:crazed author bounces around like a loony: I LOVE YOU GUYS! MUAH! I started writing this story on a whim, and I'm really glad that I did! I appreciate every single review, like, EVERY ONE. Y'all have made me an exceedingly happy girl.

Note: I am aware that Hinata seems out of character, but when you look at her situation, she really isn't. I mean, I think a person can only be kicked around for so long until they get sick of it and snap, you know? Underneath, she's still the same, delicate soul, but she doesn't show it outwardly anymore. It's kind of like a psychological defense to keep out her old weakness. However, I'm feeling evil, so the walls shall crumble eventually, oh yes indeed. :grins:

Chapter Three: The Boys Start the War

"Um, Hinata, can I have a word?" Kiba asked nervously. Hinata raised her eyebrows.

"You don't need to ask," she replied with a grin, which, for some reason, made Kiba more nervous. He had just returned from the Hokage's headquarters after giving a report of his mission, and he managed to catch up with Hinata on the way out. He was amazed that he had mustered up the nerve to be doing what he was, but there was no turning back now.

"Well...er...you see...I..."

"Yes?" Hinata pried, her eyebrows going up another quarter of an inch.

Stop babbling!"I just wanted to say...that I like you. You're...a very special person to me, and I've always felt that way," Kiba was talking fast, fearing that if he slowed down, he wouldn't be able to continue. "I was afraid to tell you before because I thought you'd laugh at me, but I talked to Shino and he told me to just do it, so...so that's why I wanted to talk, you see, and..." Kiba trailed off. He realized that he was babbling again, and his cheeks flushed. When Hinata made no move to speak, Kiba had to decide whether that was a good sign, or a bad sign. He settled for the middle ground of it being neither, and plowed ahead. "I know this is kind of fast and everything, but...would you maybe like to go out for dinner or something with me?" Kiba's eyes were hopeful as he waited for an answer, but his thoughts were disjointed in the silence that followed.

Was I too forward? Maybe this was a stupid idea, after all. What if she turns me down flat? Does my hair look okay? Did Akamaru shed all over me? I should have worn that cologne my sister bought me. She always says that girls like guys who smell good. Do I smell good? I hope I don't stink like dog...

"Are you saying you want to go out on a date?" Hinata asked, a peculiar smile on her face. The tone of her voice was neutral, as if she deemed it best to give away no solid indication of what she was feeling about Kiba's offer.

"I guess that is what you'd call it...yeah," Kiba replied, raking a hand through his unkempt mop of hair. The tiny twin fangs that were a characteristic of his clan slightly protruded over his bottom lip as he fidgeted, something that happened when Kiba was anxious.

I should have gone home and taken a shower first. I can only imagine how grungy I look. Stupid, stupid, stupid! Why was I in such a hurry to do this now? Why do I always have to be so thickheaded?

"You don't need to rush," Kiba added. "Just...think about it, okay?" He leaned forward and pressed a chaste kiss to Hinata's forehead. "Some things are worth waiting for," he whispered in her ear, his voice husky, "and for you, I can be patient." With that, Kiba disappeared down the lane, wanting to make himself scarce after he had made such a declaration, praying that he hadn't frightened Hinata away.

"It's only been a day," Kiba said out loud to his bedroom wall. "I can't expect an answer so soon!" Forced laughter escaped his lips. "I mean, that's just irrational thinking!" Kiba tapped his chin, pondering. "But since when have I been rational?" He accused himself. "I'm not rational! I'm the farthest thing from rational you can get! I actually believed that Hinata would jump into my arms and say, 'Yes, Kiba! Of course I'll go out with you! I don't know what I was thinking when I liked Naruto, because you are clearly so much better than he is!' But is that what happened? O-ho no! She was probably thinking, 'he's nasty, he smells, he needs to get a haircut, he should wear cologne his sister gives him instead of stuffing it in the back of his underwear drawer..." Kiba continued on and on, waving his hands around in the air in a frantic manner.

Akamaru was sprawled on an old, squashy chair near the bed, trying his very hardest to appear as if he were asleep. Kiba had done nothing but fret about his bold move in asking the girl he'd been pining for since he was a kid on a date, and, quite frankly, Akamaru was on the brink of becoming annoyed. Yes, he was faithful to his eternal master, and he wasquite used to Kiba's rather excitable nature, but this was getting to be ridiculous, even for Kiba. And, as much as the dog believed that a good, solid bite in the rear would shut the human up, he was aware that if Kiba had any inkling he was awake, the tirade would inexplicably veer towards Akamaru's direction, and he preferred it to stay with the wall.

Walls are inanimate, and they cannot talk back, Akamaru thought in his own canine language. Kiba's chances of irritating them are slim. Sighing, Akamaru shifted his head from one front paw to rest on the other. At least, I hope that is so.

"WHAT is going on in here?" Kiba's elder sister Kianna flung the door open and marched in, livid, her hair sticking up at odd angles from sleep. "Some of us enjoy a little peace and quiet on a Saturday morning, whelp." Glancing from Akamaru on the chair to Kiba on the bed, Kianna's eyes narrowed. "Being a drama queen again, I see. What is it this time?" She placed her hands on her hips and glowered at her younger brother, who let out an "AUGH!" when he turned from the wall.

"Keep away, demon witch!" Kiba exclaimed, holding out his hands in the sign against evil. In her newly woken state, his sister resembled something similar to a spawn out the deepest reaches of hell. Akamaru allowed an eye to slit open as Kianna used a variety of colorful words to tell her brother what she thought of his feeble attempt at humor, but he quickly shut it again when she'd calmed down. Kiba felt as if his sensitive eardrums had ruptured. "Practicing to be a Banshee, are you? Cripes...NO! I take it back!" Kiba said hastily when he sensed another eruption coming. "Sorry, sorry!"

"You'd better be," Kianna growled, taking a seat on the edge of the bed. "Now could you please tell me why you were yapping at the wall loud enough for me to hear it?"

"Hinata," the younger Inuzuka stated, his eyes taking on a dreamy cast. "My living angel...the only woman for me..." Once he was rolling, Kiba launched into an in-depth explanation of why Hinata was the One, and why, theoretically, it made perfect sense for Hinata to be with him, since their union would produce the best-looking offspring when compared with the combination of the other insignificant (and less attractive) males that Hinata could think to mate with. Kianna was lost in the amount of illogical nonsense that was pouring from her brother's mouth, but she did not mention that to him. Instead, she nodded or shook her head whenever she figured it was appropriate, only deigning to venture a comment when Kiba's long-winded speech came to a close.

"That's all well and good, but you still need to get the girl," Kianna pointed out.

Kiba heaved a sigh. "Oh, I tried, she just hasn't given me a definitive answer yet." Earlier thoughts and worries sprang forth, and Kiba conceived a new list of things that he could have done or changed or said differently when he broached the subject of his affection with...well...with the object of his affection, which of course started the cycle all over again, and Kianna was forced to endure another hour of her brother's ravings. In the meantime, Akamaru thanked his lucky stars that he was not the one on the receiving end of Kiba's singular discourse and managed to tune out the sound of the human's voice before settling down into a real nap.

He had better be calm by the time I wake...

Hinata's journey back into consciousness was an abrupt venture, as she was jolted awake within seconds by the repeated banging on her door. She was groggy and disheveled as she lurched to admit her persistent visitor, and she tripped over her own two feet before she could actually accomplish the task of getting the door open, determined that she would skewer whoever waited on the other side. Her cousin nearly rapped on Hinata's nose when the surface he was pounding on disappeared, and he had the decency to look a trifle sheepish for all of two seconds before he resumed his normal haughty attitude.

"It's a little late to still be lying around in bed, you know," Neji said, crossing his arms over his chest. Hinata attempted to glare while simultaneously rubbing sleep from her eyes, but it was not working too well.

"What time isit? Late in your standards is not the same in mine."

"Nine thirty." While he found Hinata's current endeavor quite comical, to say the least, Neji's features did not betray even a hint of amusement.

"It's Saturday." Hinata said, dropping her hand in disbelief. "As in, weekend...do you understand the concept of weekend? Obviously you don't," Hinata muttered under her breath. Neji still did not budge from her doorway.

"In case you forgot, you were supposed to meet me on the training field at eight thirty, Miss Sleeping...Whatever." Neji leaned forward to take a closer look at his cousin, and smirked. "You look like hell. Something happen last night?"

"Oh, now he cares about my business," Hinata said to no one in particular, and began stripping off her nightclothes, regardless of Neji, who, despite having the inhuman ability to make his face blank at will, could not hold back the heat that was rising in his cheeks.

"Hinata! What are you doing?"

"What does it look like I'm doing? I need to put on proper clothing if I'm going to spar with you."

Neji immediately turned his back, spluttering, and thus missed Hinata's triumphant expression. She had hoped that Neji would have gotten so embarrassed that he would leave entirely, but his back was good enough. Through the years, she and her cousin had come to an unspoken agreement that while they were fond of each other, they would never take pains to show it. There was still a great deal of frustration that existed between them, as Hinata was from the Main family and Neji was from the Branch family, but the two had come up with a solution to that problem by taking it out on the training ground. Hinata felt a tinge of guilt as she pulled on a pair of cotton breeches and a sleeveless tunic that she secured around her waist with a sash: she had forgotten about Neji in light of recent events.

When she was satisfied with her attire, Hinata poked Neji between his shoulder blades and urged him forward. "Let me brush my teeth really quick and splash some water on my face, and we can go."

Neji replied with a noncommittal shrug. "Fine." He leaned up against the wall by the bathroom and tapped his fingers against his crossed arms, his curiosity threatening to get the better of him. She really looks worn out, and I haven't seen her like that in years. Something's up, I can tell.

"Enlightening moment?" Hinata asked, startling Neji out of his thoughts. She smiled sweetly at him, and he rolled his eyes.

"When I figure out how to get rid of you for good without this blasted seal rupturing my brain, I'll let you know." He retorted dryly. "You've become much more of a nuisance now that you've 'reinvented' yourself, I say."

Hinata waved that off. "Oh you're just jealous because you couldn't change even if you wanted to, since you're made of wood." She poked him again to illustrate. "See? Wood."

Neji shot her a sidelong glance, a cross between a smile and a scowl on his face. "You really are something, kid," he said, and then shook his head. "I still find it hard to believe that this isn't all just an elaborate farce you've got going. The old Hinata has to be lurking around in the shadows somewhere."

"Well of course she is. I'm never going to be able to get rid of her for good, but that doesn't mean I have to let her out, ne? She's comfortable in her shadows, so I may as well let her stay there."

"Fair point," Neji conceded, and, in an uncharacteristic move, circled Hintata's head in a one-armed hug. "I'm glad she's out of the way, because there is so much more satisfaction to be had in defeating you when you aren't cowering from me."

"Say that again when you're looking up at the clouds on the training ground," Hinata shot back, and began to run. Neji stared at her retreating form for a few moments before he took off after her, and the sound of shouted insults permeated the air.

It was a beautiful day, and Hinata was happy to be outside and moving around. The sparring match with her cousin got her blood flowing, and she gradually became more awake the longer they fought. Both participants resorted to using Byakugan, though the match ended in a stalemate. Still, they had drained each other considerably, and Hinata was feeling quite proud of herself as she and Neji sat side by side on the turf afterwards. Her skills had improved a great deal.

Neji allowed himself to fall back against the ground, with his arms cushioning his head. "Out with it," he demanded suddenly. "I hate secrets, and I think I have every right to know what's going on, since I'm supposed to be your protector and all."

Hinata arched her brows. "Tell me you aren't being serious, or I'm going to be scared."

Snorting, Neji replied, "You're sharp, and I'm a bad liar. Let's pretend then, shall we, that I am devoted to you out of the bottom of my heart so you can appease me."

"What a pleasant notion," Hinata bantered. The feelings she had hoped would miraculously disappear after sleep began to quail, making it known that they were still alive and kicking, and she wished it were possible to get inside her own head to beat them down with a large stick. You asked for this, cousin mine. It's your fault for breaking the dam wide open.

"Well..."

And thus began the tale. Neji did not know what to say when Hinata finished, but he was able to conclude that he would not want to be in her position, and was grateful that his standing with Tenten was solid. Having more than friendly feelings for oneperson was enough of a challenge, let alone two people at the same time. However, the answer as to whom Hinata should choose was clear in Neji's male mind.

"Kiba's the one that went out on a limb to get your attention. It takes a lot for a guy to get the courage to do that, and he put himself on the line for you. I give him credit, even if he does talk too much for my taste."

Hinata chewed on her lip, her brow furrowed. "I know that, Neji, trust me." She smiled a bit at the memory of Kiba as he spilled out his heart to her, how sincere his features were...the kiss on her forehead... "And I know that Shino hasn't said anything outright, but something tells me he wouldn't do that to begin with unless he was sure of how I'd react." Burying her head in between her knees, Hinata's voice was muffled when she continued. "I might be seeing things that aren't really there...but what if I'm not? I could be throwing away something wonderful in a single move...I just...I have no idea what to do."

"You can't leave Kiba hanging, Hinata," Neji pointed out gently as he sat up. "At least tell him yes or no, and soon. There's nothing wrong with going out with him once, though, you know? That way you can get an idea of whether or not there's anything between you, and you can break it off before it gets too serious if you don't feel it."

Everything about this situation was odd, but the fact that Hinata was receiving advice, and good advice at that, from Neji made it even more so. However, those words coming from her cousin meant more than they would from anyone else, and she reasoned that it would be prudent to do what he said. He's right. There's no harm in testing the waters. Kiba may turn out to be the winner in the end, but I won't know unless I give him a shot. There were still doubts laced with her resolve, but Hinata did not pay them heed now. It was time to grow up and face what was happening, and she would get nowhere by tossing conflicting emotions back and forth.

"Thank you, Neji," Hinata said, and placed her hand over his, giving it a brief squeeze. "Maybe you aren't as wooden as I thought."

Knowing that it was his turn to say something catty to keep up appearances, Neji replied, "And you aren't a hag, I suppose." Before Hinata could land a slap, Neji stood to his feet and beckoned. "What do you say to another go?"

"I'd say that's a fantastic idea."

I'm becoming an insomniac, Shino thought to himself as he lay in bed. It was well into morning, but he had no desire to get up, and he didn't think his body would want to cooperate with him, anyway, not after another night of sleeplessness. Whoever said that being in love is a wonderful feeling had no idea what they were talking about. I think I'd rather have all of the hairs pulled out of my head one at a time than go through this. Maybe I should swear a vow of celibacy and become a monk. That would work.

I do not believe you realize the implications of such a rash action, said a small voice. A Destruction Bug passed through the barriers of Shino's skin and crawled onto his nose. You are young still, and have not experienced the pleasures of a mate. I believe your thinking would be greatly altered then, Shino-human.

"Good morning to you, too, Echo," Shino grumbled, going cross-eyed by trying to see the bug.

Do not tease him. He is having a crisis. Another bug, Echo's female counterpart, appeared on Shino's nose.

Yes, and because of a female, no less. Females are often the cause of troubles, I have noticed. In that, humans and Bugs are no different.

The human was forced to choke back his laughter upon that statement, as Hex would have made him pay dearly if he were to take amusement on her account. He had angered her once, and only once, before, and she retaliated by eating enough of his chakra to incapacitate him for a week. Shino did not envy Echo the punishment he would receive later.

Hex gave the equivalent of a scoff. Were you not just saying that there are certain pleasures to having a mate, Echo? I believe you have contradicted yourself.

It is pleasant to have a mate, Echo replied in an unmoved tone. I will not deny that. But females are still troublesome creatures. They seem to enjoy watching males suffer before baiting them, and the torment does not stop once the baiting has taken place. However, I will concede that I would rather have a mate than not. Does that satisfy you, my dear?

Even though she was a bug, Shino swore that Hex was blushing.

Perhaps. I shall have to give the matter a bit more consideration before I choose to forgive you or not.

Do you see, Shino-human? This is what I meant by torment. Hex feels the need to do this to me often, though I suppose I am no better for allowing her to.

"I guess that's the curse our gender is plagued with, my friend. Hinata's running my heart through a blender, though she has no idea." He sighed. "If only I could tell her what I want to...it would make my life much easier."

I should still enjoy sampling the dog-human's chakra. Yours is fine, Shino-human, but it becomes bland after a time. It has been so long since we have had a new flavor. Echo said, sounding quite like a predator seeking its prey.

"And I told you, you'll have to settle for mine. Kiba's my friend, Echo. I don't think he'd appreciate it if I let you have at him." Somewhere deep in the back of his mind, however, the idea wasn't all that appalling, though Shino was immediately ashamed of himself when he realized what he was contemplating.

Stop acting so spoiled, Echo. It does you little credit. Hex teased. Our supply of chakra is satisfactory for our needs.

Satisfactory, Echo grumbled. Not 'Exceeds Expectations.' Well, what do you plan to do then, Shino-human? You said, 'I will handle this my own way,' but what is your own way? You have still made no move in one direction or the other, and your time is growing short. The dog-human will have your female in his grasp if you do not act quickly.

Shino picked that moment to sit up, though the bugs still remained perched on his nose. Now was the time for drastic action. Kiba was not hesitating with his advances on Hinata, and if Shino didn't make his feelings known, he would be the one who ended up in the dust. I have to just get this over with, and I'll deal with the consequences later. Yes, Kiba's my friend, and I hate that I'll be the one who makes us enemies, but...it's either him or me to win her, and it sure as hell better be me!

"I'm going to tell her," Shino announced, going to his closet and rifling through it for something suitable to wear. "There's no use hiding it anymore."

"That's it," Kiba burst out, pacing back and forth across the floor. "I can't stand the waiting! I'm going to talk to her again. I have to. Yes, that's what I'm going to do, damn it!"

Kianna still sat on the bed, her eyes glazed over. "That's nice," she mumbled absently. "You just run along and do that then, and I'll stay here and sleep." The thought of sleeping was very exciting, particularly since her entire morning had been wasted. "Sleep..."

"Er...right," Kiba yanked open his dresser drawers and began flinging articles of clothing over his shoulder. "Not that...blech...definitely not that...this one might be nice, oh but it's wrinkled, so forget it...AHA! There you are!" Kiba pulled out a black ribbed sweater. "Perfect! I know Hinata likes black," he said, nodding to himself. Once he was dressed, he sprang to the bathroom to check his appearance and attempted to get his hair in some semblance of order, remembering the cologne at the last second. Kianna only made out a blur as Kiba blew back into his room and tore apart his underwear drawer, and she barely managed to dodge a pair of boxers that went flying in her direction.

"Watch it! I don't want your pubic residue on my face!"

"They're clean! Sheesh..." Kiba muttered, but he laughed when he thought about what his sister had just said. "Pubic residue? What the hell is that? You dirty, dirty girl."

"Oh sod off," Kianna said, but she giggled in spite of herself. "Now get out of here! Run like the wind...and all that stuff."

The cologne in hand, Kiba gave a theatric bow and exited, only realizing when he was outside that his sister had ordered him out of his own room. "Whatever," he shrugged, and set off in the direction of the Hyuuga main family compound. He was not paying much attention to his surroundings, because otherwise he would have noticed another person heading in that very same direction, but as fate would have it, he saw Shino right as he barreled into him.

"Woah!" Kiba exclaimed. "Hey, sorry about that, buddy..." He stopped when he saw what Shino was wearing and raised an eyebrow. "Where're you going all dressed up?"

"I could ask the same of you," Shino said, also raising an eyebrow. He lifted his sunglasses and let them rest on his forehead. Just because Shino knew exactlywhere Kiba was going did not mean he had to reveal that fact.

"Well, you can tell first, if you want," Kiba said casually, though he was getting very suspicious.

"Oh no," Shino replied, waving his hand, "You go first, I insist."

"No," Kiba said with more force, highly suspicious now. "It's all right. Go ahead." What in the name of all that's holy is going on here? Shino never wears stuff like this! Is he having a rendezvous with a girl, maybe?

Crap. Oh well...I wanted Hinata to know first, but I'm going to have to put up with Kiba once I tell her, anyway, so I guess it doesn't matter. "I have some things I need to tell Hinata," Shino said in an offhand way, his eyes meeting with Kiba's. "Is that fine with you?"

It took a few moments for Kiba to make the connection, but when he did, it was as if the heavens had opened up and choruses of angels were blasting their horns right in his ears. "You...Hinata...like..." Those three words didfit together in his head, just not coming out of his mouth. Perhaps if they were rearranged... "YOU LIKE HINATA?" He bellowed. "What...since when...I never..."

"For about as long as you've liked her, maybe even longer," Shino cut in.

"But... WAIT A MINUTE!" Kiba was completely lost now. "What was with all that stuff you said yesterday, huh? 'Oh, if you like her, tell her, and blah, blah, blah!' What the HELL Shino!"

"Yeah, I know I was stupid, okay? But when I found out you liked her too I panicked. What would you have done if you were in my position?"

"I WOULD HAVE—" Kiba began, but he cut himself off upon further consideration. "Crap," was all he could manage after that.

"Exactly," Shino agreed.

Kiba began pacing furiously. "Well this is just not going to work! We can't share her! I mean, that's absurd! And, well...sorry pal, but I'm not backing down, and I have a feeling you're not either."

"No, I don't think so."

All of a sudden, Kiba's face became feral and he grinned, showing all of his teeth. "It looks like this is war," he growled, sounding quite doggish, though his romantic side started to shine through. "A noble quest to win the heart of a maiden as fair as the sky! A crusade of passion wrought between two desperate knights who seek the same end! A..."

"If that's the only way to solve this, then you're on, dog-breath." Shino declared, smirking. "And may the best man win."

Kiba's answering smirk spoke volumes. "Which will be me, of course, bug-brain."

"Oh, we'll see about that."

"See about what?" A female voice inquired. Shino and Kiba froze.

Hinata had arrived.

DUM DE DUM DUM! Yes, I know...the story has taken a turn down comedy lane, but...well...mix the comedy with the tragedy, right:grins: I hope you all enjoyed it! As always, the reviews send me sky-high, so please indulge me! Pwease? I love you guys!