Hello! Tank you for reading! Special arigatou to ...WitheeOrWithoutee, Kane-the-Warrior, FirexDemon, mistress of mist, summer-lovin-2, the vampire armond, Kairi and Cloud, BlindBandit-fan, Konoha Lotus,TheLovelyNatalieRose and hoursloth, for your reviews on my last chappy!!! I'm running dry on ideas, and have a busy schedule, so please, be patient, and thank you to all that have been, and are keeping with me! I wuv you all! Big tanks to all readers, people who put this on your favs lists, and to all who support the Kiba and Hinata pairing! Oh, HUGE tanks, to the reviewer, Konoha Lotus, for your 40th review! You made my review record! (All my other stories have 39-2 reviews in all) Weeeeeeeeeeee!

A while back ago, since Kiba started his training, he alway noticed the scent of strawberries around him. He wasn't sure weather it was him, or what, but since then, something in him always wondered what it was. In fact, the first time he smelled, that strawberry scent, he sniffed EVERYTHING, wondering what exactly it WAS. He sniffed the floor, a bowl of ramen, one of Shino's bugs, a old lady...the list was endless. He even suspected for a few seconds, that it was HIMSELF, and sniffed his coat. Nope. What could this mysterious scent be?

Kiba bolted up, in the dark, the smell of rain and a near by river clung to the chill of the air. It was so cold, you'd probably expect the air to freeze, and turn into ice, dropping to the floor.Of course, it didn't, not that Kiba would be able to see it anyways, in the ink black darkness. It made Kiba feel uncomfortable. Well, when your in the middle of a seemingly deserted forest, with little squirrels and other dangerous creatures running around, completely blind, not to mention the cold air, that stuffs up your nose so you can't smell a dead rat if it was right under your nose, you can't help to feel a bit uneasy.

Kiba hugged himself, still sitting on the floor, wondering what could attack him any minute. Wild boars? a flock of crows? Another ninja? A pack of pikachus?

"Oh come on, this is stupid! Where would you find a pack of pikachus anyways?!" Kiba yelled at himself.

Kiba noticed the air, the frosty bite of "cold". That meant, that maybe, Hinata was cold.

Yup.She HAD to be.

He thought for a minute to go look for her. He decided to rule out standing up and walking, since he'd probably trip and fall in a river or off a cliff or something. He also ruled out crawling, and any type of walking on all fours, since he might ram his head into a tree or boulder. Not that there were many boulders around. So, he remained, sitting, doing nothing, feeling useless.

Kiba eventually adjusted his eyes to be able to see a bit. Not much, just enough to make out the shape of nearby objects. He sniffled, and continued on, sitting in the same place, scanning through the darkness for a sign of Hinata.

Kiba sensed some kind of prescence. He turned his head, but before he could get up, he felt something hit his foot, and then, he felt someone fall on him. Kiba instantly cleared his vision. It was Hinata. On top of him.

They remained like this for a few seconds. Kiba felt himself blush.

"Ah? who's there? K-kiba...is that you?"

"Y-yes Hinata. It's me."

Then, Kiba noticed that Hinata was finally able to see his face. And realize how she was on him.

Hinata got up fast, onto her knees. She too, had just ruled out walking, and crawling, and anytype of walking on all fours.

"What are you doing up Hinata?"

"W-well, it was kinda cold, and um...well...you see...I woke up, and you weren't there, and I was all alone...and I was...um...well...kinda affraid. You know..being alone..so--"

"Oh, i'm sorry."

"N-No! It's okay really! I..um, well, I should be a little more...brave and all--"

"Hey, where are you anyways?" Kiba felt around in the darkness.

"What?"

"Okay, on three, we feel around in the air for each other okay?" Kiba decided.

"um, uh-huh."

"One...two..three!"

They batted the air, until they somehow managed to grab hold to each other's hands.

"Um...now what?"

"Uh...get closer. I'll lose you again."

They felt themselves blush again.

The sun started to come up. The ink-black darkness, had disappeared, in a matter of hours, taking away some of the cold air. Kiba looked over at Hianta, in the orangy glow of the new day, their third day of the forest. Hinata, was asleep next to him, in the green grass that was gathering dew. He smiled, and watched her sleep for a while.

After Hinata, Shino, and even Akamaru were awake, they headed on a little exploration trip. They reached the flowing river. The river was calm, and Kiba made a back flip into it. Akamaru jumped in with him, and they caused a loud splash. Of course, Kiba wasn't waring a shirt in the river, which caused Hinata to shy away a little. She stood in the grass, next to his undershirt and shoes, and fidgeted. Kiba popped his head out, and looked at Hianta.

"Hey, aren't you coming in?"

"Well--"

"just take off your shoes or something. Nothing fancy."

"It's just--"

"I'll put on a shirt if it's bothering you that bad."

By now, Kiba was standing in the low water, that only reached his knees, innocentlly offering things that might make Hinata more comfortable.

Hinata fidgeted again.

"no, it's not that...I just..."

"Affraid of getting your shirt wet? You hate water? Afraid a pack of fish'll attack you? Have a slight phobia of rivers?"

"No! It's just...I never got into a river with someone before."

Kiba smiled.

"Come on, come on!"

"No, I-i can't--"

"Come on, akamaru's here as a life gaurd. You don't trust Akamaru?" Kiba said, in a little inoccent acusassion voice.

Hinata looked over at Akamaru. He started to bark, and happily prance around.

She looked back at Kiba, who was still standing there, his head coaked to the side.

"Okay."

She stepped in.

"You gotta get wet." Kiba slightly splashed Hinata.

She laughed, and splashed him back.

The sun was high in the sky by now, and everyone, (except for Shino that refused to get in, and almost bit Kiba when he tried to pull him in.) sat there, almost completly dry.

"Finally dry enough." Kiba grabbed his shirt, and pulled it on over his head. His arm got caught, and he jumped around frantically. He eventually got it on right.

Shino dissapeared.

"Shino?"

Kiba looked around.

"He left an hour ago." Hinata sighed.

"What?! Why didn't anyone tell me?!"

"We...did."

Flashback

"I'm going for a walk over there."

"uh..o-okay."

"Help! I can't see! The shirt! It's eating me!"

(jumps around frantically)

"Okay, bye."

End of flashback

The day went by, and the three,and Akamaru, sat around a fire. Kiba was laying on his back, his arms crossed under his head.

"Our last day in this forest huh? I think i'll miss this place a little." Kiba sighed.

yes.Hinata agreed silently.

I planned to tell Hinata how much I love her, during these three days. It just...doesn't feel right. I don't know how to tell her. Maybe, maybe some other day...when i'm ready...when she's ready.

I feel like I should have told Kiba how I feel about him. I think i'm too late. maybe...soon.

How do I tell you, I love you?

When, do I tell you, I love you?

Will you love me back?

Can you love me back?

"well, I guess, that's it. tomorrow, were going home." Kiba stated sadlly.

He stood next to Hinata.

Then, is when it hit him.

The strawberry scent drifted around him. He looked at Hinata.

It's you. The sweetness that's always there. The sweetness, that I always liked. It's you. But...what will I do...without you? How...can I hold onto your sweetness...

...Forever?

(A/N) Hey there! Please review! Thank you for reading, and yes, it continues from here. Sorry this chapter wasn't really good, but I already kinda, sort of, developed some of the next chapter in my head, and i'm sure the sparks will fly! Hope to see you there! Arigatou!