Tell Her

Chapter I : Cigarette Butts for None

Kiba felt a little uneasy, as Asuma handed him the white pack of cigarettes. Making himself look more desirable had been one of his top priorities in getting Hinata, but he was still unsure about smoking a cigarette. Asuma quickly lit a cigarette and slipped it into his mouth. He was a professional. "This should work,"

"Why?" Kiba tried to make himself sound less childish and scared, but he knew smoking was bad for his health. And although he was reckless and brash, Kiba was very careful with his overall well-being, to be a good shinobi. He remembered his battle with Sakon, one of the Four Sounds only months ago. His stomach no longer pained, but he had not realized how close to death he had been. He could have died, and his dreams and goals for Hinata would have been hopeless and lost. "How do you know it'll work?"

Asuma shifted the cigarette in his mouth to the left corner of his lips. He smirked. "Well, if you're scared, then just try it. If you don't like it, then quit. But it makes you sexy, really. Look at me," Asuma backed a ways and opened his Jounin vest for Kiba to get a better view of him. Kiba narrowed his eyes, he usually never judged men. Not that it was bad or anything, but Kiba saw it as very uncomfortable. However, he forced his eyes to at least look at Asuma.

He concluded Asuma as okay. He was large-built, slightly bigger that Kakashi, but he held a muscularity that made him look very strong. His short, brown beard reminded Kiba of the Third Hokage somewhat, and he figured that must have meant something.

And he even noticed that the smoke slipping from his mouth did give him that sort of 'tough guy' appeal. Kiba liked the idea of being a tough guy, and nodded at Asuma. "I see, Asuma-sensei. It does make you look better," Asuma leered at him sarcastically. He smiled showing some yellowed teeth. Kiba shuddered, he was type to notice teeth like that.

"Are you saying that I'm not sexy without the smoking?" Kiba heard the joking in it, and frantically shook his head. "Well, I believe you need to practice, no?" Kiba slowly pulled out a cigarette, they were longer than he had thought. He had seen Asuma, and other pictures of people smoking, so he guessed on how to hold it between his index and middle fingers. "Ah, well I see you've got that down," Asuma reached into his pocket for his lighter. Kiba gulped, as the small flame of orange blue–an odd mixture of colors Kiba thought–was put to the end of the cigarette. "Now you simply inhale the smooth aroma," Asuma said in a calm voice, it annoyed Kiba.

But Kiba did so, and inhaled the smoke into his lungs, very slowly. It slipped into his mouth, and into his body softly, almost like silk. And for a moment, Kiba felt like he was floating. Is this how it feels to smoke?

But the happiness ended. The pain instantly shot into his lungs, and Kiba began coughing forward. His throat burned, and he could feel himself choking. Asuma caught him as his body toppled forward. Kiba blinked a few times when he began to gain control of himself.

"Did you like it?" Kiba's eye twitched at the brown-haired man. He leaned forward. "It does make you look good though," Kiba sighed, if this kind of pain would really get Hinata for him, it was worth it.

The doors to the Hyuuga compound were closed, but Kiba presumed there was nothing special going on. There was nothing special about that day anyways. However, Kiba still had a small feeling of fear when he knocked the large wooden doors of the gate. With his keen sense, Kiba recognized the familiar smell of a teammate training.

The sounds of the training ended, and Kiba could hear Neji's footsteps walking steadily to the gateway doors. With speed, Neji suddenly appeared as the door was opened. Even Kiba, who knew he should expect something like this from the likes of Neji, flinched. He also expected the deathly glare from Neji every time he and Shino came to fetch Hinata, but Neji's face was calm and relaxed.

Although Kiba was not the most observant of the shinobi of the Leaf, he, too had noticed Neji's change of behavior. Neji had always been intelligent, Kiba knew that and even guessed it at a time when he had not known Neji, but he used to be so arrogant and hateful. Kiba shivered at the thought of Neji nearly destroying Hinata. He easily admitted that Neji's power left him with an intimidating sickness in his stomach.

"Kiba," His voice was emotionless, but Neji held no grimace upon his face. His eyes were naturally fierce-looking, yet they detained a sort of warmth. Kiba nodded to Neji. Their level of understanding was an odd one, since they were two very different individuals, but Neji accepted Kiba as strong, and Kiba accepted Neji as…well, Neji.

There were light footsteps from inside the gateway, Neji still had not let Kiba into their courtyard. Kiba caught her scent, and although he looked calm and composed, his mind had already began hallucinating. "Neji-niisan, is t-that Kiba-kun?" Neji did not reply to Hinata's question, and left with so much as a simple shrug. Kiba and Neji were not much of conversationalists with each other, and he, too shrugged as Neji disappeared inside.

A gentle breeze passed through the Hyuuga's courtyard, and lightly rustled the oak tree towards the corner of the training arena. It was a pleasant place, Kiba could conclude, if only he hadn't felt the uneasiness of being watched like a hawk by any nosy Byakugan-holder. Hinata closed the door to the gate quietly, and turned around to her dog-loving friend. "So, what did you come by for, Kiba-kun?"

Kiba smiled. She, who usually seemed so shy and insecure, held a stronger attitude when just alone with her teammates. Small things, things that might have been considered 'petty' and 'meaningless', such as the change in the way she talked, were easily noticed through Kiba's thoughts. She did not stutter quite as much when with her teammates. Whenever he was with her, he knew she found a feeling of comfort, and that truly made his day.

It gave him the sentiment of securing another. It made him feel as if he accomplished something so great, to give someone the sense of security, free from all stress. Oh how such small things, from a girl so small, could make him feel the warmth that swarm through his slender body.

He smiled facing her, and let show his strikingly white fangs. "I…I just wanted to show you something Asuma-sensei taught me," Her pale pink lips curved into a small 'O' form as he dug his hand into the pocket of his over-sized jacket. As he felt around, the papery cylinder fell between his fingers and he instantly pulled his hand out.

Stupidity is what brought you to your current state, Kiba. I know I should not be one to contradict what you believe will bring you one step closer to winning Hinata's heart, but I feel I have the right to tell you when you may ruin everything for all good.

Kiba had never remembered his dog sounding so sharp in his native language. It was yet another thing that was bothering Kiba that day, for he now felt so small compared to his partner of such intellect.

I advise that you not smoke.

"What do you know?" Kiba muttered low under his breath hoping the white-eyed girl in front of him had not heard. She did not change expression, and he therefore presumed that she had not heard. He lifted the cigarette between his fingers as Asuma had corrected, and swiftly with his other hand lit the end with a lighter borrowed from Asuma also.

The experience with the smoking was not pleasant, as had before. But as the smoke was still clearing between Hinata and him, he felt a great deal sexier indeed. And he remembered Asuma taking up a sort of 'tough guy' role. He hoped that Hinata had evaluated the image clearly though.

She was coughing slightly, and although she tried to smile, her eyes were filled with dismay. His heart sank. "Oh…um…Kiba…um…I didn't know you had t-taken up smoking…" She let in a little cough before continuing. "I-It's…not the greatest for you, I hope you know…I mean y-your health,"

Even in the midst of her explaining what she thought of his smoking incident, Kiba quickly caught another scent from nearby him. It was a familiar scent, someone he dreaded to see for he knew she would surely whip him for trying to tempt Hinata with using cigarettes.

"Kiba!" Kiba could not decide whether the red of her eyes was redder than the red in her face, but he decided not to venture upon the thought too much. Kurenai had already pummeled him with a harsh fist, the blow pushing him to the side. The forced cause by her hit also caused him to drop his cigarette.

It had happened fast, so Hinata had no time to think of who to side with. Mainly it was because she had no sort of information to even know why her Jounin leader had just punched one of her three-man Genin teammates. She simply froze, and awaited for what would proceed after the dust cleared.

Note: I know this chapter entry is not the very best, but because of everything being so rushed, I feel I just had to post it. Don't worry, I'll write Hinata's thoughts on 'Kiba's endeavor to look sexy' so you can see how things are beginning to unfold. Next chapter titled, Failed Attempt : Number One?. It'll be in soon. Sorry, there is nothing to vote for this time. Thanks for all of the reviews though! – both-eyes-closed