Chapter 15

Kiba

It was one of those nights Kiba was babysitting Mirai Sarutobi. The little girl was always happy to see Akakiba and Kibamaru and fought to stay awake in excitement, and had finally fallen sleep on his lap, only waking up once when she felt hungry. Kiba had already come prepared to spend the night at his sensei's house, but found that sleep evaded him. He had forgotten to pack the melatonin his mother had given him. Inuzukas in general produced less melatonin and with the recent peace in Konoha, it was no longer deemed a necessary trait to have to stay alert at night.

He had not needed it before; sex had proved to be an effective drug to induce sleep, but since he hadn't been active since a month now and had only recently gotten back from his mission, he had no choice but to take the medication to sleep at a decent time. He had borrowed some from his mother after finding his stock empty.

Which reminded him, he had to remind Hana when she went to the hospital tomorrow to get their prescription renewed. He didn't want to accompany her, even though he may have to. He did not want to run into Sakura anytime soon. It had hurt even to look at her. And the way she had scampered… He didn't want to think about it.

Kurenai-sensei returned close to midnight, not surprised to find him still awake and staring blankly at a mute television tuned to the baby channel he had been watching with Mirai. All her sensory type ninjas always tended to be alert.

"I'll warm up dinner for you, sensei," he informed her, placing Mirai in her cot.

"Did you and Akamaru have some yourself, Kiba-kun?" she asked as she placed her bag away, surprised to see the quantity remaining. Usually when they both were over, she expected the pot to be empty and rinsed and her serving to be on a plate in the fridge.

He nodded in response. He had been eating less and drinking more. It helped him to have a dreamless sleep. The result of which were his hollowed eyes and sunken cheekbones. Inuzukas needed to eat to keep up with their energy. Kurenai saw the empty wine bottle and shook her head.

"Since I'm awake, I'll just head home, sensei. I feel like a run anyway," he said.

She didn't want him to, but she was aware of his inner turmoil. He had shared it with her, as had Hinata.

"If you wish. Just be careful please."

He hoped to wear himself out and ultimately get exhausted enough to have some shuteye. After placing the dinner for his sensei, he left her house, bidding her a sayonara. He sniffed deeply as he went outside, and picked up a whiff of Neji Hyuga's scent, but it was disappearing. It was leading off into the training ground up ahead which was on the way to the Inuzuka compound. Just as well.

He began running with Akamaru close by, and came upon a clearing near the training ground. He sniffed again and didn't expect to smell Tenten. He followed the scent, wondering if she was still here.

He followed it and came upon her in the clearing. Tenten had her hair down and was throwing some kunai at a training tree in front of her, her mind obviously wandering, but with enough precision that the kunai kept knocking into each other.

He stopped, curious. Tenten heard them and smiled, gesturing him over.

"Hey. A bit late to be training, don't you think?" he asked, trying to stifle his panting as his heartbeat gradually got back to normal.

She sighed. "No, I'm not exactly training. My old team planned to meet here. We sometimes meet here in our old training area, but Lee didn't show. I was wondering what may have held him up, and you know me, always overthinking. But I don't want to seem so intrusive as to go wondering about looking for him. For all I know, he must've gotten caught up with some stupid challenge with Guy-sensei."

That was the thing about Tenten, she was always straight to the point, no bullshit, which made her a good friend to ask for opinions and advice. She expected the same from others. She had unfathomably earned the reputation as "the straight man" of the group; her secondhand embarrassment from various of Lee's and Guy's escapades were very obvious and she was always setting people straight.

"Why are you up and running about?" she asked. "Couldn't sleep?"

"I… well. Yeah. Sleep eludes me nowadays."

She pointed a kunai at his face and closed an eye to focus and was either studying his expressions or aiming a shot between his eyes.

"I do have an idea of your situation," she informed him. "Neji and I were actually just talking as well, that your soon-to-be-ex likes someone else. She was talking to him earlier today about it. You know, I think you should move on as well. I can actually introduce someone to you. We're talking about going into business together for a weapons and supply shop. You'll like her."

He shook his head. "Thanks Tenten. But I'm not currently looking for a new relationship. I just don't have it in me. I mean, I should back off, I know this, and I'm trying. But I don't mind Sakura seeing I am still hopelessly in love with her. She hasn't broken up with me yet, but she might as well have. And it hurts. So much."

"You've no idea how much time I've spent listening about chasing Sakura and winning her heart," she sighed. "So go on. I'm very much used to it, even though it has become hell annoying for me."

He looked down at his feet sheepishly. He knew Hinata had begun to get annoyed at his countless mentions as well even though she tried to be supportive. He understood, and speculated that the other guy Sakura had feelings for was Naruto, and Hinata had likewise suspected that Naruto had meant that he had feelings for Sakura as well when she had been rejected by him. However, what Hinata didn't believe was that the other person Sakura claimed to like was Naruto. She felt things had started to change when Sakura had heard of Sasuke's arrival.

Kiba had been keeping a close eye on Naruto, but so far, Naruto had yet to show any romantic inclinations towards Sakura. Their interactions were very usual, and Sakura did avoid going to their table to speak to either of them as there was still some tension between her and Uchiha. He suspected that Naruto wasn't making a move as not to offend Uchiha as well. It was all very confusing. He blabbed all of this to Tenten.

"You said she was talking to Neji earlier? Did she tell him or anyone of you whom she likes?"

She continued looking at him quietly for a few seconds, seemingly choosing her next words carefully.

"She felt like she was betraying you by being with you physically yet liking someone else, yes. But no, Neji didn't divulge that information as to whom it was to me. Maybe he knows, but I didn't care much about it, so long as it isn't Lee. But since Neji advised Sakura to listen to her heart, I feel like I should advise you also not to be so hung up on her."

"If he knows, Hinata can ask him for me," he murmured absently. "And I can show her how much happier I can make her instead. You're a girl. Can you tell me how?"

Tenten pursed her lips. Not the first time people somehow forgot she's a girl. She also didn't understand romantic gestures, and was always overwhelmed when Lee even so much as picked up a flower for her, even though that was so usual for him. She had seen him do that to woo Sakura as well, sometimes earning a punch in return. She had learned more from Neji about love languages, and she in turn had explained to him that women appreciated space. She figured she should pass on that knowledge to Kiba, she explained to him.

"Neji and I knew the ones we loved, were in love with someone else. So we did what we felt was right, we gave them space, but at the same time they should know you're there. What you need to understand, is her love language," she advised. "Let me explain my situation."

Now Lee was trying to understand what got her excited. He had, she admitted bashfully, discovered her love language was not receiving gifts or physical touches.

"I don't like anything to do with love or romance. It just repulses me. I need my space. But I crave companionship. I desire connection. As for Lee, he like every guy wants the whole package; mental, emotional, physical. I do love him, but I don't want him to feel I'm his guilty burden all the while denying him pleasure in the other areas. I can't give him two out of the three expressions, not always, and he doesn't understand boundaries, which is the reason why we couldn't work out before. We didn't understand each other. Here, I asked Neji for help. We, um…"

She paused, eyeing Kiba, obviously knowing that whatever she tells him would be conveyed to Hinata, and she knew Neji hadn't shared this information about their past with her yet, even though, before leaving tonight, he had said he would soon. Voicing it out with Sakura had made him realise that she should be privy of this, and Tenten had disagreed, not considering her mature enough to understand, nor did she deem fit to unnecessarily speak about the past. She hadn't told Lee either, and they both agreed they'd break the news together. Kiba shook his head, giving her the word that he won't tell Hinata either if Neji planned on finding a suitable time to tell her himself.

"We - Lee and I - are trying to work out a system so that we can both be happy," she continued. "That's where communication comes in. If it's something he likes or is craving at the moment, I try my best to provide it to him. Sometimes, I'm not up to it and he understands. He then in turn gives me my space for a while, and that takes everything out of him. You know how he is. Yet, it's all about respecting the love language."

"Wow," he whistled. "Your love languages are so… different from each other. Yet, you guys are trying hard to make it work. It must take a lot of effort."

"I don't understand why he loves to be of service to everyone, and that overwhelms me too. But that's something which comes to him so naturally, and I wouldn't wanna change him. Quality time is something I like, but apparently the dunderhead forgot we had to meet up. What really gets to me though is words of affirmation. I fail to understand how one person can naturally be good at all five of them."

Kiba smiled. "Tenten, it's because you're in love. You find no fault in him."

She scoffed, waving her kunai threateningly. "In my books, that is a fault."

He laughed genuinely. It felt good to laugh. Why didn't he talk to Tenten more? She always felt so reserved, but she was a fun person. And she seemed so wise.

"So, what do you think is Sakura's love language?" she asked.

He didn't need to think. "I'm sure… Physical touches. She's told me countless times that she always feels better when I hold her. She sometimes has come to me just to be held."

"Then you do what I do," she said simply. "She's had her fill of the drink. When she wants to take another sip from the fountain, she'll come to you herself. And remember, the thirsty approach the well, the well doesn't go to them. So yeah, chill, relax, enjoy a movie, hang out with friends. Go on about your life. I'm sure that's not what you hoped to hear, but there's nothing you can do at the moment. She has to come to the realisation herself. You have to keep her at arm's length and not give in even when she asks you before she's absolutely sure about it herself, and not as her guilty burden. Rest is up to you, it's your life, and your self-control."

"Thanks a lot Tenten. This, helped, honestly. Let me drop you back home," he offered.

She nodded, getting up. "Thanks. I like you bud. I hope it works out for you. And if it doesn't, or you change your mind, let me know, and I'll introduce you to my friend. You might like her in an opposites-attract kind of way."

"My mother will no doubt have some Alphas and Betas from other clans in consideration immediately for me if she even gets wind of the fact that I've started dating new people. I'd like to avoid that for now."

Tenten shrugged sympathetically, putting her hands in her pocket as they quietly made their way home.

Maybe, someday, he'll have his head knocked in straight and might consider taking her up on her offer. But, he felt, it wasn't going to be anytime soon.