ii. Chance

Shino has been hard on me today.

What just happened wasn't the usual training – it was his training. He sent a whole troop of bugs at me and made me dodge them without Akamaru. He said I should keep on working on individual jutsus. Without the dog, he said. So I said, Why don't you attack me without the bugs? And he got pissed. He didn't flinch and you couldn't see his eyes so you couldn't really tell – but I can. That's why I'm here, sitting on this bench, body numb, exhausted, out of breath and… hey!

Itaiii! My legs hurt! I can't get up …yet.

So he wasn't all that hard on me - since I could still move my head sideways.

Where's Akamaru?

Just one whistle and he'll come. Okay, here I go… Ugh. I can't move my hands.

Looking at the right, there's Shino. He looks weird… talking to his hand – eh, bug on his hand. Oh no! He's gonna look this way! The other direction, quick!

At the left is… whew. There he is. That dog. I thought he ran off with other forest creatures again. Hinata is petting him.

And somehow, somewhere inside me, I feel something strange – and yet so familiar. It was not pain; it was envy. She is brushing through Akamaru's fur with such light gentleness that any kind of breeze couldn't do. How would her caress feel like? Would it be warm and soft and… Wait. Am I really envying my dog? It's really humiliating having to sit here doing nothing, beaten by a horde of insects.

And then I realize that I while I'm sitting here paralyzed, I am gawking at her. I can't sit here and gawk at her all day, ne? I guess I need some help.

Shin… che! I spit out his name. Why would I ask him for help?

Hinata… I try to say. But not even a whisper could escape my lips.

"Eh? Kiba- …kun. Daijobu?" She asks while walking in my direction, Akamaru following her every step.

I know she didn't hear me, but here she is, right in front of me, Byakugan activated, studying my damage. This is so like her. To be here when I need her to be. Even if I never asked. She's just here.

"Anou…" she says in analysis, looking at my neck, then down. "You made Shino-kun really mad, ne, Kiba-kun?"

Hmph. He didn't have to do this to me and make me lose face in front of her. I swear I'm so gonna get Shino for this.

"…eight, sixteen, thirty-two. Feeling better now, Kiba-kun? I just unclogged your shakra system a bit where Shino hit you."

"Yeah. Thank you," I manage to say instinctively. Wait. I got my voice back? And I can move, too!

She then turned to Shino and said "You've really improved your accuracy, Shino-kun. I'm glad."

And I really never cared to how Shino replied to that because… BECAUSE this is all HIS FAULT!

Hinata touched me but I was numb to even feel it! To think I've been waiting for something like this and I didn't even get to see it because I was thinking of getting back at him!

Damn you, Shino.

My golden chance just passed.

Damn.

Those Who Behold Her
Ch2: Chance
Naruto
published 09-08-07
edited 07-22-11