Seven: Thank You

The heat that embraced Hinata this morning was suffocating. She woke up seeing her newly boyfriend all cuddled up by her side and her head nestled comfortably in his chest. Waking up this morning for her felt more like a dream but it was all just too much for her. Literally. "N-Naruto?"

The blonde stubbornly makes a face in his sleep as if he didn't want to be bothered with. But the girl pressed again, calling his name once more. After a few weak attempts, Naruto finally opens his eyes only to find himself bear hugging his girlfriend.

"Oh, sorry!" He quickly lets go of Hinata from the embrace and gives her some space.

While Hinata continued to lay there with mixed feelings, it was hard to imagine what Naruto was feeling. He was feeling much too good even for himself to describe how he felt. All he wanted to do was lay in bed all day with her, partially wishing they would never have to move again.

"Did you sleep okay?" Hinata asks, curling herself up in his sheets.

The young shinobi gulps to himself, trying to figure out why couldn't he stop being so happy all of a sudden? Was he really that much into her? Surprised at his own feelings, he couldn't help but to inch has hand up to Hinata's cheek.

"I slept….. very well." He answered happily, causing Hinata to blush in embarrassment. His warm hand sent timid goosebumps down her arms but she rests her hand over his soon enough.

"I'm glad."

\/\/\/\/\/

I feel….. warm. And light. Like something dark had left me. It was so hard to explain but no matter how I look at it, I don't want this feeling to go away. Why didn't I realize this before? Has the last fragment of my happiness before me the whole time?

Hinata rested beside me once again. We didn't speak much this morning but I got the feeling that she didn't want to move today either. After my countless times of me resting my hand over hers or kissing her on her forehead, it had only recently dawned on me that I had made a promise to myself that I was going to get some work done around the village. It hasn't been too long since the village was in shambles but with the amount of shinobi and determined people of Konoha, I can see this place going back to its original- no, better state than before soon enough. But until then, I still had to do something.

"Hinata. I'm going to step out for a while. You can stay here if you want." I said, touching her cheek once again. Gah, what the hell is wrong with me? I need to stop touching her every second!

But I guess my hand had awaken her because she opens her eyes and sits up moments later.

"No. I have to go home now. I wouldn't want my father to find out that I spent the night here with you." She said, her face turning red right after.

She's so cute.

We got dressed and headed out not much later. I gave her one last kiss goodbye before I had to tear myself away from her for the rest of the day. That sucks really bad.

\/\/\/\/\/

Today was the complete opposite of the day before. There was not one cloud in sight and the ground that was once muddy had already dried by the heated sun. The weather was pleasing and so was Hinata as she watched her manor get completed with its final touches. It was nice to see her home back in one piece so quickly but she felt slightly bad at the fact that her home was built much faster than others. Sighing lowly to herself, she turns away to finish her tasks for the day.

"Hey Hinata!"

A loud husky voice calls out to her, her ears much too familiar with the tone of voice. Taking a quick glance around her surroundings, she notices Kiba along side Akamaru. His expression was a pleasing one but for some reason Hinata's stomach dropped at the sight of him. A part of her thought it was a feeling of guilt that now she was no longer available to anyone but Naruto. Biting her lip in hesitation, she miraculously took independent steps towards her good friend.

"Good afternoon, Kiba. What brings you here?"

"Oh nothing. I just finished up some labor work early today and I haven't seen you in a bit." He spoke, hovering his hand over his eyes a bit from the sun's glare. "What about you?"

"O-Oh, me? I was fixing the interior of the Hyuuga manor. I'm really fortunate to have a roof over my head once again." She smiles brightly.

Kiba's smile grows into a toothy grin. "Oh yeah, that's awesome! Soon enough everyone will be feeling the same. If we keep it up like this, Konoha will be looking better than before!"

"Right!" She agrees, once again giving Kiba another adorable smile.

While she does her best to keep the conversation casual, Kiba on the other hand had a burn question scalding his brain. He remembers leaving Hinata alone with Naruto that day and has regretted it since then. His feelings for his partner was always suppressed but he couldn't help but wonder what was going on between the two of them. But he stood there debating with himself if he should just mind his damn business or not. Just when we was about to speak again, his stomach grumbles an unattractive tune.

Before he had a chance to play it off cooly, the young kunoichi does a little snicker before pointing at the source of his noise. "I guess all of that hard work it makes sense to be hungry."

"Heh, yeah. Sorry about that." He said, scratching his head nervously.

"Real smooth, Kiba. Real smooth." He thought to himself, almost wanting to kick his own ass.

"If you want, I think there's more food from the community batch of food I made this morning." She suggested, already hurrying off into her manor.

"Sure." He mumbled, watching her gracefully disappear behind the sliding doors.

\/\/\/\/\/

"Oh yeah, that hits the spot!" Kiba stretched, his body sprawled on the grass beneath him. After eating, he had somehow found himself laying in the grass with Akamaru and Hinata accompanying the two. The least she could do was not make this awkward and continue on sitting here comfortably.

"I'm glad you liked it." She answers.

He turns on his belly and returns her answer with a happy grin. "Of course. Your food always great! Sometimes I wish you could feed me everyday forever."

Hinata flinches at his pressed impression on the word forever. Her first thought was no way but again she had to remind herself to calm down and brush it off coolly. Thankfully, Kiba laughs it off before she does as he returns back into his sprawled position.

"Ouch Hinata. Don't make such a face, you're hurting my feelings!" He teased, almost laughing.

Relieved, she exhales before answering with a short giggle.

"Thank you, Kiba. For making this easier." She thought to herself as she stares in the bright sky, wondering what could Naruto be doing right now. Oddly enough, Kiba suddenly barks with a question.

"I know this is none of my business but… How did everything go with that conversation with Naruto?"

His curiosity stiffens Hinata as her gaze from the sky shot down to the soil beneath her. What made him think about that day? Surely this wasn't the whole objective of seeing her was to satisfy his curiosity, was it? She could second guess all she want but there was no way to tell unless she answers his question.

"It went…. It was okay. Why do you ask?"

Kiba's lips tug at the corner of his mouth as he sat up and thought of a way to reply properly. "Well. I might seem like an idiot but I know when the air is stifling from something intense. And I was getting that vibe from you two."

"Oh..."

Kiba looks over at his friend as she eventually shuts down from his comment. Judging by the look on her face, Kiba had somewhat wished he kept his curiosity to himself. The last thing he wanted to do was to make this encounter uncomfortable and awkward but he has done just that. Biting his lip in frustration, he found only one solution to this.

"I'm sorry, Hinata. Just ignore me and my big damned mouth. It always gets me into trouble, you know that."

He could see a forced smile appearing on her face and he suddenly felt worse.

"Uhm, it's okay K-"

As she started to speak, a set of large arms wrapped around her. Her eyes widened from the sudden gesture from Kiba. It all happened so fast, she wasn't sure how to react.

"Sorry about this too. I just didn't want to see you frown anymore." He mumbled, his face almost buried into her neck.

"Kiba…" She whispered, remaining there on the grass. As kind as he was trying to be, Hinata didn't want him this close to her. The embrace was too tight and she felt if she didn't do or say anything, this wasn't going to bode well for either of them.

"Can we just… Stay like this for a little bit longer?" Kiba pleads, his voice unnaturally high. He was certainly acting strange, more than usual.

"Kiba." Her tone was more firm this time and his grip loosens but he remains before her, his hands now resting on her shoulders.

"Hinata-"

"I'm in love with Naruto!" She blurts.

Her eyes shut tight at her statement, imaging that Kiba was going to yell at her or start destroying the trees that swayed nearby. Instead his hands released her not much after and she could hear him exhale sharply. It was more of a defeated sigh than an angered one. But Hinata kept her eyes closed, somewhat afraid to see his face. No matter what expression that he was going to wear, she was sure all of them were going to make guilt settle at the pit of her stomach. With her eyes clamped shut, she felt Kiba stand to his feet and a laugh coming right after.

"Don't play dumb, Hinata. With those eyes of yours, I'm sure you know what I'm feeling right now. Open your eyes, silly."

As if on command, she opens her eyes to find a smile on her partner's face. "Kiba."

His smile wipes away and a shade of rose appears on his face. "Damn it, stop looking at me like that! How is Naruto gonna react if he saw you looking at me with those sheep eyes?"

The ninja hops on his companion before giving Hinata one last grin. "Thanks for the food, Hinata. It was a fitting last meal."

Hinata stood to her feet, watching the two disappear before her eyes within the quickness. The air felt more breathable and a smile finally appears on her lips. She was incredibly relieved to know that Kiba didn't hate her for loving someone else and not him.

"There's one thing you're right about Kiba. I always knew how you felt and I'm sorry for pretending I didn't know." She rest her hand over her heart. "But I'm also very thankful…. for you always being there. So thank you."

With those words, a sudden light breeze blows her way. As if it was to rid the guilt that she once held at the bottom of her heart.

\/\/\/\/\/

A/N: Hello my loves! I have returned once again! Do you forgive me? But anyway, BAM! No worries about Kiba being in the way, alrighty? I noticed some of you guys would rage about stuff like that but yeah…. Take a chill pill LOL

Again, I love you all and here's to me in hopes of updating again very soon. Cheers!~

(P.S I have another story uploaded for anyone who curious on how I would portray a NaruXSai fanfic. But if that's not your thing, that's fine too! SEE YOU SOON!)