Laughing In the Silence

A/N: Naruto Universe = Property of Kishimoto

A/N2: For the reviewers. You guys are so wonderful ^_^, I wasn't sure how this fandom respond to this pairing, but so far I received nothing but kind words.

Jin, Brianna Darknight, kokorodragon, Liika, WickedFantasies, Love from Vikky, Blewin, and Tasha3. *Massive hugs to you all*

Chapter Five

Leaving Shino and Shikamaru at the Hyuga residence to take care of the servants and inform Hiashi of what happened, Hinata and I started toward the ambassadorial residence near where the Hokage lived. It was a long walk into the other side of the village, we chose a well-lit path through the woods that will cut through the down-town area. Homizu was limp in my arms, and as heavy as the next dead body, but I refused to let Hinata carry him when she offered.

"But at least let me examine him!" Her eyes were like glowing moonstones under the twilight, and I felt my heartbeat go erratic. Hmm…perhaps she should examine me too. I thought to myself, feeling a little smile sneaking up around my lips.

"Hinata you're always too kind. He just attacked you and your sister not thirty minutes ago! We're already being too generous by carrying him home!" I kept walking, with Akamaru swishing his tail around at my ankles. Despite the clamminess of the kid's skin, I felt a definite pulse at his neck.

Hinata puffed her breath and folded her arms, "Honestly Kiba, you can be obnoxious sometimes."

I gave her a sideways look, "Your enemies don't thank you for patching them up." Seeing that she still looked indignant, I added a bit testily, "Well, they might thank you for giving them another chance to come at you."

Hinata brought her forefingers together, and thinned her lips to a straight line. A look of helplessness was in her eyes.

Drawing a deep breath, I slowed down and told her softly, "Hinata…we're shinobis of a hidden village, your kindness should be reserved for your own people if you don't want them to get hurt. What's the point of caring for those that want you dead?"

I touched a nerve, because tears welled up in her eyes. Shaking her head, she suppressed the sobs in her throat and quickened her strides. Feeling guilty, I caught up to her and placed the kid down quickly by my feet. "Hinata-chan…"

She stopped, but didn't turn around to face me. I forced back my urge to place a comforting hand on her back, and walked around to face her. Being a foot taller than she is, I bent over so that we were face to face. An apology bubbled up within me, but got stuck in my throat.

"Kiba-kun…I hate this. This…nonsense. About only caring about your own people or…or…oh…I want everyone to be happy!" She looked at my with miserable eyes, "Is it so wrong of me to wish for peace and harmony?"

I shook my head, "That's the kind of feeling your enemies take advantage of. No matter how much you want everyone else to be well and happy…remember yourself." Carefully I placed a hand just behind her ear, "I want you to remember to be happy. I want you to be happy."

She looked confused as she held my gaze, and remained frozen as I started to bring my face closer to hers. Suddenly, she began to waver, as if to step back. With my heart hammering loudly in my ears, I let my eyes droop shut as I…

"Hey! Where am I?"

"Ah!" Hinata snapped out of her daze as a very loud, very obnoxious voice exploded behind her. Spinning around, she saw Homizu struggle to his feet while fending of Akamaru's half-hearted advances.

Snarling, I pushed past Hinata and grabbed Homizu's metal arm. "Now that you're awake, I trust that you can walk home on your own you little bastard."

With hard blue eyes, he glared right back and shook himself out of my grasp. "Call off your stupid dog, you son of a bitch. I'm going now. My work here is done."

Hinata looked suspiciously at him, "What do you--"

But I cut her off. "What did you call me? I'm going to kick your ass!" I yanked a kunai out of my holster, ready to spring for the jugular.

Hinata grabbed me around the waist, and held on with surprising strength. "Kiba, just let it go! You said that you reserve no kindness for your enemy, but he did nothing to threaten us!"

With calculating eyes, the scrawny boy studied us for a moment, and then went on this way. We watched him walk for a distance, neither of us moving very much. Just before we turned to get back to the Hyuga estate, I saw him turn and smirk at us before leaping up into a tree. Muttering a curse under my breath, I fell into pace beside Hinata. She seemed a bit nervous from my proximity, and widened the space between us discreetly, as if afraid to hurt my feelings.

Well I still notice Hinata-chan.

----

The Hyuga estate was in a state of utter chaos when we arrived back. Doctors from the Konoha Hospital were rushing into the house as we arrived, each lugging their bags as they sprinted into the house, not even stopping to remove their sandals. A few servants carrying wooden medicine cases shoved us to the side in their hurry after the doctors. Hinata gave me a frightened look, and ran after the lot of them.

With a sigh, I beckoned Akamaru to follow as I ran behind her.

The source of distress was Hyuga Hiashi's chamber, with hoards of frantic men and women surrounded a small dark-haired figure scrunched into fetal position on a tatami.

"We were only gone for over an hour, what happened here?" Hinata cried out, but no one answered her.

I stared at Hanabi, who was cradling her right arm tightly against her chest as she bit down on her lips to keep from crying out. "He…did it."

Hinata whirled around, eyes wild with anger, "He…he did something to her! He took revenge! Oh we have to find him now!"

I seized her before she started out, "We should find the Mizukage instead…surely he would know how to treat something his son did…"

"I'm already here," A deep, booming voice behind us made me jump. I turned to see a stocky man in flowing blue robes, a pair of steely blue eyes bright beneath thick black eyebrows. "I don't have the antidote here! It would take too long to travel to my village to get it…my son alone can help her!"

Hinata growled, "But he wouldn't!"

The Mizukage glared at her, "He would when I tell him to. Now go, or your sister will lose her arm!"

"That's something you'd want," Spat Hinata before she dashed out.

The Mizukage glanced idly at Hanabi's writhing form, then back to me. An eyebrow rose, along with a corner of his mouth.

I debated briefly against myself, wondering if I should help Hinata find Homizu, or hinder her search. A disgusted voice shouted loudly in my head. What disgraceful shinobi are you? Is Hanabi not a Leaf-nin? Does she not deserve your kindness?

But she hurt Hinata! I thought furiously.

Hinata is not your responsibility, don't make decisions for her unless you want her to hate you for it…

I turned and fled the room, and grabbed Hinata's hand as we ran out.

---

tbc!