the final enemy and passed on to the next level. Kiba just sat back and chuckled at her.
"If I knew this was how you'd react to playing I definitely would not have insisted. You're really intense." Hinata flushed and slumped down into the couch. She'd been so wrapped up in playing the game, and winning, that she hadn't even thought about her behaviour. Normally, all of her actions were filtered through a thought process that filtered out any questionable or judge-able behaviour. However, playing the game had distracted her thought process and she'd acted without a filter.
"Yeah, didn't know I had it in me," she responded sheepishly, hiding her face from Kiba in embarrassment.
"It was actually quite something to see you so unreserved for once!" Kiba chuckled as he spoke, which only caused Hinata more mortification. Feeling extremely awkward in the situation and only wanting to get as far away from it as possible, she bolted out of her spot on the couch and scampered out of the living room.
"I'm going to get something to drink, do you want something?" she asked as a cover. She figured she could pretend to look for drinks for a while, possibly say she needed to get them from the storage fridge to buy her even more time. That way she could breath, reduce her embarrassment and awkwardness, and then return to Kiba once she was back to normal.
"No, I'm good thanks," Kiba responded, focusing back on the video game. Hinata nodded in acknowledgement and then quickly slipped out of the room.
From: Fashionable-piggy (littlemisspiggy)
To: Hyuuga Hinata (lil_miss_sunshine)
Cc: Cherry Blossom (xxvery_cherryxx); Bear-chan (10.10i-score-every-time10.10)
Sent: Thursday, July 10; 8:12 am
Subject: Distraction, please!
Hina! My sweet, sweet Hina!
Sakura has been absolutely no help this week so I am seeking you out in absolute and complete desperation. Hinata, this is the most boring Math class in the history of math classes! I need a distraction. Anything! Anything at all.
Please, please, please, please, please!
I'm begging and desperate here!
You know you love me,
Ino
Hinata sat in her mother's backyard, lounging on a reclining deck chair. She slurped down the best milkshake she'd ever had and enjoyed the moment. She was absolutely happy, despite her mother not being around for the third straight day in a row. Kiba had brought over the milkshakes earlier, insisting that Hinata hadn't lived until she'd tried the shake.
Having tasted it, Hinata agreed with his assessment. This was the best milkshake she'd ever had!
"Wow," Hinata finally spoke, turning to look at the satisfied boy lounging in the chair next to her.
"What did I say?" he responded smugly. Kiba was lounging on the deck chair beside her, looking almost as relaxed as she felt. He had a hand flung up over his head, sunglasses perched on his nose. He was wearing a baggy tank top that showed off his toned arms; apparently he did more than just play video games all day.
Hinata felt a blush creep up her face. Every day that week that her mother had gone, Kiba had come over with something to do, video games or board games, or movies, or the world's best milkshake. Each time, Kiba emphatically declared that the only reason he was there was at his mother's insistence to keep her occupied.
But each time he said it, Hinata couldn't help but feel that his excuse was hallow. There had been several times that her mother had disappeared when Hinata had been left with only her extremely unhelpful sister to distract her; Kiba had been nowhere in sight. Also, Hinata assumed that Kiba would be needed to distract both Hinata and Hanabi. Yet Kiba was only ever with Hinata; he made no effort to get anywhere near Hanabi.
Something about what Kiba was saying each time he visited just didn't sit right. She definitely needed to contact Ino.
"So, what do you normally do at home? We've been doing things I like, and you seem to be enjoying them for the most part. I just thought you'd like to pick what we do today." Kiba spoke. He turned to look at her and, despite his sunglasses, he scruched his face up like he was looking into an extremely bright light. Hinata smiled.
"Mostly I spend time with my friends. We visit each other's houses, go to the mall, and hang out at the park. Normal things really. My favourite activity is to lay in my backyard at night and stare up at the stars."
"Sounds like a plan. We'll meet up at around nine? There's a hill in a nearby park that has a really excellent view of the sky. I should go walk the dogs now, but I'll be back at nine!" Kiba then stood up, collected his garbage, and left. Hinata sat in place, stunned and speechless.
From: Hyuuga Hinata (lil_miss_sunshine)
To: Fashionable piggy (littlemisspiggy)
Cc: Cherry Blossom (xxvery_cherryxx); Bear-chan (10.10i-score-every-time10.10)
Sent: Wednesday, July 11; 8:41 am
Subject: Re: Distraction, please!
Inie!
I've got a problem for you. (I'm sure it will distract you from your terribly boring math class.) Are you ready for this?
Well, for the past four days, my mother's neighbour had been coming to visit. He's a boy our age (my mom is like B.F.F.s with his mom). He comes over whenever my mom leaves. He says his mother is forcing him to come over and keep Hana and me company but I feel like he isn't telling us the whole truth.
That's where you come in, and wherein the distraction truly lies. This isn't just a story about a boy visiting me, but why he is visiting me. Here are the facts I have and hopefully you can solve this mystery for me.
Fact 1: My mom was disappearing for a while before he started visiting. His reasoning therefore isn't very strong.
Fact 2: Despite his claim that he is to be keeping both Hana and I company, he spends all his time with me and Hana is never part of the equation.
Fact 3: When he comes over we do activities that he enjoys, but it's not like he's forcing things on me, but asking me to partake and share in his interests.
Fact 4: Today, he asked me what I liked to do and, when I told him that it was looking at the stars he basically set up a date for tonight.
That's what I've got. So let me know what your gifted and talented mind can come up with. Please make it fast!
Hope you are well,
Hinata
She hugged the blanket tightly to her chest as she slowly made her way towards the nearby park. Her stomach was flip-flopping and her heart was beating a mile a minute. She could not recall a moment in her life when she felt this nervous.
Was this a date? Had he asked her out on a date? She was wearing leggings and an over-large sweater that belonged to her father and was emblazoned with his alma mater. Should she have worn something different? Something sexier?
It was all just a little too much.
Finally, she crested the hill and saw him sprawled out on a blanket. He looked totally at ease. Hinata hated him a little, hated how she wasn't sending him into a crazy tizzy. Her head and heart were going crazy and he lay there, cool as a cucumber.
Not fair. Not fair at all.
"Hey! You made it!" Kiba called, sitting up. He must have heard her coming because she was still a fair distance away and most definitely out of his line of sight, especially with him lying down.
As he sat there, an impish smile on his face and his hair mussed from laying on it, Hinata felt her heart beat faster. She barely knew this guy, had only met him about a week ago, and yet, the mere sight of him made her body go crazy. And this may not even be a date.
But, if this evening was going to be a success, she needed to get out of her head and enjoy the evening. This was just two people stargazing. Nothing more.
"Hey! Of course I came. This was my suggestion, sort of. I mean, you made the plans and everything, but I suggested stargazing. So, yeah…" Hinata internally cursed herself. She was babbling like an idiot. Definitely not getting out of her head.
Kiba just smiled up at her.
"You babble a lot." He stated, no real emotion behind it. He stated it like the fact that it was. Hinata couldn't tell if he found it enduring or annoying.
'Stop!' she commanded herself, 'how he feels is not important! Stop worrying about it. Stop thinking about it. Just stop.' Hinata then smiled and moved to lie down beside Kiba, leaving a respectable distance between them.
Kiba smiled over at her, but then turned back to looking up at the stars. His arms remained firmly behind his head, acting as a pillow. He didn't move to touch her, or even get closer to her. Hinata's heart fell a little, but she reminded herself to drop it and turned to look up at the sky as well.
The stars slowly began to shine in the sky and, as each new star appeared, Hinata pointed it out, telling Kiba it's name and an interesting fact she knew about it. Quickly, Hinata was lost in the stargazing activity, her focus solely on the sky and not her companion. It wasn't until Kiba chuckled lightly that Hinata drew her attention away from the sky and looked at Kiba.
At some point, he had moved closer to Hinata and rolled over onto his side. Hinata wasn't sure how long he'd been like that, but for whatever length of time it was, he hadn't been focused on the sky, but on her. Hinata felt a blush creeping up her face and was glad that it was dark enough that he probably wouldn't notice.
From: Fashionable piggy (littlemisspiggy)
To: Hyuuga Hinata (lil_miss_sunshine)
Cc: Cherry Blossom (xxvery_cherryxx); Bear-chan (10.10i-score-every-time10.10)
Sent: Thursday, July 12; 8:21 am
Subject: Call me Sherlock
Hina!
I have to start off by saying that I look fabulous in deerskin! (And yes, I did spend a good portion of time yesterday afternoon searching out a Sherlock costume. I work best when in full character!)
And, because I spent the time creating my persona, I think I have solved your little mystery. (It was a little easy, but I can understand why you would need to turn to me for evidence. You are relatively inexperienced in this field after all.)
Also, thank you so much for the distraction! Math is way too boring to hold my attention.
So, now onto my conclusions, I have carefully reviewed the facts that you have relayed to me. It is very clear to me that this boy likes you. Romantically.
Oh shoot! The teacher is staring at me. Have to focus now. Email me with any questions or thoughts you may have.
You know you love me,
Ino
-To be continued-