2 Months Later...
Me and Kiba weren't a couple. But we were a lot closer. But every second we were together, slowly and painfully killed me. I wanted to tell him. I wanted to tell him that I loved him. To tell him that I loved the way he smiled at me. To tell him that I loved the way he'd wake me up in the morning, how he would loudly make his way into my room, and sit by my bedside, until I woke up. I loved the way he held me when I had the same dreams about Sasuke. I loved the way he comforted me when I thought my life was worthless. Every time we were together, something in my mind screamed, "I LOVE YOU, PLEASE LOVE ME TOO! PLEASE BE WITH ME! PLEASE...LOVE ME!" It was hard, so I decided I would tell him. Maybe... But why do I feel like this'll leave me in disappointed?
"I love you, Kiba," I practiced in the mirror, then I stuck my tongue out at myself, "Nah, too... BAD!"
"I...think I love you..." no "This is gonna sound weird but, I think I love you," gross, "Remember when we said we'd tell each other if we loved each other? Well, I... love you, Kiba Inuzuka..." Argh!! I threw myself on the bed and pressed a pillow against my face and drowned out my screams. How can I tell him? How do I explain these feelings? I love you, Kiba, how can I tell you so you'll believe me?
"Hey!" I heard a voice greet, "Meet me in the park at five, I needa talk to you about... something..." he said, grinning widely at me, he didn't have his hood on like usual, which confused me, but I answered, trying to sound unfazed,
"OK, sure... I was meaning... to talk to you about something too..."
"Great! Ok, well, I need to pick up some things... See you at five!"
"Hai, hai, sure, whatever floats your boat..." I rolled over, inwardly excited, but scared outta my brain. I got up and went over to Hinata's. I needed to talk to someone. Anyone. Something seemed to drag me down. I really didn't want to talk to him... But I wanted to too. But instincts told me I shouldn't talk to him... Something would go wrong. I know it would. But I ignored that.
"Hina... Should I tell him?"
"W-well that depends, a-are you absolutely sure you love him?"
"Hina, I think I'm IN love with him,"
"T-totally infatuated w-with him h-huh?"
"...Totally..."
Kiba's POV:
I was hanging out with Shikamaru, looking at the clouds and chatting. Ok, well that sounded really gay, but I was having some trouble,
"So, I should tell her,"
"-sigh- So troublesome, hai, if you really, truly love her,"
"I do..."
"Then thats all, then, now, would you quiet down? I wanna take a nap, you and your troublesome girl talk...-yawn-" I looked over at him and 3 seconds later, I head light snoring... Ah, thanks Shika, your loads of help... I stood up and went to the flower shop.
"One red rose please..." I said,
"Oh, who's the special lady?" Sakura turned and looked at me, I didn't see her, I wasn't really focusing right now,
"Um...-blush- what makes you think...that?"
"Well, red rose, and you, dog boy, don't really fit. Second, your blushing, and third, its Kumori ain't it?" she asked, smirking at me,
"... Yeah..."
"Gonna tell her?" she was reading me like a children's book, with flawless ease,
"Maybe..."
"Well, careful,"
"What? Why?"
"You tend to screw these things up,"
"Not true,"
"That time you tried to stop Kumori from fighting Ino?"
"How'd you know about that?"
"Ino was ranting about it,"
"Don't you hate Kumori then?"
"Nah, she's cool, I know Ino, and her... Hold on the past,"
"Like Sasuke?"
"Hai... Tell me, would you go out with Ino?"
"What? Why?"
"Cause I got a feeling she wants to talk to you," she pointed to Ino, who was smiling sweetly at me, Sakura greeted her and turned to get my flower, Thanks a lot Sakura, your just oodles of help...
"Hey, Kiba-kun," she said, swaying back and forth on her heels,
"Uh... Hi..." I rubbed the back of my neck, smiling nervously at her,
"Wanna go hang out?"
"Uh... I'm not sure I..."
"Oh common... if this is about Kumori, I swear I won't do anything..."
"Um... I guess..."
"It'll only be a little while... Common, Kibi..." Since when does she call me Kibi? Only Kumori's aloud to call me that...Ah well...
"Um... ok?"
"Great! Swing by my place at around 4:30!"
"B-but...!" I didn't get to say anything else, she was already running away,
"Ok! One rose,"
"Thaaanks..."
"Hey, buck up! You got two dates now," she said, trying to give me a joking smile,
"... But..."
"-gasp- NO! Your are not going to-"
"YES OK!? YES!! GOD!"
"Well, be careful... I know Ino, and I don't think she's gonna let it go,"
"Whatever. Hey. Sakura, why are you working at the flower shop?"
"... I-I... No reason. Just cause."
"...Doubt it... Anyways, I gotta go pick something up..."
"-squeals- Your getting a-"
"At least knock before you get into my mind,"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever!"
"Heh, ok, bye Sakura,"
"Bye! Good luck!"
Kumori's POV:
"I love you... I love you... I love you... Kiba..." I mumbled, walking through the streets of Konoha, I was suddenly eating dirt when someone sat on top of me, "Mpherally doofersmirch, DARFFOOMA," Translation: Whoever it is, GET OFF ME!!
"Kumori!! I finally found you!" Naruto's voice blared into my ears,
"Narffuoofle, darfoome!!" Translation: Naruto, get off me!!
"Ah ok! So... how does the floor taste?"
"Like the back end of a horse, or worse, your cooking," he ignored my comment and continued,
"So! Tsunade told me to get you, she has urgent news to tell us, also, me and Hina are going steady!"
"Oh, Naru! Thats great!! Oh, I am so proud of you!!" I hugged him and started jumping around,
"Ah! Thank you Kumori, thanks for the tips and encouragement!"
"Oh, Naru, I've waited for so long for this! Ah! Thank you!"
"Hai, hai! Hinata is great, ARIGATO KUMORI!"
"Arigato, you made her dreams come true, and some of mine,"
"Ah, hai," I was bursting with excitement, still clinging on to him,
"You know, I love you? As a brother of course,"
"Yeah, I know sis," we had started calling each other that ever since Sasuke left,
"Ok, well, common, Tsunade's gonna have your ass if we take a long time,"
"Yeah," I grabbed his hand and used my now flaring energy to drag him with me, Yes! Hinata and Naruto are FINALLY together! YATTA YATTA YATTA!!!
Kiba's POV:
"Hey, Hana, do you think this is gonna work?"
"Hai, unless you manage to screw-"
"I WILL NOT SCREW IT UP!"
"KIBA! YOU SHOULD BE OUT TRAINING WITH AKAMARU, NOT DISCUSSING YOUR FEELINGS TO YOUR SISTER!!"
"AHH!! HAI!! HAI!! BYE HANA-"
"NOOOOWWW!!!"
"Geez, no wonder dad left..."
"WHAT'S THAT!?!?"
"I said, I'm going!!" I grabbed Akamaru and quickly left, Dear god, she could actually kill someone by nagging them like that... I looked at my watch, 4:15... Oh damn! This better be quick, cause if Kumori sees me with Ino, she's gonna have BOTH our heads...
Kumori's POV:
"Hai, Tsunade-sama?"
"Yes, since you are related Sasuke, I'm sending you to go on the second trip to get Sasuke Uchiha back."
"Um... Yes... Is this mandatory?" she eyed me slightly,
"You don't want your brother back?"
"H-hai! Of course.. its just, its really... short notice,"
"Gomen but you will be leaving tomorrow morning, Naruto will be picking you up,"
"H-hai... Ok Tsunade-sama... B-but, how long are we... going to be..."
"We don't know. Until you absolutely need to come home,"
"...Ok..."
"Common Kumori! Cheer up! We get to try again to bring Sasuke home!" Naruto attemped to comfort me, I didn't want to let him down, because I wanted him back too... But...
"H-hai Naru-kun..." I forced a smile, "Gomenasai, I have to go... I'll see you in the morning Naruto..."
I waved at them and left quickly, trying to find a way to tell Kiba, its almost 5... I should head to the park... Great, here we go! I plastered on a smile and tried to find the right words. I had butterflies already, but I wanted this to happen. I was leaving anyway...
Kiba's POV:
"So, what did you wanna talk to me about?" I was in the park with Ino, she wanted to come here, and since the timing was close, I had the rose and the surprise in my inside-jacket pocket. Ino was seemingly thinking about how to reply,
"Ah, nothing, can't I spend some time with m favorite dog-boy?" Uh...ok?
"Right... Ok, well, its almost 5, I have to meet Ku...mori..." she stepped forward, looking intently at me, I made a loud gulping noise, and felt myself sweating,
"Oh, come now, its ok..." she traced the pattern of my jacket stitch with her index finger, with her other hand on my chest, I backed up, only to find my backside leaning against a tree, did she plan this?
"Um, actually, no it isn't, see, if your here, she's gonna think that we're on a date,"
"So... What do you call this then?"
"Um, you said you wanted to hang out,"
"Aw, Kibi, now that hurts," she pouted, and moved closer, so she was pressing against me,
"U-uh, yeah, you should...Um... leave...Like...now." (ok, yeah I know, Kiba doesn't say 'like' but I'm making him more... Um, whats the word? Ah, whatever...)
"Don't you...like me? Kiba...kun?"
"Um... yeah... Not sure if I should answer that..."
"Kiba...You know you can be open and honest with... Me... Most of all..."
"Ne, I don't think so," she smirked at nothing, and evil glinted in her eyes,
"How about...If I do...This..." she leaned forward and kissed me. She kissed me. And it wasn't enjoyable, I felt disgusted, as if I had just killed my best friend. She pulled away and smiled, turning around. The clock ticked 5. And after the wad of blond was a fair distance away, I saw the gut wrenching, eye-poking, constipation starting look that my actual best friend gave me. It was a look of pure horror and hurt. I shuddered and winced, but nothing made the terrible image go away. Her eyes were an ugly shade of gray, looking metallic in the dim sunlight that remained, haunting over the tall green trees, tears sparkled and dared to fall at any second. Her jaw was open, and she looked completely shattered. I wiped my mouth, wanting to spit out the vile Ino spread over to me.
Kumori's POV:
I just witnessed the most... BARFTASTIC event of my life. Ino... on Kiba like a lion on a gazelle. I felt my mouth water, and the puke wanting a quick exit. I felt myself loose all rationality and sanity. My jaw was open as Ino was approached me. She licked her lips and shoved me on my shoulder. I swayed a bit and felt a tear, trickling down my cheek and drop onto the ground. My heart shattered into a thousand little pieces. My chest throbbed, and I felt like fainting. Kiba looked pale, with a slight shade of green. I swallowed the lump in my throat, and stepped forward, praying that this was just a dream. Please...Please just let this be a dream...He started to walk towards me, but my nerves didn't listen to me, I didn't run, I didn't cry, I didn't faint. I just stood there, trying to recognize the reality I was facing, I thought... I though... Maybe... I had found someone... special... kind... perfect... mine... But I thought wrong. Admittedly, I had thought he loved me. I had thought he'd cared. But I guess not...
----Flashback----
"I won't leave you Kumori... I promise..."
"Pinky swear?"
"Pinky swear."
"-giggle- Arigato Kiba-kun..."
"Think nothing of it..."
"We'll be together forever, right?"
"Hai! Count on it!"
----End of Flashback----
I let the tears flow freely, and I kept my mouth shut. I would let him explain. I would forgive him. But I don't think I'll ever be able to love him... Ever again.
"Kumori..." he whispered, straining his voice,
"..." I didn't reply, I couldn't find the right words, actually, I couldn't find, ANY words,
"I-It isn't my f-fault..."
"..."
"Please, Kumori... say something..." I kept staring at him, my shirt completely wet from the tears that fell from my chin,
"..."
"Gomen...Gomen..."
"...!" he reached into his jacket, and pulled out a rose.
"I know this isn't going to help... But... you have to believe me when I say, I didn't plan that or want that to happen... Please believe me..." I nodded, drawing my attention to the rose, my tears slowed, "I wanted to give this to you..." unwillingly, I held out my hand, and he placed it gently in my palm, closing my fingers around it, I pulled my hand back and took in a deep breath, finally about to say something...
"...-sigh- Do you believe... that roses... can tell the truth?"
"...?" he looked at me, puzzled, but I continued, hiccuping through the now starting tears,
"He likes me... He likes me not... He likes me... He likes me not," continued the cycle, getting down to the final 3 petals,
"...!"
"...He likes me not... He likes me..." the breeze picked up, and it was getting dark,
"...He likes me..." I continued slowly, closing my eyes, the petals on the ground were swept away in the wind, they danced around us, and my hair was floating around my face.
"Not..."
Yes, I know! I made it super, super sad, and I plan on keeping it that way! MUA HAHAHAHAHA! Ok, thanks for reading dudes and dudetts! I loves you! (Again, not in a sexual way)
Shyoko-chan