Chapter 15: People and Places

I rubbed my tired eyes and squinted at the glare of sunlight worming its way past the tree leaves. That's right, I've taken to sleeping in trees until I stop running from my fear.

Looks like I'm going to sleep in trees for a while.

Rustling was heard from the bushes below the tree and I scowled at Hinata. "Leave." I murmured to her. She smiled weakly.

"K-Kiba-kun is looking f-for y-you..." She stuttered. I sighed in response and hopped down from my (comfortable) tree branch.

"Please stop that stuttering, Hina. You need more confidence. Anyway, how's things going with Na-ru-to?" I grinned slyly, pronouncing his name slowly. My amusement spiked when I saw her regular blush appear. It's too easy to get Hinata flustered.

"G-good... I g-guess... So how're things with K-Kiba?" Hinata became a little dreamy when speaking but looked at me with a mischievous glint in her eye at the end. Unfortunately, I was caught off guard with the question (even though I really shouldn't have been...) and I stopped walking to blush heavily. She giggled a little and poked me to bring me out of my reverie.

"I think... I'm getting too attached..." I mumbled. She motioned for me to continue. "I mean, I've always liked him, but now it's worse. I think I really am falling hard for him. I always want to be with him, I want him to hold me... I don't think I'll be able to hide soon. I've told myself over and over I shouldn't like him, but you can't tell your heart to stop beating..." Hinata nodded solemnly, and her eyes said she felt the same with Naruto. Hinata liked Naruto a lot, but her father -curse him to the deepest pits of hell - would never let Hinata do as she pleased. Hiashi was going to put the seal on Hinata, and make Hanabi the heiress! I began to growl lowly. How should I kill him?

Hinata brought me out of my bloodthirsty thoughts with a poke and a shy smile. I'm envious - she was strong and beautiful. I felt like a street rat compared to her. Returning the smile, I hopped over a root conveniently placed in my path. Hinata stopped walking, waved shyly, then turned and went back the way we came. I turned back around to see Kiba scowling, Kurenai sighing, and Shino being Shino. Plastering on a fake grin, I skipped up to them. I knew I was late. I happened to forget today was a training day.

"Hi!" I cooed. "Sorry I'm late, an old lady asked me to help her with her shopping!" I chirped with fake exultance. Kiba turned to me with the biggest scowl I've ever seen him with.

"You ran away." He simply stated. I froze, the fake smile dropping from my face with record speed.

"To be expected of me." I finished for him, when he opened his mouth again to speak. Kiba began glaring daggers at me and I watched him indifferently. "I told you what I'm afraid of, is it so unexpected of me to run away?" I asked. It was his turn to freeze.

"I expected more from you, Saya." I inwardly shivered at how he said my name. Not the time, Saya! Not the time! "You're the strongest on this team, next to Kurenai-sensei. For you to run is like the fat kid not eating!" I blanched. If Choji heard him, he'd say it was chub not fat...

"We may be ninjas, Kiba, but we're still only human." I pointed out. Finally having enough of his remarks, I decided to take the safe route and just go home. Maybe he'd finally stop complaining.

Don't kid yourself, Saya. You're doing it because you don't want to disappoint him, I thought. How sad that it's true. Seeing the house looming before me, I took a breath and walked to the door. Slowly, I began raising my hand to knock.

What the hell am I doing? This IS my house!

Without hesitation, I opened the door and stepped inside the small hallway that veered into two directions. I frowned at the feminine shoes next to my dad's. Slipping my shoes off, I called out a "I'm home!" before turning into the living room.

Honestly, I shouldn't have bothered coming home. I also should have expected the scene before me when I saw dad's green Jounin vest discarded before the living room, and his headband close to it. On the couch was my mom and dad, my mom under my dad and they were fiercely kissing. No clothes were between them and the said articles were strewn across the floor. I stood there awkwardly before turning and leaving. As I slipped my shoes on, I grimaced when I heard some rather loud moans and screams of pleasure. I ran out as if my life depended on it, remembering to lock the door as I left.

I wandered to Ichiraku in a daze, and I bought myself a bowl of miso ramen. Slapping down money as payment, my thoughts wandered off to where I should stay for now. Trees weren't doing any wonders for my back, that's for sure. I shivered in disgust when the mental image of my parents popped up. I will never let my dad live this down. I couldn't stay with Hina, Neji always insisted on sparring and Hiashi always gave me the coldest glares while Hanabi would look at Hina with the most pompous smirk I had ever seen a kid have. If I stayed there, I would punch someone in the face. Multiple times. Maybe with a kunai.

I couldn't stay with Shino... I don't mind the bugs he has, but when they're literally crawling ALL over the place in that dark house a non-Aburame couldn't bear it. Choji was out, Shika would be too busy sleeping and his mom is scary as hell, Ino was too annoying, Sakura would get the living daylight a beaten out of her, Lee was out because he'd be spouting crap about the 'Spirit of Youth' and be screaming about how amazing his sensei is, Naruto was too happy, Sasuke has a pole up his butt, Tenten was a possibility, and then there was Kiba. Nope, I won't ask him... I'm relying on you, Tenten!...

Well that is what I was thinking before I stood in front a profusely apologizing Tenten stating exactly why I couldn't stay at her place. Okay, don't panic, just stay with Hina and hope you don't get too pissed. I walked by the Hyuuga complex and saw Hiashi lecturing Hinata on how much of a failure she is. I turned to the wall and punched it with no chakra, and I was pleased to see a decent hole in the stone. Imagine what would happen to Hiashi's face... I chuckled sinisterly after realizing this was the Hyuuga compound's wall. Take that, Hiashi! Doing a weird walking victory dance, I began walking. Looks like I AM going to be sleeping in trees.

Like always, I happen to run into things I don't want to run into! Literally. I was sent onto my butt and Kiba looked at me quizzically from above.

"Don't say a word." I grumbled angrily as I stood. Turning around to leave, I was stopped by Kiba's hand enclosing my elbow.

"Wait.." He spoke hesitantly. I raised an eyebrow at him. "I'm sorry for what I said earlier..." I started laughing. He let go of me quickly as my laughs became more hysteric.

Eventually, I calmed down to see a somewhat confused Kiba. Smirking, I walked up to him REALLY close to the point where our noses were touching. While he flushed a cute shade of red, I whispered, "You're forgiven." I couldn't hold back my laughter then, so I stepped back and cackled madly. Kiba sighed and ran a hand through his hair - looking deliciously hot in the process - and cast his eyes on me.

"As an apology, wanna stay at my place? I've already cleared it with my mom." I froze when his words sunk in. A place to stay?! But it's with KIBA, and the fake me would refuse his offer.

But then again, I have a hard time lying in front of him, so I agreed sullenly. His eyes lit up slightly, but I didn't get why. He told me to follow and I (gleefully) proceeded to do so.

AN: hahaz, you likes? :) *gasp* does Kiba likes her?! ;) hahahaha!