1Hinata was quiet as she watched Naruto tweak the engine of his Acura, curiously observing. She didn't know how to do much with her own car aside from change the oil or the tires, but those were the important things, and she had Naruto and Tenten to do the rest for her. Noticing him wiped his forehead on one arm, she smiled and stood, offering him a rag from the bench nearby. He flashed her a grin, and started to ask for some part or another-
When Hinata found herself on the floor, underneath one big, white, shaggy wolf-dog. One extremely affectionate big, white, shaggy wolf-dog.
"Yo, Naruto, Hinata! How're you guys doin?"
Naruto flashed a look back at the newcomer, helping Hinata stand back up before greeting him. "Kiba, what're you doing here? Thought you had work?"
"I got fired," he shrugged, grin not fading for even an instant. "I think it's cause I beat the owner's son in a race."
"I'm sure you did," Naruto chided. "If that's so, where's your car now?" He flashed Hinata a knowing smile, and she giggled, leaning over to pet Akamaru.
"Ah, well," he laughed nervously. "I totaled it out by exit 76 last night."
"Again? Kiba, that's gotta be your third car this year! That's ridiculous!" He grumbled something inaudible. "What was that?"
"Fourth," he repeated. "Fourth, if you're counting full years."
Hinata was staring at him in surprise. "And you're still alive? And not even in the hospital? How?"
"Eh, what can I say. Seatbelts and air bags, marvels of modern technology!"
"Tell that to your left leg! You've got to have broken it four times-"
"Three," he corrected.
"Fine, three," Naruto continued, "but still, THREE times in five years? Not to mention the damage to your kidney, liver-"
"I get your point," he sighed. "Quit rubbing it in. I take too many risks, one of these days I'm gonna get killed, blah blah blah, HEARD IT ALL BEFORE. And yet here I stand before you. I'm fucking immortal, I tell you, and if it turns out I'm not, then at least I'll have died in an awesome way."
"Kiba-kun," Hinata sighed, "please be more careful? There's always a chance of being badly injured without dying..."
He groaned and scratched the back of his head a little, looking between the two of them. "I guess I can try to be a little more cautious. Hospital bills do get kind of expensive..." He dropped to his haunches, scratching Akamaru for a minute before continuing casually, "Speaking of which..."
"Uh-uh, no way, forget it," Naruto said before he even finished the thought. "You owe me enough as is, Kiba. You go through more cars in a year than the rest of us have gone through since we started driving. I'm through giving you loans and I sure as hell ain't giving you a new ride."
"C'mon, man! I need something, at least to get around town in. No way can I pick up chicks on foot, let alone get to work on time." Both his friends raised eyebrows at him, and even his dog seemed to give him a look. "When I get a new job! You know what I mean!"
"Ask one of the others. I'm completely broke right now too, so I can't help you."
"Broke? How can you be broke man, with the way you win?"
Shyly, Hinata looked up and held up her hand, flashing a gold ring wrapped around her finger.
"Oh."
"Some of us have our priorities in order and know how to save money for the things we want."
"So you're gonna let me be the best man, right?" Kiba asked with a grin, scratching behind his ear.
"As long as you're flea and tick free, I'll think about it. Now, if you really need a ride, I can loan you my old bike until you get something of your own, but that's all I can manage. I've gotta use what I've got left to get the brakes checked." He motioned over his shoulder at the car's open hood.
"Your bike? Man, I can't use that, where's Akamaru supposed to ride?" The half-dog barked to show he shared his owner's displeasure.
"Take it or leave it," Naruto shrugged.
"But... Akamaru..." Naruto held up one finger. "Chicks!" He held up another, and started on the third. "BRIGHT ORANGE, man! Bright orange! I can't-" The blond's last finger went up. "Alright, fine, it'll work for now. Where's it at?"
"My house. I'll take you back with us to pick it up, deal?"
Kiba nodded, and both boys grinned at each other, making Hinata giggle at how quickly they could go from faux-fighting to their typical demeanors.
A voice appeared behind them, clearing his throat quite clearly. All three turned to look at the new comer.
"Excuse me, gentlemen, lady... Can you direct me to the owner of this garage?" he asked, one wrist-banded arm waving dramatically.
Kiba shrugged. "Sure, man. She's gonna be in that room over there, if she's not working on somebody's car." He pointed, then cupped his hands around his mouth, calling, "HEY, TENTEN-CHAN! GUY IN A GREEN HOODIE HERE TO SEE YA!"
Instead of emerging from the room, the girl's head popped out from behind the hood of a jeep across the room. She waved, surveying the man, and called back, "Just a second!" before vanishing again. Kiba shrugged, looking back at the guy.
"Haven't seen you around before. You new in town?"
Naruto laughed, "Yeah, if Kiba hasn't seen you in the shop before, you've obviously never been here. He practically lives here, the way he goes through cars. What's your name, where's your car?"
His gaze, previously intently examining Kiba, flipped to the blond's face. "I need no car, friend, for I am Rock Lee, Konoha's number one motorcyclist!" His arm rose from his sweatshirt pocket, flashing a thumbs up their way along with a snow white grin.
The three friends looked between each other, Hinata sending them both dirty looks when they moved to swirl their hands in the "he's crazy" sign. "Nice to meet you," she offered. "I'm Hinata... This is my fiancé Naruto, and he's Kiba, and that's his dog Akamaru." Each nodded in turn, Akamaru barking and waving his tail in his own greeting.
Lee walked forward to shake each of their hands in turn. "The pleasure is mine. What a lucky man you are to have the love of a beautiful flower such as this," he told Naruto as he shook his.
The slam of the jeep's hood on the other side of the garage averted all four's attention. "Done!" Tenten announced, snatching up a towel and wiping her hands as she traversed the concrete floor. "How's everybody doing today?" They all gave passing responces, and she smiled, giving Akamaru a pat before turning towards Lee. "You must be..."
"Rock Lee, miss. We spoke on the phone?"
"Right," she nodded. "Where's your bike at?"
He dashed out of the garage, wheeling back in his motorcycle a minute later. Both boys raised their eyebrows at the vehicle, and the girls suppressed giggles as he parked it, posing proudly beside it. The bike was forest green with orange wheels and seat cover, matching the boy's sweats and accessories exactly.
"Looks like someone's got the same taste in colors you do, Naruto," Kiba teased, elbowing his friend and motioning to the orange. Sure enough, Naruto was wearing a jacket of nearly the same exact shade, except his was accented with more reasonable shades of black and orange.
His clothes did match his car, though, and so he stepped away from it, feeling a little awkward.
"So what's the problem?" Tenten asked, kneeling beside the bike.
"It's not fast enough," he stated simply.
She stared at him for a moment, looking a bit startled. "Not fast enough? This thing's gotta be capable of 120, easily, and even your best races aren't going to pass that. You've probably got the fastest bike in the region. Much faster and you're going to wind up dead."
"It's not the other motorcycles I'm trying to win against. It's the cars."