Chapter 15: Hinata – A Whole New Way?

Faint sounds filled my ears; the clean almost sickening smell of the hospital made me fully aware of my surroundings. The hospital bed, while being something of a comfort, was cold and unwelcoming. The light stung through my eyes just waking from their slumber; my limbs aching from the lack of movement; but somehow everything felt new, stronger and better. My head felt clear, clean of bad thoughts and most of all calm. Everything was falling back to normality, yet the memory of Purgatory was still fresh in my mind; my mother's voice echoed through my thoughts, seeming never to leave. I never wanted to lose my memory of her again.

Opening my eyes slowly to prevent the agony of gaining consciousness and the light penetrating my vision so suddenly, I attempted to move my limbs to gain back human feeling. Starting my usual routine as I do at home, I began to feel the linen hospital sheet soothe against my abnormally warm skin on my feet and legs. The mattress began to creak and squeak with the movement my legs were creating. Stretching out my back only increased my bod's awareness of the lumpy mattress. My neck, although sore and stiff, was slightly moveable with the comfort of the soft pillow beneath my head. My arms were always the last I stretched. Extending my arms downwards first as I always had, my right hand was met with an obstacle, an obstacle that gave a dull, irate moan of discomfort.

Gasping, I tried to rush my tired, weary body from its sleeping position. Pain struck through my entire being; shock entered my system so quickly. My mother's gentle voice filled my mind: "calm my little Kitai, this is not a threat, calm and open your eyes. Take your time, take a deep breath." The pain then subsided, shock faded to a gentle curiosity.

Sitting up slowly, as to push the pain away in my arms, I kept my eyes close to let my curiosity grow a little. My boy still ached but it had receded to a dull ache that could be ignored. Hoping that I hadn't scared my guest away, I slowly opened my eyes. My vision, although greeted with the ache of the light, caught my visitor's being.

Kiba …

His face seemed gentle and trouble free, like a child or, dare I say it, a puppy. His deep breathing added to his trouble free nature ad deep dreaming. He always did watch over me on missions while I was sleeping. Reaching my hand out to brush through his untamed hair, something I have always done for him when he was troubled. He was so childlike in so many ways yet so grown up. Hopefully my actions would calm his worries. He moaned slightly and turned his head. I continued brushing my hand through his hair, even as he started to wake from his slumber and raise his head. Opening his eyes slowly, his dreams came to an end.

"Hina?"

"Sorry for waking you Kiba-kun, are you ok?"

"HINATA, YOU'RE AWAKE!" he jumped up in excitement and wrapped his arms around me, I winced a little in pain but welcomed his warmth and held him as to prevent my falling, "Oh, I'm sorry Hina, you must be in pain, wait here, I'll go get some –"

"NO!" the scream was out of my mouth before I realised it. A blush crept across my cheeks as Kiba gave me a look of shock and confusion, "I-I-I mean … d-don't get anyone y-yet, p-please? C-can you s-sit with me f-for a while? I-I d-don't want a-anyone else h-here with us f-for n-now … " my blush only increased with my request.

A smile graced his wolf-like features "Ok Hina," he sat on the side of the bed, his weight welcome beside me. Why am I acting like this around Kiba? I've never been like this around him, EVER.

"How are you feeling, Hina?" his voice was gentle and warm, making me feel at ease and relaxed.

"I'm ok Kiba-kun, are you ok?" I don't know how long he had been at my side, but if the past had anything to go by, he would have been there from the beginning.

"I'm just fine, Hina, much better knowing you're well," a grin graced his features. Actually, a smile had never left his face since I woke him.

"But you're in hospital clothes, are you sure - ?"

"I'm sure, Hina. Keep calm now," he rested his hand on mine to relax me. His skin was so warm against mine. It was almost like a slight electric shock, but the good kind. It even gave me butterflies in my stomach. I felt a blush grow across my cheeks. I could feel my breath catch in my throat and my heart start to race as I looked at our hands so sweetly joined. Part of me hoped that Kiba felt the same.

"Hina?"

I looked into his hypnotic eyes of memory and kindness: "Yes, K-Kiba-kun?" A blush crossed his cheeks, something I had never seen him do before.

"I-I … W-well, I mean, I …" he never stammered or pondered with his speech, he was always so sure with what he needed to say. He looked in my eyes with an emotion that I wasn't sure I had ever seen from him before … or at least one that I had never noticed before.

"Yes, Kiba" my heart was racing, almost bursting from chest.

"I … Damn, why is this so difficult for me to say?" he looked away from me and I could feel the hurt building in my heart. I gently took his face gently in my hands to make him look at me.

"What's wrong, Kiba?" forcing him to look at me, his eyes locked with mine. "Kiba, talk to me?" my voice was barely above the sound of a whisper. The whole world around us seemed to stop, frozen in time with only us granted the ability to move, feel and talk. Neither one of us made a sound, I was so sure it would break the spell I had come under: Kiba's spell. All I could see, all I wanted to see, was Kiba. The air in my lungs and around me felt electric. Please, let Kiba feel what I'm feeling. I don't know entirely what I'm feeling exactly but I know I don't want it to stop. His strong arms slowly wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me towards him. Please Kami, let him be feeling what I am now.

His hand tangled itself gently in my mass of hair at my neck. His lips were a breath's whisper away from mine. My eyes drifted shut in a dream-like state. His lips softly found their way to mine, giving the butterflies in my stomach ample opportunity for flight. His kiss awakened something in me that I never thought existed. Kissing him back, I could feel my body becoming weaker, but not in the way I'm used to. I felt the need to hold my body close to his … and yet he pulled away from me.

"I'm sorry Hina, I shouldn't have done that," Kiba turned away from me and wouldn't meet my gaze again. Hurt consumed my being; who was I trying to fool? I'm not beautiful or attractive like the other girls are, so why would I think that Kiba would want me in that way?

"O-oh, I-I un-understand," looking down at my hands that looked so empty without his, I tried my best to hide my embarrassment and hurt. How could I have been so stupid and blind?

"No! Hina, no, not like that! I just mean … aww hell, I'm making a mess of this" a small growl of a chuckle left his mouth, making me look up at him. He looked at me with that goofy grin he always had. Taking my hands back in his, I was hypnotised by his eyes again. "What I mean to say is that I shouldn't have done that because you've just woken from minor surgery. It's not that I don't want to, I just don't want to hurt you." Placing one of his hands on my cheek, my heart started pounding with excitement and hope.

Throwing myself into his arms, I could feel every contour of his strong body against my own, making my world safe and secure with no troubles in life, especially with his arms around me. Looking into his eyes again, I knew I would never have to commit them to memory. Leaning into him, my lips found his in a soft embrace and this time, he didn't pull back. Instead he pulled me closer. With his hand placed at the nape of my neck; it pulled me deeper towards him more. The kiss, HIS kiss, was like nothing I had ever experienced before. It felt so right, so complete; yet it felt full of excitement and new things to come. Moaning into the kiss, his tongue gently brushed against my lips requesting entry to caress mine. Opening my mouth to him, I could feel the butterflies dance gleefully around my stomach. Every touch felt electric, every kiss became more needing.

"AHEM!" the sound made us both just apart, a blush growing on my cheeks and my breath laboured. "Well, won't this be a story to tell? So you feel better Hinata?" Tsunade-sama laughed, with Tenten standing with her mouth gaping open in shock. Smirks crossed both of their faces.

Oh Kami, what am I gonna do?

Author's Note:

Sorry for not updating sooner my lovely readers. Thank you for being so patient :)

Again I don't own the world of Naruto, that belong to the wonderful mind of Masashi Kishimoto :)

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