Chapter 23: Sometimes

Warning: some Kiba OOC-ness...

When I next awoke, I found myself wrapped almost head to toe with bandages. I sat up (painfully, I must add), and looked around at the (damn) hospital. Kiba was snoring alongside Akamaru across the room. I blushed.

They didn't put me by myself?! Come on, what changed? I was always put by myself! Not to mention, they put me in the same room as Kiba! Why would they -

Wait. Why is Kiba hurt?

I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and tip-toed to his side. Akamaru was curled up beside Kiba's head. I couldn't help but blush at the sight of that cuteness! I slowly and quietly peeled back the white sheet to examine his injuries. When I looked at him, I noticed he was shirtless and wrapped in bandages here and there. My hands found themselves making the somewhat familiar healing signs and I ran my hands over the bandages. He wasn't injured too badly. I giggled as he snored. I erased any evidence of my peeking and tiptoed back to my bed. I felt something wet along my stomach and found red soaking through the bandages. I sighed and opened the door and called out, "Nurse! Or someone who can re-bandage me!"

Kiba sat up, startled. Akamaru whined as he was obnoxiously awoken to Kiba's flailing while I leaned on the doorway, amused.

"Good morning, Sleeping Beauty," I teased. He looked at me with the saddest face I had ever seen on him. "What? I know I reopened my wound, Mutt, but I'm up and alive, aren't I?" I asked.

In reply, he only stood up and wrapped his arms tightly around me and placed his head on my shoulder. His fingers dug tightly into the thin shirt I wore over my bandages.

"I was scared," he whispered. "There was so much blood around you, and when you passed out, I-" he breathed in sharply and I could feel tears soaking through my shirt. "I'm so happy you're okay."

My face flamed red in an instant and I felt dizzy. Kiba! Kiba, Kiba, Kiba!

"Kiba, I'm fine. I'm kind of bleeding right now, though, so..." He quickly released me and noticed my dripping wounds. He gasped and forced me to sit down. Kiba flew out of the room screaming for a medic. He quickly returned with some man who looked utterly confused. I waved at him and said medic gasped. He whisked me off to re-bandage me. Some medical ninjutsu was used to close the wound again. The medic scolded me for being up and about, and I was taken back to the room and dropped in the bed. As soon as the medic was gone, Kiba was at my side, with his hand on my forehead.

"I don't have a fever, Kiba. I only nearly bled to death. I'm fine!" I exclaimed. He blushed and drew up a chair by my bed as I sat up on the white sheets. He took my hand and my face flamed up different shades of red. I attempted to take my hand away, but he only held tighter. I looked at him and saw I had just created eye contact. I couldn't bring myself to turn away.

"Saya. Don't ever do that again," he choked out. "I was so scared..." I patted him on the head, feeling very nervous and awkward.

"S'ok Mutt. I'm alive. It's all that matters." He nodded once, breaking eye contact to my relief.

"You passed. You get to go onto the third exam." He looked rather glum as he said this. I blinked in confusion.

"You didn't win?" I asked. He sighed and shook his head. Kiba leaned back in his chair and locked eyes with me again. I felt as if I could barely breathe.

"I underestimated that Naruto brat. He won using dirty tricks," he grimaced. I burst into laughter.

"Hehe, Naruto is on my dad's team. S'what ya get for underestimating him! Hehe.." He looked away awkwardly as I laughed at him. Eventually I did stop laughing and we ended up just staring at each other.

"So, when's the third exam?" I tried to break the ice.

"Don't know. I was knocked out." I grinned and patted his head softly.

"Nice to know. Thanks for your help!" He rolled his eyes at me.

For three days I was stuck in that room. What made it better was that Kiba was with me all the while. When I was finally released, Kiba and I decided to run off to Ichiraku to celebrate leaving behind the hospital food. To be honest, hospital food is pretty good, but after three days I was craving something unhealthy.

We ordered our ramen and quickly ate it before running back outside.

"Kiba, you never did tell me what happened on New Years." I murmured. He blushed darkly before pulling me into an alley.

"Do you really want to know?" He asked, his face close to mine. I nodded, not trusting my voice. He pushed me against the wall and asked again if I really did want to know.

"Yes, I want to know. Tell me, mutt!" I demanded softly. He sighed and relayed the events that happened.

((Not bothering to actually type it out. You guys know what happened. Remember? Chapter 18))

"Wait, why don't I remember anything?" I questioned. He smiled sheepishly.

"You passed out because I drugged you with that kiss." He said proudly. I sighed.

"I'm surprised you didn't molest me, you horny dog." I joked. He frowned.

"I'm not -" he sighed. "You're mine now, you know." My face flamed red. What?! "I mean, I'm not letting you like other guys. You're mine."

"You think you can restrict my freedom?" I asked.

He grinned. "You kissed back." I looked away awkwardly. Well, it seems like something I would do..

"I'm not restricting your freedom. I'm telling you, you're now my girlfriend. You can't say anything about this, because you kissed back. As a result, you're mine." I sighed at his logic. I was about to speak before I found his lips on mine.

Alrighty, fine. Nice. Awesome. I don't know.

He released me and grinned.

"Alright, fine mutt. I'll be your girlfriend." Wait. Wait.. What am I saying? What about my mask? My mind panicked as my heart stayed true on its destructive course. "I've actually liked you since way before we became Genin." No. No. Please just let this be a dream.

"I began noticing you only after you blocked that killing blow for me," he muttered, embarrassed. An awkward silence ensued.

"Do you... Um... Want to do something tomorrow? I mean, like, um..." He stuttered nervously. I grinned.

"Sure."

We parted ways a little after, a little embarrassed and dazed. I ran into Iruka on the way home, and he told me I was to fight Chrome Dokuro, Rokudo Mukuro's teammate in a month.

As I was skipping home, golden eyes met mine. Darkness flew across my vision as I heard the hiss of a snake.

AN: I... I don't know. I'm sorry. I ... Ugh. I know where this is going but I have extreme lack of motivation. I see you people putting me on favorites and follow but I really don't know if you like my story or not. I really am not proud of this chapter. I'm really not. Book one (there will be three) is ending soon. I'll... I don't know..

I feel like this is turning into a Sue fic. I really don't know anymore. It's THAT phase of writing where you realize - this is complete crap.

Well... I thought that from the beginning. I lack confidence in myself. But I will finish book one no matter what. Unless I die. Which ... Well I can't say I doubt that because right now the ceiling could fall in. Or I could pass out and unconsciously smother myself with a pillow. Whatever. You get it.