Naruto Primer: Future Hinata

Allergies

Inuzuka Hinata was at home one day performing her motherly duties.  Not only did she have a darling four-year-old daughter to tend to, but two adult dogs and four puppies to look after.  At the age of twenty-eight, Hinata couldn't be happier.

Except if only her husband knew a terrible secret…

She bent down to put some Kibbles and Bits into Little Akamaru's bowl but then erupted into sneezes and nearly dropped the bag all over the floor.  Quickly, she put the bag down and grabbed a tissue, wiping her nose.  How could she possibly go about telling Kiba that she was allergic to the dogs that he loved so dearly?

It was an extra tender subject for Kiba considering Akamaru had just recently passed away about a year earlier.  That's why they had gotten Little Akamaru.  Kiba had been completely devastated and could hardly even get out of bed.  For the longest time, Hinata didn't even know if he'd be able to go on living but after a good few months of rehabilitation with psychiatrists and plenty of Prozac, he was able to bounce back.  They had a formal funeral for Akamaru and buried him in the backyard with a proper grave and all.

So she finished up filling the bowls and went into a room that didn't have one of their many dogs in it.  She sighed a heavy sigh.  She was happy, yet uncomfortably miserable seemingly all the time due to her allergies that she had just recently discovered.  Secretly she had visited a doctor one day just last year while Kiba was out on a mission and he had informed her of her new allergy.  Hinata had long since stopped her ninja position, remaining only as a genin, while Kiba went on to become a chuunin.  He wasn't ambitious enough to go the extra mile and become a jounin, especially since he had to take care of his daughter.

Speaking of her, the sunspot just ran in the room complaining about her itchy eyes.  This little girl was the most hybrid-y looking little girl you could ever see with both her Inuzuka and Hyuuga genes.  I'm sure you can only imagine.

"Tashoku…don't tell me you're allergic to the dogs too…" Hinata said quietly, caressing her whining child.

Just then, she heard the sound of the door opening and then the bellowing voice of Kiba yelling, "I'M HOME!!"  All the dogs started barking and raced to the front door.  Tashoku leaped off her mother's lap and sprinted to the door as well to greet her father.

Hinata gave a deep sigh and stood up.  She had to tell him sooner or later, especially if Tashoku had the allergy as well.

When she got to the front door, the dogs had finished their hellos and had frolicked off as Kiba lifted his daughter up onto his shoulder.

"Hi Kiba!" she said happily.  "Did you have a good day?"

"So so." Kiba answered, putting his arm around her.  "There always seems to be an endless list of things that need to be done!"

"Yeah…" said Hinata.  "Um…Kiba?  I think we need to talk about something really important."

"Really?" said Kiba as he put Tashoku down on the floor.  "What about?  Hinata, you don't look well.  Are you sick?"

"Well…I've been meaning to bring this up to you for a little while…"

"Bring what up?"

"It's nothing to get excited about…"

"What is it?"

"I thought it would go away after a little while but it only seems to be getting worse each day…and recently, Tashoku's been showing symptoms too…"

Kiba stared Hinata down.  "Symptoms of what?" he said.

"Uh…this is hard for me to say…"

"What…is it." Kiba said, not really in the form of a question.

"I think we're…allergic to dogs." Hinata said finally.  "Me and Tashoku, I mean."

Kiba didn't respond at first.  Then he laughed slightly.  "Nonsense!" he said happily, patting her on the shoulder and walking by her into the kitchen.  "Now, Hinata, what's for dinner?  I'm starving!"

"Kiba, I don't think you heard me correctly!" said Hinata as she rushed into the kitchen after him.

"Of course I heard you!" said Kiba.  "But I'm sure it's just the pollen in the air or something."

"Kiba, it's winter." Said Hinata.

"I know that!" said Kiba nervously as he filled himself up a glass of water.

"What should we do?" asked Hinata.

"About what?" Kiba said.

"Our allergy to dogs." Hinata said.

"Don't be silly, Hinata!  We're not allergic to dogs!  We've had dogs in this house for five years and you've never had any problems with it before!"

"Kiba…are you crying?" Hinata asked.

"No, it's that darn pollen!" said Kiba, rubbing his eyes.  "I think I got some in my eye…"

Hinata could tell that this was crushing Kiba.  He knew something had to be done, but he didn't want to have to give up his dogs since they were practically part of the family.  In fact, they WERE part of the family.  Giving them up would be like giving up some of his children.

"I was just kidding, Kiba!" said Hinata.  "I'm not REALLY allergic to dogs!  I was just…er… psyching you out!"

"Right." Said Kiba.  "But er…just to be safe…"

He paused.

"How about we close off the basement?" Kiba said.  "And we won't get anymore new ones.  It'll be like an apartment and the dogs will live downstairs.  And I'll pick up some Claritin tomorrow."

He waited.  "Better yet, I'll pick up some Claritin right now." He said, moving towards the door.  "And I'll bring the dogs with me."

"And I'll go vacuum up the fur right now!" said Hinata as she whipped out her 8 Pound Oreck Excel and went right to clearing the house of any dog…stuff.