A/N: Wow, I'm at chapter eight already!
Sunako: Yay for you!
Me: I WILL finish this! By the way, today's my birthday! Happy birthday to me!
When Kiba and Hinata walked into school the next day holding hands, it explained everything to their friends. They smiled at them in silent congratulations as a new couple was born.
"I'm happy for them, I always knew there was something between them," Sakura said.
"Yeah, but I figured you'd be sulking about being single," said Ino. Sakura flinched; her best friend was right on target about how she felt.
"No, no, of course not, that's ridiculous," Sakura said, laughing nervously, "I mean, I don't even really need anyone to make me happy."
Ino sighed, her best friend was so predictable and such a bad liar.
~X~
Hinata frowned at her desk, then glanced over to where Kiba sat. She loved him, she sincerely did and was happy that he felt the same, but one thought still nagged at her mind.
Just like when she had liked Naruto, she had to wonder, what about Itachi, how would he feel about this? It almost made her feel guilty, no, it did make her feel guilty.
She really wanted to let herself be happy with Kiba because she loved him so much, but she still cared about Itachi and his feelings. She didn't love him anymore, that had been a long time ago and now she was over him, but she still cared about him and wouldn't want to hurt him in any way. She never wanted to hurt anyone, especially not someone who had been so close to her.
Hinata sighed. There was no way for her to even tell him while he was away at boarding school. And, even when he came back, he would go back to Konoha. With any luck, no one but Hanabi would ever know that she was here. And that was only if Hanabi really did keep her mouth shut about Hinata's location.
~X~
"Hinata, is something bothering you?" Temari asked.
"N-no…nothing's bothering me."
"Well, you seem really out of it, but not in the happy daydream way," Ino said. "Are you upset about something? I mean, I thought you'd be really happy. I always thought you and Kiba made a really cute couple, ever since he first introduced you to us."
"I…I am happy…I just…feel bad about Itachi," Hinata replied and told them of her fears.
"Oh, Hinata, I'm sure he just wants you to be happy and, besides, he's probably over you by now anyway. Didn't you say he was a little older than you?" Temari asked.
"Well…yeah…he was…I…I think he graduates this year. O-of course, Akatsuki Boarding School goes on for a year longer than regular high school."
"Well, see," Temari said, "he's about five years older than you. Maybe that's why Neji's sexual harassment story was so believable, but I think a boy loving a girl even if she is younger is sweet."
"Wouldn't he be Hana's age, then?" Ino asked.
"Around that, yes," Hinata said. "So…you guys think it's…it's alright for me to be with Kiba?"
"Of course it is. Whatever makes you happy is what you have to do, Hinata," said Temari, smiling at the girl.
Hinata was satisfied and headed home, because it was after school and they had been outside, hanging around.
"Still, it couldn't hurt to…"
"You're right, Temari," Ino said. "Let's go."
~X~
Meanwhile, in the empty English classroom, two other students were hanging around.
"Shino, what was it you wanted?" the pinkette asked.
"…Sakura, earlier, you said you were okay with being single and you didn't need anyone to make you happy. I was wondering if someone could make you happy. Sakura, I've been wanting to tell you something for a while now."
"There is someone who can make me happy," Sakura said, blushing. "I really like him and I think you know who he is."
"Sakura, are you trying to tell me that you…"
"Yes, Shino, I do really like you, I love you, even."
"Sakura…I love you, I have for a while," Shino said, leaning down slightly to kiss her.
~X~
Hinata still felt guilty, but she didn't want her friends to know that she was still hung up on that, she especially didn't want Kiba to know.
He smiled at her from across the table over dinner, then sent her a questioning look, to which she nodded.
"Hey, mom, me and Hinata…well…"
"K-k-k-Kiba and I…last night…we…we…we…"
"I…I love Hinata and I told her last night."
"And….and…I feel the same way so…we…"
"We're…dating now."
"Finally!" Hana said, though it sounded kind of fake. "I was hoping that you two would realize that you're absolutely perfect for each other!"
She winked at her younger brother and he realized, in horror, that she had seen them the night before.
~X~
Ino typed away at the computer in the library, Temari sometimes leaning over to make corrections to what they were writing. Soon they had it printed out and sealed it in an envelope.
They checked to make sure the address was correct, added a stamp, and put it in a mail box. Now they needed to wait a few days before anything interesting would happen with it.
"I hope this clears the air of any uncertainties," Temari said.
"Yeah, me too. By the way, have you seen Sakura?"
"Nope. Oh wait…don't look now, but she's holding hands with Shino," the older girl said.
"What?" the younger girl asked and, of course, turned to see that what Temari said was true. "Yay for Sakura! Now she's happy too. You'd better hurry and snag Shikamaru, you're the only girl left."
"Look, Ino, I've already got him wrapped around my finger, it'll be no time at all before he's mine."
"Uh huh. Suuure."
~X~
Four days later, Temari found just what they had been waiting for in the mailbox. The other girls, save for Hinata, knew about this now, and they all excitedly crowded around her."I'm not opening it, we're going to have to let Hinata, it's hers."
"That's right, we shouldn't open it."
"Sh-shouldn't open what?" Hinata asked, coming up behind them.
"Perfect timing, Hinata," Tenten said with a grin.
"We have a surprise for you," Sakura added.
A/N: Sunako: Surprise? I wonder what kind of surprise it is…
Me: I dunno…
Sunako: !!!!!!YOU'RE THE WRITER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Me: I was KIDDING. But…if you want to know, you have to review this story. Yes, that's right, I need two reviews before I update. Yeah, only two, I'm not high maintenance, I just want as many reviews as I have chapters.
Next time: Hinata may have felt guilty about dating Kiba, but a surprise letter gets rid of all traces of guilt. With all the other girls in some sort of relationship, will Temari finally get the younger guy that she wants? And Hinata gets another step closer to remembering, then, out of the blue, the one thing that she needed appears.