Heyo! A piece of HinaKiba fluff for Valentine's Day! Oh happy day! Anyways, I read chapter 204, and was inspired. Sadly, 204 ends with Kiba and his stabbing-ness... anyways I don't actually know what happens to the lovely 5 that went after Sasuke (THAT ASS!) so this is basically a 'What if...' sort of story...

Warning: This is your last warning before reading. This story contains heavy spoilers for anything over 172. So damned if your not that far and are going to read this anyways! Thanks!

(This story was also inspired by 'I Don't Want to miss a thing' by Aerosmith, and 'My Immortal' by Evanescence.)

Disclaimer: I own only this plot... thing...

~&_&~

Photographic Memory

~#_#~

Hinata's eyes rolled over the many pictures in frames on her bedroom dresser. The room was other wise plain, the bed with its white sheets and pillows, the dresser was its polished wood, the floor and bed stand also polished wood, the white rug, and the small white lamp. The only thing she liked about the room was the pictures, of her friends. The people who believed in her.

It had been 6 years since the incident with the Sound and Orochimaru, and... Sasuke. The thought of this sad anniversary brought tears to Hinata's eyes for many reason. She hated thinking of it, and the pictures reminded her. But, she loved these pictures; these were the happiest moments of her life.

The first picture was taken shortly after she had been assigned her genin team. She had been happy that her team accepted her, and didn't look down on her like some people she had the misfortune to know. Not like it mattered much more after that. Within the months that followed, team 8 had traveled all over the Fire Country on missions, useless missions yes, but mission's none-the-less. In this picture, Kurenai was at the left of the picture, leaning against a tree, Shino was slightly in front of her, unsmiling and his features mostly hidden behind his sunglasses and coat. He had been trying to get away from the picture, but he failed miserably, because Kiba has his arm around Shino's and Hinata's necks. Hinata herself was smiling slightly, with her hand up as if she was waving. Akamaru's head peeked out from between Kiba and Hinata's heads.

The second picture in this series was taken after they had received one of their more important missions. They had all tied their head bands to Akamaru and were sitting on the forest ground around him. Shino was smiling somewhat, Kiba was giving the victory sign, and Hinata was merely blushing, Kurenai was taking this photo. Hinata bit down on her lip and continued to the next picture, the one of all nine genin, with Lee, Neji and TenTen. She smiled and her fingers danced across the picture. Everyone was smiling and being generally happy. The teachers were moved slightly away from the group, mostly because of their surprising energy. Neji and Hinata were opposite sides of the picture of course, but neither of them cared, Neji had simply ignored her presence as usual.

Hinata moved onto the next picture, the one taken of team 8 before the final exam, and the one beside it, of Naruto and herself, and then of Kiba and herself. Hinata pushed these three pictures. She hated looking at these ones. They reminded her of everything that had happened that day and the weeks that followed.. All the pictures after these were of after the incident. Her and Shino in a surprise picture, the two were standing against a tree. There was a picture of Sakura, Ino and Hinata when they were 15, sitting around being quiet girls, which was odd for them. There were other pictures of her friends, and her younger sister, and her teachers. She walked away from the dresser and ran her hands along the walls as she walked down the hall of her small house. She had no clue what she was doing anymore; her mind was too lost in thought. These thoughts were filled of the way her life used to be, her friends, but especially the Inuzuka that she still cared so much for. Thoughts of the day returned to her.

During the last of the Chuunin Exam, Konoha was attacked by the Sound and Sand, although Hinata had been knocked out during this, she had heard a lot from Naruto in the days to follow. One day, almost two days after the Chuunin Exam, Sasuke disappeared during the night, leaving Sakura on a bench. Sakura was awakened the next morning by two Chuunin heading to see Tsunade. Tsunade received the information about Sasuke and had sent for Shikamaru, since most other Chuunin were busy. Shikamaru had gathered four people he knew, Naruto, Chyouji, Neji, and Kiba to help him bring Sasuke back. She had found out from Sakura and Lee that they had left. Hinata was absolutely shocked that they would be sent out, but then thought back and began to think they deserved to get a mission like that. They were all amazing Ninja.... unlike herself.

Hinata waited and worried about them. They were gone for a day, but when the sunset, Naruto had returned with a battered up Shikamaru, and a barrel that held Sasuke.

"Naruto-kun," her words echoed. "Where is...?" Hinata bit her lip, not really wanting the answer. Naruto had looked down at the ground and shook his head.

"Hinata... I'm sorry... but..." It had pained Naruto to even think of it, but he had to say it. "Kiba, Neji and Chyouji are dead...." That had been a shock for them all. Sasuke, Shikamaru and Naruto were brought to the hospital, while Sakura tried to cheer up Hinata. It had been the worst part of her life; even worse than when her family had labeled her a disgrace, nothing hurt more. At the time, Hinata had simply thought this hurt because she never got to say good-bye, or got to settle things with Neji. Also because Kiba was a close friend. Had Hinata continued to believe this, she would have lived the rest of her life as a lie. The statement "You never truly know how much you love something, until it's gone" really did fit at that point. She felt horrible, as if she had taken Kiba for granted.

"Hinata, you shouldn't feel bad," Shino had commented. "Kiba and Akamaru would be happy to know that you care that much for them." Even if it was true, the truth hurt Hinata.

Soon Hinata went into a state of denial. She would always tell herself that Neji and Kiba weren't dead. They were simply... not there...

Then she slowly let it go. But she still cried for them. In years to come she would lock herself in her room, and later her house, on this day. Naruto had made it his tradition to come and see her, and to spend time with her. Hinata automatically looked at the clock...

'Naruto-kun will be here around now...' Hinata said. She would have been happy, if this incident had never happened. She was happy that Naruto came to see her, but in the past 6 years they had become close friends. Damned if she thought more of him now though. But she felt so pathetic as well... not being able to let it go.

"Hinata?" Naruto's unnaturally soft voice coaxed Hinata out of her thoughts.

"Oh... gomen nasi Naruto-kun," Hinata said, trying to smile but failing miserable. Naruto shook his head. Naruto took his oddly usual seat by the window. Hinata was sitting on the couch. Naruto's company cheered her slightly. They were silent for a few minutes.

"Hey, Hinata," Naruto said suddenly. Hinata looked at him to show she was listening. "Want to go get some ramen?" Naruto asked. Hinata blinked and frowned slightly.

"Well," she thought. 'You would want me to be happy... wouldn't you?' "Sure Naruto-kun. Let's go," Hinata smiled warmly at her friend. Naruto gave his fox-grin and the two left the apartment. As they walked, Naruto started going on about trivial things, such as how crappy the missions have been, and stuff that he really actually didn't care about, such as cats. Hinata laughed as Naruto began his speech about cats.

"Their too furry, you know?" he asked. Hinata nodded and looked up at the sky.

'The sun is shining... are you smiling too?'

~Owari

~;-;~

Alright so, I made assumptions, sue me. ^^; or don't I don't have money you know that? Anyways, yes, Kiba commits suicide to be able to get rid of one villain, but did he have to?!? I mean seriously, he's my favourite character... next to Gaara and Hinata of course, but anyways, that's unimportant. I could have gone into more detail... but I'm horrible at writing anything other than humor ;-; forgiveness?