Title: It's Just A Crush
Author: Dana-chaaaan.
Information: Anime - Naruto - ShinoXKiba

Story Summary: Basically a chapter story of how Kiba and Shino got together. Set between 'Your Eyes are Beautiful' and 'High Collar'. Request!Fic for DarkHaze627
Chapter Summary: It's supposed to be just a normal day after you find out you have a crush on your best friend. Oh, but how bad things went when the confrontation began.

Author's Note: Sorry it took so long. Gahh! I apologize. But, now that it's summer, hopefully my updates will be faster. Although, it's going to be a busy summer. Anyways, Enjoy this story! I'm off to try an write an AU. Good luck to me! Gahh!

.Start

Training was hard, like it always seemed to be. Somehow, even after their genin team had broken apart a bit, the three still seemed to practice with each other. On one hand, that was good, because these three knew each other very well and would push the others to their limits. But, it was also bad, for as a shinobi, you don't want any one to know you too well.

Of course, the three of them never seemed to mind, and they had an unspoken agreement to come every Saturday to the patch of woods by the river. It wasn't an unknown place, but it was vey rare to see people there. So, the boys had been grateful of Hinata finding such a spot that would turn out to be very useful.

The Hyuuga heiress always seemed to be there first, kicking the stump of the tree or practicing her Byakuugen, or even throwing kunai at targets. Whatever the drill she was working on, one by one, the other two showed up soon enough.

Kiba wasn't sure he'd want to go to practice today, though.

After finding out about tiny crush on his male partner, he wasn't sure how to face the bug boy. Honestly, it wasn't an every day occurrence that Shino showed his true face to a person. Kiba knew there were now going to be complications, and it really was all his fault. Why did he have to see those eyes? He could've lived the rest of his life without seeing them. Even though they were stunningly gorgeous.

"Get it together, Kiba!" he reprimanded himself, standing in front of the door that would lead him outside. He was dressed in the appropriate attire, Akamaru by his feet, and weapons on the pouch around his waist. He turned to his animal friend, "Today's gonna be a long day," he sighed in defeat before opening the door and leaving the house. There was no turning back now. He had resolve.

II

He was happy to note that Shino was not at the grounds today, or at least, not yet. Preparing himself for whatever may happened, he walked over to the violet-haired kunoichi and flashed a broad grin.

"Hey Hinata!" he caught her attention, her whole body whipping around to see who had addressed her, although she was quite sure she already knew.

"Hi Kiba," she replied in a more hushed tone, eyes downcast and head bowed. Kiba put a finger under her chin and brought her face back at eye-level, he gave her a giant smile, leaning in a pecking her on the cheek, delighted to see a cloud of crimson rise to hover over her cheeks.

The dog-boy pulled his hand away, walking back over to the tree stump he normally worked by. Cursing his luck, he saw a figure in the distance, and knew exactly who it was going to end up being. Trying to not focus on that, he pulled out a few kunai and targeted a spot on the tree, whipping the objects in that direction and pleased to see they hit their target right on spot. Well, alright, about an inch or so away, but still. Good enough for the first time.

"Inuzuka, Hinata," Shino gave a nod of the head in acknowledgement. If Kiba thought things were going to be the same, obviously he thought wrong. Apparent, Shino had been doing some thinking himself, and now he was addressing his male partner by his last name? That whole compliment really must have done something drastic to the relationship the two had.

"What the hell?" he found himself blurting out, giving Shino the most incredulous look her could offer. "You're calling me by my last name, now?" He glared at the bespectacled boy, Akamaru barking by his side.

Shino gave a shrug of the shoulders, answering in a stoic tone, "I didn't think you would--"

"Of course not! We're still friends, Shino, come on," Kiba drawled, resisting the insane urge to roll his eyes at the boy. Really, where did he get off thinking that they would go back to acquatances after they had worked so hard to become good friends.

He didn't wait for a reply from the other, just went back to training, his anger being worked into the drills he was focusing on.

III

"Kiba, can we talk?" Shino questioned as they were walking home after practice. His tone implied nothing out of the norm, and his glasses hid his eyes very well, making it completely impossible for Kiba to tell his friend's mood. Of course, Kiba did note that there was a pause inbetween his name and the question, and though that wouldn't appear helpful, he knew that there was something slightly off with Shino today.

"Yeah, sure, of course. What do you wanna talk about?" Kiba answered in with an offhanded shrug, not pausing in his walking until Shino stopped for the briefest of moments. Kiba blinked at the other and cocked a head to the side in confusion.

"Kiba," a small sigh signified this was an important matter with Shino, "about the other day... I think we should," even with his glasses on, Kiba knew the boy was looking directly into his eyes, "forget it ever happened."

What ever the canine-like boy was thinking of quickly vanished as he looked to his best friend with an incredulous look. His eyes were wide with curiousity, yet also dabbed with a slight feeling of hurt. He squinted his eyes shut, letting out a fake, nervous laugh and reaching to scratch the back of his head. Maybe that would help him recover from the shock of the blow. One thing confused him, although. Why did Shino wanting to forget that day hurt him?

Oh, right... He liked Shino.

"Alright, that's cool. Forget it ever happened, I can do that," the usually more boisterous one rambled on about how he could go for that idea, nodding his head and trying to laugh a realistic laugh, even though they all sounded fake to him. "I really should be, uhm, heading home now, though, so, uhh, I'll just see you... Tomorrow, or something, okay?"

"Kiba, if you're not okay with the idea, we ca--"

"I'm fine, I'm fine. It's good, I like it," I'll accept it, was what he really wanted to say, but somehow saying anything other than what he voiced was constricted in his throat. "I'll gonna go now. Bye!" Without another glance to the bug-nin, he turned on his heel and left the area he'd previously been standing, leaving a very confused Shino that wondered if he did something wrong.

Only one coherent thought processed through his mind as he walked home, away from his friend. Damn you, Shino.

Endofchapter.

Author's Note: Sorry it's not too great. Kinda bad and pretty short. Sorry! But, I'm just trying to arise conflict. Hope it's working. Also, the Hinata-kiss thing is just his weird way of saying hello and making her feel uncomfortable. It's meant as friends and nothing more! Review?