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Chapter 7

Just a Normal Day at the Park

"Kiba, go say sorry to that girl!" Hana told her younger brother. They were inside their house, in the living room. Kiba just had breakfast and was about to leave with Akamaru, his dog. The Hana came up to him. Today, it was pretty sunny and warm. Everyone was starting to roam the streets. Kiba was planning to go to the park to play fetch with Akamaru. Guess he had a change of plans now.

"Why do I have to say sorry to her?" Kiba retorted, crossing his arms and looking at the ground next to him.

"Because didn't you see her go off like that? You hurt her feelings!" Hana said, putting hand on hips.

"Even if I do, how would I know WHERE she was?" Kiba said, rolling his eyes.

"Easy," Kiba's mom said, walking into the room, "Use your nose! You're not an Inuzuka for nothing!"

"Oh, fine! I'm going to the park first though, ok?" Kiba said and turned to the door.

"If you don't by the end of the day, you won't want to know the consequences!" Hana warned. Crap Kiba thought, She's gonna double check with that Hizume guy about it later. Kiba opened the door and walked down the street. Then Kiba ran across a less crowded back street. He used this street as a short cut. Then suddenly, a boy jumped down in front of him, holding out a photo.

"Have you seen this girl?" Sasuke asked Kiba, getting annoyed further more of having to be there sounding very stupid. He was asking everyone the same question for hours now. He got a couple of "This girl looks familiar" from some of his formal classmates.

"Nope, never seen her," Kiba replied. Sasuke rolled his eyes, and once again, hopped on the roof. Weirdo Kiba thought as he continued walking. Why do I have to say sorry to her anyway? It was her fault for making an argument about it! It wasn't even about her! Feh! I'll never understand women!

Kiba reached the park and brought out a treat to throw when he came into the park. It was beautiful. This park was surrounded by trees, that provided all the shade they needed. There was a stream that trickled down the side of it that had carp swimming through it. The grass was always well kept and there was a flower bed on the far western part of the park. There were three stone benches all together. It was perfect, where Kiba could let his worries slip away, and let down his guard, but this proved to be wrong for the moment. The thing that kept him from being able to was that there was already someone there. This girl was throwing a Frisbee with a group of dogs.

"Crap," Kiba muttered, "Rei."

Rei threw the Frisbee through the air again. This time her boy collie, Natsu, came back with it in his mouth. Rei happily pet her dog. She noticed her other collie, Fuyu, wasn't gathered around her. Where'd she go? Rei looked across the gorgeous park to see Fuyu sniffing at another dog. She looked up at its owner and saw Kiba, standing there.

"Crap," Rei muttered, "Kiba."

Kiba looked at Rei; one of her dogs had come over to Akamaru and was now making acquaintances with him. Please don't notice me! Kiba desperately thought. He didn't want to worry about her at the moment. He saw Rei get up and walk towards him, followed by her four other dogs.

"Hello Kiba. Come to call me another name?" Rei said coldly. Oddly enough, this was the last thing he expected Rei to ask. He thought she was going to scream at him to leave her alone. Or maybe something like, "Get out of my face, freak! I can't believe what you said last night!" and then maybe she would slap him. He even expected something like,

"I'm sorry about last night…," Kiba hoped.

"Oh, um, no. I haven't come back to insult you," Kiba said. Rei decided to do the one thing that truly was on her mind. She bent down and pet Akamaru.

"What's his name?" She asked. Kiba rose an eyebrow.

"Akamaru, why?"

"Dunno, just wonderin," Rei said, still patting Akamaru, "He seems to be a nice dog." Akamaru happily barked. "I like her! She doesn't seem so bad!" Akamaru said to Kiba. Rei chuckled at the dog. You only like her because she's being nice to you Kiba thought. There then was an awkward silence. Kiba looked down at Rei. It's as if he saw her today already.

The sun was shining on her hair as she pushed her bangs back behind her ear. Kiba felt the sudden curiosity and urge to reach over and stroke her hair, just to feel how silky it would feel. Or maybe see exactly how soft her skin was. Her- WOAH! What are you thinking Kiba? PULL IT TOGETHER! Just say sorry and get it over with! Kiba shook his head and looked appalled at him. What was wrong with him? Kiba rolled his eyes.

"Ok, look, sorry about last night, ok?" Kiba said, kicking a little stone. He hated having to say sorry to someone. It always made him feel weak and pathetic. Rei looked at him in surprise. Then she cocked her head to the side,

"Did someone put you up to this?" Now it was Kiba's turn to look surprised.

"What? How'd you know?" Kiba asked. Rei laughed.

"Because you're a guy!"

"What does that have to do with anything?" Rei laughed again. Why is she laughing?

"Guys have the biggest egos I've ever seen! They don't just get up because of a little fight -not even a fist fight- and say sorry! Unless, of course…they're gay or something," Kiba laughed with Rei on this turn.

He doesn't seem all THAT bad Rei thought. Why is he hiding under that damned hood? He looks so stiff like that! She continued laughing with him. Then, as they quieted down, Rei glanced up at Kiba looking at Akamaru and smiling. Wow, his smile is so…warm! Rei softly cocked her head at him again, and smiled.

"Do you want to play fetch with us?" Rei asked in the sweetest tone she's ever heard. It surprised her actually.

"Sure!" Kiba said his tone now more playful and care-free. Rei got up to her feet and started tossing her Frisbee again. When she grew tired of this, and seemingly some dogs started panting, she sat down on the nearest stone bench. She let out a gasp of breath.

"Wow, didn't notice how out of shape I was!" Rei laughed. She looked over at Kiba walking over and plopped himself onto the bench.

"Maybe you should get out more," Kiba said, smirking at her. Rei chuckled. Is this guy for real?

"Like I need you telling me that!" Rei said. Kiba shook his head and put down his hood, revealing a head of bushy brown hair. Rei smiled, happily. Why does he wear the hood? He looks so much better with it off! He was looking up into the trees, smiling. Rei set herself a goal just then: To make him smile the same way at me.

Kiba looked back down at the dogs lying in the grass. He wondered who the dogs were, and when she got them. He didn't smell any dogs when he was at their house. Kiba looked over at Rei, and arched an eyebrow as he saw her already looking at him. Do I have something in my hair? Grass, leaves? Kiba scratched his head to check.

"Hey, so what are your dogs' names?" Kiba asked, putting down his hand again. There's nothing in my hair, weirdo. For about half an hour, she sat there, pointing out who was who and later explained about last night. It was kind of awkward, she thought later. Last night, she was yelling her head off at this guy, which she didn't normally do, and now she was talking to him as if he was a normal friend she saw everyday. Rei reviewed over what she was suppose to do that day. It felt like she was forgetting something…something very important.

"Hey, Kiba, is there something we're suppose to do today?" Rei asked, fuzzily looking at the sky. Kiba sat there for a moment and stood up.

"Uh, don't we meet our sensei today?" Kiba asked, eagerly. Rei jumped up.

"Yeah! That's right! Are we late?" Rei asked, ready to run.

"Uh, no, don't think so, but we should start getting there," Kiba said, looking at the sky.

"Ok, well, I guess I'll see you then! Later Kiba!" Rei said, racing off with her dogs. Kiba shook his head as he put his hood on again, walking off. He smirked