Thank you for the reviews I got. And super thank you to dustori for the supportive reviews on each chapter. I played off your "little boy" theory about Sakura (which is pretty true now that I think about it) here. Ohhhh, and chapter 4 wasn't exactly a filler. It will come into play later. Heehee, I get giddy just thinking about it. But you'll all have to wait because I'm slow. :P

Seven?

They weren't there yet.

Sakura stabbed her pink straw into the glass of iced tea. Where could they be? 9 and a half minutes late meant a lot when you are this excited about something, when everyone knew you were this exited. When everyone knew you had a short temper and hard fist (Naruto had learned that lesson the hard way).

He was sitting next to the frustrated girl, observing her and her frustration. He thought if he tried to console her, she would beat him up or push him away and insist that she didn't need his help. But what he didn't know was that she liked that he showed he cared, a great deal more than she let on.

Her cell phone rang – a bubblegum pop ringtone – and she answered it with a fierce "What?"

"S-Sakura?"

"Is it Hinata?" asked Ino from where she sat on the other side of her friend. Sakura held up a finger and nodded.

"Where are you guys?"

"K-Konoha Avenue, I l-lost the map so K-Kiba and I-I will b-be late…"

"You already are," Sakura said sourly.

"I-I'm so s-sorry, Sakura. R-Really…"

"Just get here, ok?"

Hinata wished Sakura would at least have the courtesy to say goodbye. She sighed. Sakura must have been upset.

Kiba was returning! Hinata spotted him pushing past a throng of people – dramatic entrance, she assumed. He plopped down next to her on their meeting place. Right next to her, where he was practically sitting on the edge of her skirt. And if she tried to scoot over some, she would fall off the bench. She never tried to take up too much room.

"I asked a bunch of people," he groaned, closing his eyes and tilting his head to the back of the bench. Hinata discovered how cute he looked with his eyes closed, "most of them didn't know what I was talking about. The few who did tell me anything all said different things." He turned his head to look at Hinata. Their faces were so close…

"Then… W-What now?"

Kiba shrugged, his arm rubbing hers. "We can try to find the restaurant. We can wait here for them to come by, if they come by this way. We can go back to Sakura's house and wait for them there. It's straight down the road so it's not like we'll get lost. You have any ideas?"

Hinata was really feeling awful. Now she had to do something to make it up to Kiba for losing the map.

"Wh-Why don't we get something to eat," she blurted out in a quick stream. Immediately after she said it, she bit her lip. It was something she did when she wished she could turn back time and erase the things she'd say. What would Sakura think of her now?

"Good idea, Hinata." Kiba ruffled her dark hair, the same way he would touch Akamaru, his dog's, fur. Afterwards, he got off the bench and stretched obnoxiously. Hinata attempted to straighten out her skirt, face pinkish.

"I saw some stuff when I was running around, and we can choose from those," said Kiba. He turned around, glanced to the right, the left, and then surprised Hinata by twisting back to face Hinata and holding out his hand to her.

"Eh?" she stared at the outstretched fingers of his hand.

"There are loads of people here. Let's not lose each other," something in the way he said those words made him sound more sincere. Hinata noticed how he didn't grab her hand, either. He offered his, giving her the chance to say no.

Taking his hand, she let him pull her to her feet.

He smiled tenderly and received a small smile from Hinata in return. They shared a peaceful minute of silence.

That silence broke with Kiba clearing his throat rather awkwardly. "Most of them were this way," said he.

Hinata made that weird "Mmph" anime-style sound while nodding ((really, who does that?)) and they marched through the crowd, hand in hand.

"There are some noodle shops that way," Kiba used his free hand to point to the lower setting sun. "And an ice cream shop that way." He pointed to the darkest part of the sky.

"Ice cream?" Hinata giggled. She liked ice cream.

Grinning, Kiba lead her to the shop. They got in line, still holding hands.

"What would you like?" Hinata skimmed over the menu posted over their heads.

"Ch-chocolate cone, please,"

Kiba and Hinata stepped up to the counter.

"Two chocolate cones," proclaimed Kiba. He paid for both.

"Thank you K-Kiba, but y-you really didn't have t-to pay for me," Hinata licked the sphere of chocolate ice cream.

Kiba just smiled.

He and Hinata walked aimlessly and ate slowly. Their fingers were entwined the whole time, as if neither of them seemed to notice, much less care.

However, Hinata did in fact think and care about how others saw of her. She wanted people to accept her the way her father wouldn't. She needed the support from others that she couldn't get from her family… or from herself.

Kiba truly gave no damn. He had enough obstinacy to defy an old mule, and enough self-confidence to defy the rest of the world. Typically, it was Hinata he worried about. The young girl wouldn't open her mouth and stand up for herself. He suspected it was because she was afraid of saying something wrong and being punished, or saying something right, getting the spotlight shown on her, and making a mistake while everyone was watching.

Whichever way, he hated seeing how she would let people walk all over her, or speaking for her, or tease her since they knew she wouldn't bite back. Deep inside, it bugged him to no end but every time he would try to help her, she refused and told him she didn't want to be a burden. She always felt weak. She was strong, he was sure of it. She just couldn't find how to show everyone else.

When they heard it, they had walked a long period, turning here and stopping there, and finished their ice cream. They didn't speak throughout. They enjoyed the tranquil air around them. It was almost surreal.

Hinata forgot to call Sakura back.

Kiba forgot to release Hinata's hand.

Then it woke them up, shook them out of their little world of quiet and comfort.

"Hinata! Kiba!"

The two swiveled around to see Ino smiling and waving, with a small group of people behind her. Hinata could spot Sakura in that group. She let go of Kiba's hand and rushed to Sakura to apologize.

"S-Sakura, I am r-really sorry and I-I would've called y-you again b-but –"

"It's ok Hinata," Sakura interuppted tiredly.

"I-is there anything y-you would want m-me to do t-to make it u-up to you?" Hinata felt like she had totally let Sakura down. And she had, hadn't she?

"Don't be so late, call when you are?"

"F-Fair enough,"

Among the group, Hinata distinguished Naruto first. His neon orange shirt was easiest to see in the twilight. Then came the fushia sparkles off Ino's necklace, Nara Shikamaru's weird high ponytail thing, Akimichi Choji's size, and Aburame Shino becuase of the contrast from his black sunglasses on his pale face. Sasuke was probably too cool to come. His loss.

Hinata played a game with herself: guess why everyone was there. They were all in the same circle of friends, for one. Naruto and Ino came for Sakura; Shikamaru was probably forced to come by Ino. They were dating and Ino thought he should "ditch the board games and have some real fun". Choji probably came for the food – or because he was Shikamaru's good friend – and Shino… Hinata didn't really know why Shino came.

Shino was about as detached as Sasuke, but friendlier. Sometimes. It was hard to tell. His wardrobe was probably chockfull of Ozzy-Osbourne-esque (round) sunglasses and bulky jackets. That evening, he had an abnormally large grey jacket. He was one of Kiba's closer friends, so maybe that was the reason he showed up.

The group of eight walked back to Sakura's house together. They were mostly quiet, Naruto speaking up once or twice to tell a bad joke.

"He's been doing that all evening," Sakura whispered to Hinata. Hinata chuckled.

"Have not!" Naruto put his hands on his hips and stuck his tongue out at Sakura immaturely. If there were any people left in the streets and sidewalks, they would be tsk-ing and shaking their heads at Naruto's immaturity.

"Have so and you know it!" Sakura retorted. She mimicked his actions perfectly.

Hinata smiled sadly, and was relieved nobody could see it in the dim light. Those two were just like children. Happy, children. And Hinata wanted her friend to be happy. After all, she had already disappointed Sakura once. She didn't want to do it again.

"Alright guys, we're here!" Sakura announced loudly, spreading her arms in a theatrical way, "Follow me!"

Whoa this chapter was pretty long, compared to some others. The next one will be when the ((romance of the)) story really gets going. Thoooough, there was stuff going on between Hinata and Kiba in this one. ; )

Why do they all end with Sakura and her house? The world may never know.

I already wrote out a few other scenes and I know exactly where they'll go, but the hard part is getting there. Which I am doing, though. Slowly but surely!

I am rooting for reviews, mainly because it's a boring summer and I like getting email.

- jiao