The courtship of Naruto Uzumaki
XXIII. Apologies all around
Hinata walked forward slowly, and softly almost as if she were approaching two feral creatures she'd come across in the wild. Neither young man seemed to notice her approach; they were too intent on ignoring one another. When she was close enough to at least be in their peripheral vision she halted, and took a deep breath.
"Kiba? I've brought your tea," she said hesitantly. Cupping the tea in two hands, she stretched out her arms to offer it to him, and bowed her head in the process. If she didn't look anyone in the eye, maybe the awkwardness of whatever happened when she was gone would simply dissipate into the atmosphere somewhere.
He started suddenly aware of her presence. He'd been so totally engrossed in his own dark thoughts that he'd forgotten all about agreeing to her tea bearing trip just to get her out of the way so he could have some words with Naruto. "Ah, thanks, Hinata," he took the cup, tilted his head back, and drained it down in one gulp. It wasn't quite hot enough to scald going down, but it wasn't the comfort she'd intended. He could feel the path of the tea all the way down his throat. He panted a little to cool off his mouth as he stared down at the empty cup in his hand. Maybe he should have taken his time with the tea instead of downing it in one second flat. Now what should he do?
Hinata glanced out of the corner of her eye at Naruto as the silence deepened. He wasn't looking at her or Kiba. He was staring down the hall towards the room where Akamaru was being tended to. She studied his expression trying to read his mood. His cheeks burned red, his brown was furrowed, his mouth was downturned, and his eyes flashed. Those were all signs of anger, but not the hot anger he usually displayed. He should also be yelling, and flailing around. Holding in his emotions was not a typical Naruto trait. Was this really a bad sign or a new state of maturity for Naruto? What should she do? Should she say something? What should she say? Who should she say something to? Kiba had already spoken semi-calmly to her so he'd be the safest, but Naruto's feelings were the most important to her. Would he explode if she spoke or would he be semi-calm, too? Should she risk it or—maybe she should go get more tea. Tea was calming.
Naruto stared stonily into the distance. He was still angry with Kiba. He felt sorry for the attack on Akamaru, but he was still angry. He just didn't know what to do with that anger when Kiba was hurting. But damn it he was justifiably angry! He still couldn't believe that Kiba had been so—so stupid, insensitive—and just plain wrong!
How could Kiba have said such mean things to Hinata? Hinata had always been his friend. Did jealousy require hurting the object of one's jealous feelings? How stupid was that? Didn't he get that abusing Naruto would hurt Hinata? And how could he think Naruto would do something so foul? He thought Kiba should know him better than that by now. When had he ever done anything so despicable?
More importantly—how did Hinata feel about what Kiba had told her? Did she believe any of that wrong-headed, asinine crap Kiba had spouted? Should he ask her or just let it drop? Why hadn't she told him? Was it just to prevent a fight or did she believe some of it, and was afraid to ask? Damn, Kiba. How he wished he could just sock him in the jaw—just one time—just to alleviate some of this turmoil he was feeling. A simple apology just didn't seem adequate compensation for the upset Hinata must have felt. He didn't see how he could just forgive and forget without forcefully demonstrating to Kiba just how nasty he'd been. Maybe when everything was settled, he'd have it out with him no holds barred if he still felt this riled.
"Er—" Kiba began.
"Yes?" Hinata asked eagerly. Her gaze had been swinging back and forth between the two of them waiting for some sign that it was safe to speak. She'd have preferred for Naruto to say something, but she'd settle for Kiba. They were here to support him after all. Was there something more she could do? She was ready to go on any errand available—anything to postpone the inevitable revelations to account for the awkwardness between these two.
Kiba set the teacup down on the bench away from Naruto then thrust his hands in his pockets. He hunched his shoulders, and stared down somewhere near Hinata's feet. This was worse than his apology to Naruto. How could he ever make it up to her? An apology just wasn't enough for the unhappiness he'd caused her. Oh yeah, he remembered the look on her face after their little talk about Naruto. He'd tried to forget it. He'd tried to justify his actions. He couldn't successfully do either so he'd settled for ignoring his guilty feelings whenever they cropped up. However, they kept cropping up more and more frequently. Now he had the chance to make things right, but he still would rather shove it aside then face Hinata. What a coward he was! If he'd learned nothing else from his ninja training it was to face difficult decisions rather than avoid them. Things only got worse that way. Hinata had been his friend before she'd been anything else to him. He owed her his honesty, his sincerity, and his contrition.
He took a deep breath that sounded more loudly than he'd intended. "Look, Hinata," he started in a rush. "Naruto and I—well—he—I—we had a little talk while you were gone."
"Oh?" She looked uneasily from one to the other. Naruto had turned his gaze from the distant hallway to stare at Kiba.
"I apologized to him. I was wrong about him—totally wrong. He's not the type of guy to use you as a substitute or just dump you. He'll deal square with you. He's that kind of guy." He finally looked up at her, but he didn't give her a chance to answer before he continued. He had more to say, and he had to get it out quickly before he lost his nerve.
"I want to apologize to you, too, Hinata. I'm sorry about everything I said. I don't have a good explanation. I was just—I don't know what I was—but I'm over it now. Please forgive me? We can all be friends again? Right?" he pleaded. He couldn't admit to her that he was jealous. He cringed to remember that he'd said as much to Naruto as an explanation. He just wanted to forget all about his rotten behavior. It might take awhile to get back to normal, but he'd do his best to get things straight again so he could look Hinata clearly in the eyes, and face Naruto without feeling guilty. As long as she and Naruto were happy together, he'd get over his dog-in-the-manger attitude. He'd had years to romance Hinata, and he'd never done so. Now with Naruto clearly interested there was no reason for him to suddenly go after her. In fact, it was insulting to Hinata. He'd always known how she felt about Naruto. She'd never made any secret of it to him. She'd never once given him any impression that she'd be interested in him even if Naruto wasn't interested in her. If his own feelings had been genuine, he shouldn't need another guy showing an interest to get him moving. He should have been actively pursuing her long before Naruto seriously entered the picture. That thought just gave him one more thing to feel guilty about. He needed to get this over with, and move on.
Hinata looked at Kiba with her mouth slightly agape. She wanted to say all was forgiven. She'd always been fond of Kiba as a friend. She was never one to hold a grudge, but did Naruto feel that way as well? He was the one Kiba had maligned. Could she tell Kiba everything was fine if it wasn't for Naruto? She turned her gaze to her beloved. He was the one who had to be persuaded to forgive and forget. She was already there. He'd eventually see reason, but maybe not at this moment.
Naruto didn't seem all that happy about the situation. He still wore that stony expression on his face as he stared at Kiba. What should she do? She hesitated, and waited for Naruto to look at her. When he didn't give her some clue, she finally said, "Naruto? Did you—could you accept Kiba's apology?"
He took his time, leaning back, crossing his ankles, folding his arms over his chest, and drawing out his response. His eyes never left Kiba's face as he watched him squirm a little while he awaited Naruto's response. That gave him a little satisfaction, but not quite enough torture—yet. "Wwweeelll," he drawled. "I guess I can."
She sighed in relief. He still looked angry, but she would trust what he said not the way he looked. Naruto wasn't the type to hold a grudge either—not for long anyway. "Then I accept your apology, too, Kiba. I believe you to be sincere. I want to be friends again. You, too, right, Naruto?" she coaxed with sweet anxiety.
Naruto stared challengingly at Kiba, and allowed a few long moments to pass again before he responded. "Yeah, sure, if that'll make you happy, Hinata," he paused, and gave her a reassuring smile. He wasn't mad at her, and wanted to be certain she understood that. He turned his gaze back to Kiba, and gave the conversation an abrupt turnaround. "Say Kiba, how did Akamaru come to be all alone out there? Aren't you two partners? Shouldn't you have been with him when he was attacked?" He didn't add maybe you should have been the dead guy found nearby, but he felt it was implied just to show he wasn't completely forgiven.
Kiba flushed a bright red not from Naruto's implication. His attention had been caught by the former accusation so the rest of Naruto's intent had gone over his head. "Yeah, we are, and I should have been with him, but we don't do everything together."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Naruto challenged. "What was he doing all by himself?"
"He—ah—" Kiba mumbled.
"What? I can't hear you."
"Akamaru had to take a dump, okay?" he burst out angrily. "He can't just go anywhere. He was heading for the park. We were supposed to meet up later at the front gate. Satisfied?"
Naruto shrugged, grimaced, and said to Hinata. "Remind me to walk more carefully the next time I'm in the park."
"Hey, he digs a hole and covers it up again. He doesn't just go, and leave it there," Kiba said defensively.
"Well, that's what I thought dogs usually did. I've accidently stepped in enough dog piles to know," he returned wryly.
Kiba shook his head vehemently. "Not Akamaru. He knows better."
"He is very well trained," Hinata agreed.
"That's not all. He's considerate, too. There's no reason for the town's people to get all bent out of shape at his traveling everywhere in town with me. He would never harm an innocent or anyone's property. I wish I knew who's been complaining about him. I'd straighten him out pretty darn quick," Kiba said defensively.
"That's true, Kiba. I've never seen a more well-behaved dog," Hinata fully supported his claims. She'd been around Akamaru long enough to know that he was very unusual for his species. He was almost human in his understanding, but then all the Inuzuka dogs were like that. "I don't know who could have complained about him. It couldn't be anyone who knew of his contributions to our missions. What does the Hokage say about it?"
"The Fifth wouldn't tell me anything. She said the complaints were anonymous. She said we had to be circumspect for the time being."
"Circumspect?"
"Yeah. A fancy word for staying out of the way—as if Akamaru doesn't have every right to walk the streets of Konoha just like anyone else. He's done more for this village than a lot of people who live here."
"You're right. Akamaru's put his life on the line plenty of times for this village," Naruto agreed. While they discussed Akamaru, he felt more charitable towards Kiba. Another topic might not find him so forgiving.
"Damn straight!"
"Maybe it's those monks," Naruto said darkly. He was ready to throw any unexplained bad deeds at their heads. They were guilty of something. He was certain of it. Maybe it was something unpleasant like this, if not attacks or murder.
"Wasn't their order founded for the protection of animals?" Hinata asked tentatively.
"So they say."
"Maybe that's why the Fifth said for the time being we had to put up with it. If it's those monks, she doesn't expect them to stay around the village for a long time. I didn't like them either. They didn't seem to know much about dogs," Kiba agreed. There was something else he and Naruto could agree on. Maybe they really could be friends again.
They all fell silent once this subject had been exhausted.
Hinata took the tea cup back to the hospital cafeteria. Naruto stayed seated on the bench with his arms fold across his chest. Kiba stood propping up the wall with his hands in his pockets. When Hinata returned she sat down on the bench beside Naruto, but not as closely as earlier. She was still conscious of a thread of ill-feeling permeating their tenuous friendships.
After almost an hour of silent waiting, Kiba finally said, "You, two, don't have to wait here with me. You're on duty tonight. You should go home, and get some sleep."
"We'll stay until we know Akamaru's out of danger," Naruto insisted. He'd want someone with him in a similar situation—even someone mad at him.
Hinata nodded. "We won't leave you alone, Kiba."
"Thanks," he said gruffly. He felt a lump in his throat. He'd never forget how generous spirited these two were under the circumstances. He'd never make that same stupid error in judgment again.
It wasn't more than a few minutes later that the Fifth finally came out of the operating room, and walked tiredly towards them. Even the heels of her shoes beat out a low key, lethargic staccato on the floor.
"How is he?" Kiba called out eagerly.
She didn't answer until she came completely up to their group. She put her hand reassuringly on Kiba's shoulder. "I think he'll be fine. We still have to watch for infection. If his temperature doesn't spike in the next few days, then I think he'll truly be out of the woods. You can take the other two home later this afternoon. I'd like them to rest, and be given plenty of fluids to compensate for the blood they gave to Akamaru before I release them."
"That's great," Kiba said with a sigh of relief. He hadn't once dared think about the alternative. He'd concentrated all his thoughts and prayers on Akamaru's recovery during this time of waiting. "I guess I should go back, and finish up my patrol duty."
She squeezed his shoulder. "Not just yet. I'd like you to have a look at the dead man found with Akamaru. I don't recognize him. I'd like the three of you to take a good look. We need to inform his family as soon as possible. If you can't tell me anything we'll have to arouse the others to knock on doors to find out who's missing."
"Yeah, sure," they all mumbled in a jumble rather than a chorus.
They followed the Fifth down to the basement level where the morgue was housed.
This wasn't Naruto's favorite part of an investigation, but he'd seen worse. His last mission had dealt with a corpse that had been burned to obliterate all marks of recognition (see: Elementary, my dear, Naruto). That hadn't been a pretty sight, and they'd had to study the body for quite some time looking for clues to his identity. This examination would be a cakewalk in comparison.
The dead man had been laid out on a gurney awaiting an autopsy to be performed at a more normal hour of the morning. The cause of death was fairly obvious based on the two puncture wounds in his neck, and the exsanguinations of his body, but the obvious was not always the correct answer. Complete and proper procedures were observed following every suspicious death.
Tsunade, Kiba, Hinata, and Naruto encircled the body, and looked down at his face.
He had shoulder length brown hair. His open eyes were brown. He looked completely desiccated from his massive blood loss. His face was wrinkled, flattened, almost colorless, and ancient-looking. Tsunade addressed that issue as she directed their observations. "I've given him a cursory exam. The blood has been almost completely drained from his body. I know he looks old, but I actually believe him to be a young man. Lack of blood has accentuated and created wrinkles, giving him a deceptively elderly look."
Now that the light was better, Naruto was even more convinced that he'd seen the man before, and it wasn't just wishful thinking on his part. When Tsunade told them the man was really young and not old, that fact had jogged his memory. "I think I know who he is," he said excitedly. He was always much better at recognizing faces than he was with names.
"Well? Who is he?" Tsunade demanded impatiently.
"I think he's one of the actors from the Iseki Acting Troupe. Remember, Hinata, he played the father in the first skit—the one called The doomed lovers. We saw their performance a few days ago. He was made up to look old. That's what made me think he looked familiar when I first saw him. I wasn't sure until just now looking at him in a better light. He looked like an old man in the skit, but he didn't look this old."
Hinata studied the man more carefully. Now that Naruto had identified him, she could more easily see the resemblance. "I think you're right, Naruto. I didn't even consider him, but he does remind me of that actor."
"That could be why I don't recognize him. I haven't seen the Iseki Acting Troupe yet. What about you, Kiba?"
He squinted at the dead man. He'd seen that skit weeks ago. He hadn't found the male actors too memorable, but Naruto could be right. "It could be. I haven't seen the show for a few weeks."
Tsunade rubbed her chin. "I'd like to get this settled quickly. Naruto, since you talked to the troupe's manager, why don't you ask him to come in to identify this man? We can at least rule the acting troupe out if he turns out not to be the one you remember."
"Now?" He looked poised for flight.
She smiled. "Not quite. Go home, wash, and change first. I don't want you frightening the man. You really do need a bath."
"Should I go, too?" Hinata asked tentatively.
"Why not? You'd be more diplomatic than Naruto should the need arise. Bring him back right away. I'd like to have this one mystery solved as soon as possible."
"What about me?" Kiba asked.
"Walk Hinata home then finish your patrol shift. I assume you'd like the chance to clean up a little yourself, Hinata? If this man's not part of the acting troupe, you'll have to help identify him by canvassing the village. Naruto, you can pick Hinata up at her home before you head out to get the Iseki Troupe's manager. I'll meet you all back here. I'm not leaving the complex until we've identified this man."
"Right," they chorused then headed out.
Naruto parted from them outside the ninja complex. "I'll be as quick as I can, Hinata," he said before running off. He didn't even think twice about leaving Hinata with Kiba. He trusted him even now. He always had.
Hinata and Kiba rushed off towards her house. They exchanged no words until they reached her door.
"Hinata?"
"Yes, Kiba," she said already in her house, and ready to shut the door.
"I really am sorry."
"I know. In your own way, you were just trying to protect me. I understand. I forgive you, Kiba. You only hurt me a little. Please believe, I trust Naruto, and I always will. Now I must go. I need to wash up a little myself before Naruto gets here."
"Okay, See ya' later," he said just as she shut the door.
He did feel better after all that apologizing. Absolution was good for the soul. Now if only he could be sure that Naruto really meant it. He didn't trust Naruto's forgiveness as much as he did Hinata's. He'd still have to jump through some hoops for Naruto, but in the end even Naruto was more forgiving than most. Everything would all become status quo again—eventually.