Welcome to my Team Eight ficlet corner...now, why did you click this link? Aw, well. I suppose you are expecting something to consume your ever-abundant time, eh? Well, you've come to the right place. Enjoy.

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Title: Of Homes and Hearts

Summary: Team Eight contemplates the concept of Home.

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Home is where the Heart is.

But what if the place that was supposed to be home, was merely a house?

Where does the heart go then?

Hinata doesn't know.

Caught between the feuding families of the Main and Branch houses, constantly being belittled and ridiculed, talks of destinies and fate- well, that certainly wasn't Home. Hinata attempts to find sanctuary, somewhere for her fragile heart to be safe without having to pick up the pieces when all's said and done.

Shino doesn't know.

Silent disapproval from all sides- from both complete strangers and family members alike. Disgust. It comes with the Aburame name. Infested- yes, that was the word they used. Shino wishes to hide his heart away from those contemptuous glances and stares filled with disgust; he does not want to be judged. Home is an empty place, not somewhere to conceal his infested heart.

Kiba doesn't know.

Despite an extensive family including dogs and humans alike, Kiba is all alone. He is simply outnumbered in a sea of familiar and unfamiliar faces, all of whom strive to be noticed. It is the nature of the Inuzukas to shine brightest. In the end, it is too bright for anyone to shine. He drags his ragged heart from the masses of people, and yearns for someplace he is noticed. Someplace he can shine alone.

So they carry their hearts with them- a heavy burden to bear weighing in their chests- and search for a place called Home. Somehow, these three, separate stories become intertwined and somewhere along the way, a Home is formed.

A make-shift, small Home, but a Home never-the-less.

Hinata's delicate, fragile heart is sheltered from being shattered yet again by two friends who don't want to see her hurt any more. But when it does shatter (as it inevitably will), at least she won't have to pick up the pieces by herself.

Shino's withdrawn heart begins to emerge with the knowledge that he is not judged here, and is valued.

Kiba's ragged heart finally basks in the sweet, golden spotlight and emerges as a leader. And as he looks back to his teammates, he grins his wolfish grin and pulls them up with him.

Truth is, Home doesn't always refer to a house.

Home can sometimes be found in the comfort of other people- of friends.

So when the heart does not feel at home in the house, it might just take off in search of something better.

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