Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Hinata's Choice ❯ Kiba's Confession ( Chapter 1 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: thatreevesgirl 
No general warnings, it is just setting up the situation between Hinata and Kiba. Enjoy!
Anime/Manga: Naruto Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Drama | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 11.23.2006 | Pages: 2 | Words: 3.3K | Visits: 686 | Status: Completed
No general warnings, it is just setting up the situation between Hinata and Kiba. Enjoy!
Anime/Manga: Naruto Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Drama | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 11.23.2006 | Pages: 2 | Words: 3.3K | Visits: 686 | Status: Completed
Disclaimer: I do not own the anime Naruto, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Title: Hinata's Choice
Author: thatreevesgirl
Summary: Hinata is engaged to be married to Sasuke. What happens when Kiba and Hinata realize that they have mutual feelings for each other? Will Hinata defy her father and call off the engagement? (continuation fic…Hinata=20)…Hinata/Kiba
Rating: T
Pairing(s): Hinata/Kiba
Feedback: Love it, especially if you find errors…I don't have a beta currently
Characters: Kiba, Hinata, Shino, Sasuke, and the rest of the Naruto gang
Beta: I don't have a beta :*(
+++++++++++++++
CHAPTER 1 BEGIN
+++++++++++++++
Kiba watched as Shino whispered something to Tsunade. A curt nod and then a glance at the dog-nin from the Hokage was followed by the two continuing their secret conversation at the Hokage's desk. Across the room Kiba and Hinata sat in two chairs, enjoying tea that had been brought in by Shizune. Hinata attempted to make polite conversation with the distracted Kiba as he tried his best to overhear exactly what Tsunade and his teammate were discussing.
“Did you get your application in, Kiba?” Hinata asked then taking another sip of tea. She was of course referring to the ANBU captain's position that was open, but didn't directly reference it knowing that Kiba would understand what she was talking about. “Kiba?”
“Huh?” Kiba broke his gaze away from the distraction, turning his head to the lovely ivory-eyed female that sat in the chair next to him. He hadn't been listening to her, and was grateful when Hinata only repeated her question instead of huffing about him being rude like Sakura or Ino would have. “I don't know. Shino applied also, do you even think that I would have a chance?”
“I do!” Hinata exclaimed. She was very proud of her teammates, both of them were strong and capable and able to handle the position. “I think you would do a very good job Kiba, because you've matured a lot since our younger years.”
Author: thatreevesgirl
Summary: Hinata is engaged to be married to Sasuke. What happens when Kiba and Hinata realize that they have mutual feelings for each other? Will Hinata defy her father and call off the engagement? (continuation fic…Hinata=20)…Hinata/Kiba
Rating: T
Pairing(s): Hinata/Kiba
Feedback: Love it, especially if you find errors…I don't have a beta currently
Characters: Kiba, Hinata, Shino, Sasuke, and the rest of the Naruto gang
Beta: I don't have a beta :*(
+++++++++++++++
CHAPTER 1 BEGIN
+++++++++++++++
Kiba watched as Shino whispered something to Tsunade. A curt nod and then a glance at the dog-nin from the Hokage was followed by the two continuing their secret conversation at the Hokage's desk. Across the room Kiba and Hinata sat in two chairs, enjoying tea that had been brought in by Shizune. Hinata attempted to make polite conversation with the distracted Kiba as he tried his best to overhear exactly what Tsunade and his teammate were discussing.
“Did you get your application in, Kiba?” Hinata asked then taking another sip of tea. She was of course referring to the ANBU captain's position that was open, but didn't directly reference it knowing that Kiba would understand what she was talking about. “Kiba?”
“Huh?” Kiba broke his gaze away from the distraction, turning his head to the lovely ivory-eyed female that sat in the chair next to him. He hadn't been listening to her, and was grateful when Hinata only repeated her question instead of huffing about him being rude like Sakura or Ino would have. “I don't know. Shino applied also, do you even think that I would have a chance?”
“I do!” Hinata exclaimed. She was very proud of her teammates, both of them were strong and capable and able to handle the position. “I think you would do a very good job Kiba, because you've matured a lot since our younger years.”
Hinata smiled warmly at him and Kiba returned it, stopping to muss with Hinata's hair playfully. This made her scowl a bit, mostly because it was a bad habit that he had actually picked up from her. Hinata always used it to reassure him when something was wrong, because Kiba seemed calmed when she would run her fingers soothingly through his hair. Unfortunately, lately Kiba had been mimicking her and returning the favor too often for Hinata tastes, and she realized that unlike the dog-nin she didn't really appreciate it. Long graceful fingers moved to smooth rogue strands of long raven hair that were now sticking up at all angles.
Kiba chuckled at the site…he actually knew that she didn't like it when he messed up her hair, but couldn't help himself. Watching Hinata try and recompose herself with a semi-surly expression gracing her face was priceless. Hinata, nearing twenty, had grown into a strikingly beautiful woman with supple curves and an attractive face which was framed by long, waist-length black hair. Kiba's attention was returned to the couple across the room when he heard laughter. “Great, now they are laughing at me.”
“Why do you say that Kiba? I'm sure that they wouldn't do such a thing,” Hinata told him comfortingly, but was proven wrong when Tsunade pointed a finger straight at Kiba and broke down in a fit of girlish like giggles on the top of her desk. The Hokage did not look very regal with her head hidden in her arms as her body shook from the laughter racking her body.
“See?” Kiba grumbled, “I told you they were laughing at me.” Kiba swirled his tea in the cup, watching as it danced at the rim and threatened to spill out if he had not been so blessed with a skill as inane as tea-swirling. Finally, setting the cup aside he let out a sigh and laid his hands on top of his knees. Kiba was getting fed up with their team's meeting with the Hokage fairly quickly. Hinata saw his frustration and placed a hand on top of Kiba's, which had been balling a fistful of pants material in an angry way until her soft reassurances calmed him like they always did.
“I'm sure that it is nothing, Kiba. Just ignore it. I know that Shino thinks highly of you.”
“Phft, yeah right,” the dog-nin scoffed. A minute of silence with Kiba's eyes pouting and focused on the floor was finally broken when he looked over at Hinata to ask her a question. “Do you wanna come with me to get a couple of drinks after this? I'm going to need at least a few beers to wash this day away.”
“I don't think that Sasuke would approve. I believe that he looks down on women that do such things,” Hinata replied very quietly while intently watching her fingers as they poked together nervously.
Kiba chuckled at the site…he actually knew that she didn't like it when he messed up her hair, but couldn't help himself. Watching Hinata try and recompose herself with a semi-surly expression gracing her face was priceless. Hinata, nearing twenty, had grown into a strikingly beautiful woman with supple curves and an attractive face which was framed by long, waist-length black hair. Kiba's attention was returned to the couple across the room when he heard laughter. “Great, now they are laughing at me.”
“Why do you say that Kiba? I'm sure that they wouldn't do such a thing,” Hinata told him comfortingly, but was proven wrong when Tsunade pointed a finger straight at Kiba and broke down in a fit of girlish like giggles on the top of her desk. The Hokage did not look very regal with her head hidden in her arms as her body shook from the laughter racking her body.
“See?” Kiba grumbled, “I told you they were laughing at me.” Kiba swirled his tea in the cup, watching as it danced at the rim and threatened to spill out if he had not been so blessed with a skill as inane as tea-swirling. Finally, setting the cup aside he let out a sigh and laid his hands on top of his knees. Kiba was getting fed up with their team's meeting with the Hokage fairly quickly. Hinata saw his frustration and placed a hand on top of Kiba's, which had been balling a fistful of pants material in an angry way until her soft reassurances calmed him like they always did.
“I'm sure that it is nothing, Kiba. Just ignore it. I know that Shino thinks highly of you.”
“Phft, yeah right,” the dog-nin scoffed. A minute of silence with Kiba's eyes pouting and focused on the floor was finally broken when he looked over at Hinata to ask her a question. “Do you wanna come with me to get a couple of drinks after this? I'm going to need at least a few beers to wash this day away.”
“I don't think that Sasuke would approve. I believe that he looks down on women that do such things,” Hinata replied very quietly while intently watching her fingers as they poked together nervously.
Hinata's self-consciousness had returned after her father had arranged a marriage to Uchiha Sasuke. It had taken many years for the Hyuuga heiress to break free of her childhood inhibitions, but was now returning to her overly meek ways as she prepared for a lifetime stuck with the duty of cementing clan ties and rebuilding the Uchiha clan by birthing one of Sasuke's brats one child at a time.
“Sasuke is always at the bar, so it would be hypocritical for him to say anything. It is wrong to hold different standards for your wife than you do for yourself,” Kiba huffed.
Before Hinata had announced their engagement Kiba hadn't found Sasuke quite as irritating as he did now. In fact, Kiba considered the sole Uchiha a close friend, even being part of the team that finally retrieved him from Sound, but Hinata deserved better than a life of duty to a man that the dog-nin was sure that she didn't love. It wasn't fair! Before Sasuke had returned to the village Kiba had actually been considering wooing the kunoichi, not that it would have gotten very far. Kiba was sure that Hinata's father would have stopped any unwanted advances toward his daughter by an unworthy suitor such as himself. His clan was not a meager one by any means, but the Hyuuga clan leader would surely find it undeserving of any sort of union proposed…dating or otherwise.
Kiba gazed at Hinata as she mulled it over to herself, patiently waiting her reply. “I suppose that if I am accompanied by a friend it would be okay, and it is to help cheer you up…yes, I will join you,” Hinata said with a slight grin.
“Good, I didn't want to drink alone. Lonely solitude and alcohol isn't something to mix,” Kiba mumbled.
Hinata stayed quiet for a moment and then nearly whispered her next question, “Are you…are you actually lonely, Kiba?” The question was a bit surprising to the man sitting next to the Hyuuga heiress, and he wasn't exactly sure how to answer it. Kiba was almost grateful that Shino walked over and interrupted the moment.
“Tsunade needs your report Kiba,” Shino instructed as he poured himself some tea. Kiba grumbled and allowed Shino to take his seat as the dog-nin went to give his detailed account of their latest mission to Suna. He definitely couldn't wait for those drinks and Hinata's company, because work was stressing him out. Kiba only hoped that the question that Hinata never received a response to wouldn't reappear later when he was a bit intoxicated and more inclined to answer truthfully.
+++++++++++++
Shino and Hinata talked quietly by the doorway of the Hokage office building. Kiba kicked a bit of dirt with his sandal as he waited by Akamaru about ten yards away. He had already said goodbye to his teammate and had begun to walk off, but Shino had grabbed Hinata by the arm and seemed to be lecturing her about something. The bug-man could be such a bossy bastard at times. Kiba let a low growl escape his throat as he watched Shino blather on.
Kiba gazed at Hinata as she mulled it over to herself, patiently waiting her reply. “I suppose that if I am accompanied by a friend it would be okay, and it is to help cheer you up…yes, I will join you,” Hinata said with a slight grin.
“Good, I didn't want to drink alone. Lonely solitude and alcohol isn't something to mix,” Kiba mumbled.
Hinata stayed quiet for a moment and then nearly whispered her next question, “Are you…are you actually lonely, Kiba?” The question was a bit surprising to the man sitting next to the Hyuuga heiress, and he wasn't exactly sure how to answer it. Kiba was almost grateful that Shino walked over and interrupted the moment.
“Tsunade needs your report Kiba,” Shino instructed as he poured himself some tea. Kiba grumbled and allowed Shino to take his seat as the dog-nin went to give his detailed account of their latest mission to Suna. He definitely couldn't wait for those drinks and Hinata's company, because work was stressing him out. Kiba only hoped that the question that Hinata never received a response to wouldn't reappear later when he was a bit intoxicated and more inclined to answer truthfully.
+++++++++++++
Shino and Hinata talked quietly by the doorway of the Hokage office building. Kiba kicked a bit of dirt with his sandal as he waited by Akamaru about ten yards away. He had already said goodbye to his teammate and had begun to walk off, but Shino had grabbed Hinata by the arm and seemed to be lecturing her about something. The bug-man could be such a bossy bastard at times. Kiba let a low growl escape his throat as he watched Shino blather on.
Hinata's only input into the conversation was a nod here and there, sometimes mixed with her head shaking furiously in disagreement. Every time that Kiba tried to move into the private conversation Shino would look up and glare at him until Kiba backed off. The dog-nin wished that he knew what was so important that it had to be kept from him. It was never wise to withhold information from your team. Doing this only allowed members to harbor suspicion about those that kept such agendas.
One more fatherly moment of lecture and Hinata smiled at Shino as he told her farewell. The bug-nin was caught off guard as the usually reserved Hinata hugged him goodbye. Kiba was sure if Shino hadn't been wearing those stupid sunglasses in the middle of the night that his eyes would have worn a look of utter shock. Shino waved at Kiba and then walked toward his home.
Shino would have probably accompanied them to the bar if he hadn't been injured during the mission by Gaara. After delivering important information the three had found themselves talked into giving a demonstration at Suna's ninja academy. It was much smaller than the one in Konoha, and had less of a range of instructors to show students various abilities. Temari, the headmistress of the school, asked Hinata about performing in an exhibition match. Hinata agreed and even suggested that her teammates help also. That is how Shino found himself fighting the Kazekage in a battle that escalated a bit too far. In the end both Gaara and Shino sported a few injuries, and an angry Temari was haranguing them both on the finer points of practice sparing in front of her students. Kiba knew that all his teammate needed was a good night's rest and he would be fine since Suna healers had already mended the Gaara-induced wounds.
Hinata ran up to Kiba and hooked her elbow in his with a happy grin on her face, “I'm ready now.” She began to pull him down the street and the dog-nin smirked at her forwardness. Akamaru barked and trotted on the other side of her as they traveled to their favorite watering hole. “Hello Akamaru, I hope that our long meeting didn't bore you too much.”
Akamaru barked again in response and Kiba translated for his furry friend, “He says that he didn't mind at all, Shizune let him sleep on the couch in her office.”
“Oh, well that was nice of her. Did you have a good nap?” Hinata asked. Akamaru gave a nod and panted lightly with his tongue hanging out of his mouth as he kept up with his human partners. Hinata knew exactly what the dog meant, “Yes, it is hot out tonight isn't it? I'll be glad when autumn returns, but at least we aren't in Suna anymore. I thought I was going to die in that heat.”
Kiba laughed at her, “Maybe if you didn't wear so many layers. It wouldn't kill you if you actually let yourself wear something a bit more breathable.” Akamaru barked in agreement, knowing that Kiba would also like to see Hinata in less clothing period. The young woman hadn't really changed that aspect of herself since she was a girl. The Hyuuga heiress was always covering as much of herself as she could, probably because it would be wrong for a respectable woman to do any less. Her reserved nature sometimes frustrated Kiba, he wished that she would throw on something sexy and revealing…or perhaps just fought in something that showed a bit more skin.
Hinata had recently been accepted into the ANBU, and he loved being assigned missions with her. The uniforms there were mandatory and left much less to the imagination than her normal wardrobe. Hinata was lovely when she was disarming an enemy, the mask hiding her face and her hair pulled back into a long raven ponytail that mirrored her movements as she gracefully neutralized whatever deadly threat they were fighting. The tight black uniform revealed curves that Kiba did not even realize Hinata had, showing that she had truly grown into a woman instead of being the gawky girl of her youth. Akamaru growled at Kiba, breaking him out of his little fantasy world. Kiba returned the warning with a low growl of his own.
“What did he say, Kiba?” Hinata asked, looking up at him with curiosity.
“Nothing, just warning me to watch where I was walking.” That actually wasn't a lie. Akamaru had said something of the sort, but also added that Kiba should get his mind out of the gutter since it was distracting him. Kiba had responded by telling his canine counterpart to drop it. Akamaru whined a bit and then ran off.
“I think you hurt his feelings,” Hinata whispered as her gaze followed the dog's trail as he ran and turned at a nearby street.
“I didn't. Something a bit more appealing got his attention,” Kiba replied while chuckling.
“What was more interesting?” Hinata asked.
“He caught the scent of some bitch in heat. Even my little furry companion needs some alone time when we aren't on missions.” Kiba snickered as Hinata turned very red. Sex, even when it concerned mating dogs, made her very embarrassed, it always had. He almost felt sorry for her and Sasuke on their upcoming wedding night. He was sure that Hinata would faint dead away at the sight of an aroused husband. “Is sex really that difficult for you to process? I mean, it was just Akamaru…how are you going to handle Sasuke?”
The forward question earned Kiba a stinging slap to his arm, and an embarrassed Hinata furrowing her pretty face into a scowl by his side. “That is none of your concern Kiba.”
“I'm just saying…you will have to deal with it sooner or later. You can't stay a virgin forever, especially when you get married. You do know how babies are made, right? I can't see you reviving the Uchiha clan while retaining such a pure attitude.” That stopped Hinata right in her tracks and her jaw was hinged open in complete shock. Kiba was sure that he was going to get another pummeling for his suggestion, but instead was met with her astonishment being melted away by large tears falling down her cheeks. “I'm sorry Hinata, I didn't mean that. Please don't cry.”
“I don't…don't want to…” she managed to force out between sobs. Before she could finish the words that threatened to be a dangerous admittance of her true feelings Kiba pulled her into a comforting hug and let her cry against him.
Though she never finished, Kiba knew exactly what she had been meaning to say. “If you don't want to marry Sasuke then you need to let him and your father know. Your wedding is less than two months away…it isn't fair to live such a lie. Not to Sasuke, and definitely not to you,” Kiba whispered to the top of her head. She didn't respond, instead Hinata's body convulsed as she sobbed against Kiba's chest. This broke the dog-nin's heart, because it was very difficult to watch someone that he cared about so much be in this kind of pain. You can heal physical pain, but when it came to things like this it was more difficult to fix. Kiba was glad that it was fairly late and they were on a side street, his friend didn't need any witnesses to her breakdown. As fast as gossip traveled in Konoha Kiba was sure that she wouldn't have to tell Sasuke that she was having second thoughts, it would get to him on its own if there had been spectators.
After several minutes Hinata was finally able to calm down enough to stop her tears. She realized that she was still in an embrace with Kiba, his hands around her waist and his head resting on top of hers while he whispered reassuring things. The dog-nin was slowly rocking from side to side in a comforting way that one would do with an infant. It worked…she felt much better. She had held in the truth for so long, choosing to play the part of a good daughter and willingly allow her life to be planned without her input. It wasn't that she was completely unsure of Sasuke, he was a kind and handsome man…but she wanted to have the chance to fall in love before marrying him (instead of after like so many people had assured her would happen). She wanted to be marrying someone because she couldn't live without them, not because she was some bargaining chip that was used to join the two most prestigious clans in Konoha.
Hinata's father had made her give up on Naruto years ago, not approving at all of her crush on the parentless young man who housed a demon within him. It was only when the truth was revealed to the entire town about Naruto having the nine-tailed fox within him and that his father was actually the fourth Hokage that her own father withdrew his former stance on the boy. But it was too late…Hinata had already allowed her childhood feelings to wither away. She promised herself then that she would never allow her controlling father to destroy any feelings of love she had ever again. She accomplished this mostly by keeping the identity of the man that she now cared for a secret, not revealing it in any way like she had with her crush on Naruto. That was the real reason why marrying Sasuke was something that she was having extreme difficulty with…she loved someone else. What compounded the complexity of the situation is that he was a wonderfully kind person who she considered her closest friend in the entire world…and he was holding and comforting her right now. She never wanted the moment to end.
One more fatherly moment of lecture and Hinata smiled at Shino as he told her farewell. The bug-nin was caught off guard as the usually reserved Hinata hugged him goodbye. Kiba was sure if Shino hadn't been wearing those stupid sunglasses in the middle of the night that his eyes would have worn a look of utter shock. Shino waved at Kiba and then walked toward his home.
Shino would have probably accompanied them to the bar if he hadn't been injured during the mission by Gaara. After delivering important information the three had found themselves talked into giving a demonstration at Suna's ninja academy. It was much smaller than the one in Konoha, and had less of a range of instructors to show students various abilities. Temari, the headmistress of the school, asked Hinata about performing in an exhibition match. Hinata agreed and even suggested that her teammates help also. That is how Shino found himself fighting the Kazekage in a battle that escalated a bit too far. In the end both Gaara and Shino sported a few injuries, and an angry Temari was haranguing them both on the finer points of practice sparing in front of her students. Kiba knew that all his teammate needed was a good night's rest and he would be fine since Suna healers had already mended the Gaara-induced wounds.
Hinata ran up to Kiba and hooked her elbow in his with a happy grin on her face, “I'm ready now.” She began to pull him down the street and the dog-nin smirked at her forwardness. Akamaru barked and trotted on the other side of her as they traveled to their favorite watering hole. “Hello Akamaru, I hope that our long meeting didn't bore you too much.”
Akamaru barked again in response and Kiba translated for his furry friend, “He says that he didn't mind at all, Shizune let him sleep on the couch in her office.”
“Oh, well that was nice of her. Did you have a good nap?” Hinata asked. Akamaru gave a nod and panted lightly with his tongue hanging out of his mouth as he kept up with his human partners. Hinata knew exactly what the dog meant, “Yes, it is hot out tonight isn't it? I'll be glad when autumn returns, but at least we aren't in Suna anymore. I thought I was going to die in that heat.”
Kiba laughed at her, “Maybe if you didn't wear so many layers. It wouldn't kill you if you actually let yourself wear something a bit more breathable.” Akamaru barked in agreement, knowing that Kiba would also like to see Hinata in less clothing period. The young woman hadn't really changed that aspect of herself since she was a girl. The Hyuuga heiress was always covering as much of herself as she could, probably because it would be wrong for a respectable woman to do any less. Her reserved nature sometimes frustrated Kiba, he wished that she would throw on something sexy and revealing…or perhaps just fought in something that showed a bit more skin.
Hinata had recently been accepted into the ANBU, and he loved being assigned missions with her. The uniforms there were mandatory and left much less to the imagination than her normal wardrobe. Hinata was lovely when she was disarming an enemy, the mask hiding her face and her hair pulled back into a long raven ponytail that mirrored her movements as she gracefully neutralized whatever deadly threat they were fighting. The tight black uniform revealed curves that Kiba did not even realize Hinata had, showing that she had truly grown into a woman instead of being the gawky girl of her youth. Akamaru growled at Kiba, breaking him out of his little fantasy world. Kiba returned the warning with a low growl of his own.
“What did he say, Kiba?” Hinata asked, looking up at him with curiosity.
“Nothing, just warning me to watch where I was walking.” That actually wasn't a lie. Akamaru had said something of the sort, but also added that Kiba should get his mind out of the gutter since it was distracting him. Kiba had responded by telling his canine counterpart to drop it. Akamaru whined a bit and then ran off.
“I think you hurt his feelings,” Hinata whispered as her gaze followed the dog's trail as he ran and turned at a nearby street.
“I didn't. Something a bit more appealing got his attention,” Kiba replied while chuckling.
“What was more interesting?” Hinata asked.
“He caught the scent of some bitch in heat. Even my little furry companion needs some alone time when we aren't on missions.” Kiba snickered as Hinata turned very red. Sex, even when it concerned mating dogs, made her very embarrassed, it always had. He almost felt sorry for her and Sasuke on their upcoming wedding night. He was sure that Hinata would faint dead away at the sight of an aroused husband. “Is sex really that difficult for you to process? I mean, it was just Akamaru…how are you going to handle Sasuke?”
The forward question earned Kiba a stinging slap to his arm, and an embarrassed Hinata furrowing her pretty face into a scowl by his side. “That is none of your concern Kiba.”
“I'm just saying…you will have to deal with it sooner or later. You can't stay a virgin forever, especially when you get married. You do know how babies are made, right? I can't see you reviving the Uchiha clan while retaining such a pure attitude.” That stopped Hinata right in her tracks and her jaw was hinged open in complete shock. Kiba was sure that he was going to get another pummeling for his suggestion, but instead was met with her astonishment being melted away by large tears falling down her cheeks. “I'm sorry Hinata, I didn't mean that. Please don't cry.”
“I don't…don't want to…” she managed to force out between sobs. Before she could finish the words that threatened to be a dangerous admittance of her true feelings Kiba pulled her into a comforting hug and let her cry against him.
Though she never finished, Kiba knew exactly what she had been meaning to say. “If you don't want to marry Sasuke then you need to let him and your father know. Your wedding is less than two months away…it isn't fair to live such a lie. Not to Sasuke, and definitely not to you,” Kiba whispered to the top of her head. She didn't respond, instead Hinata's body convulsed as she sobbed against Kiba's chest. This broke the dog-nin's heart, because it was very difficult to watch someone that he cared about so much be in this kind of pain. You can heal physical pain, but when it came to things like this it was more difficult to fix. Kiba was glad that it was fairly late and they were on a side street, his friend didn't need any witnesses to her breakdown. As fast as gossip traveled in Konoha Kiba was sure that she wouldn't have to tell Sasuke that she was having second thoughts, it would get to him on its own if there had been spectators.
After several minutes Hinata was finally able to calm down enough to stop her tears. She realized that she was still in an embrace with Kiba, his hands around her waist and his head resting on top of hers while he whispered reassuring things. The dog-nin was slowly rocking from side to side in a comforting way that one would do with an infant. It worked…she felt much better. She had held in the truth for so long, choosing to play the part of a good daughter and willingly allow her life to be planned without her input. It wasn't that she was completely unsure of Sasuke, he was a kind and handsome man…but she wanted to have the chance to fall in love before marrying him (instead of after like so many people had assured her would happen). She wanted to be marrying someone because she couldn't live without them, not because she was some bargaining chip that was used to join the two most prestigious clans in Konoha.
Hinata's father had made her give up on Naruto years ago, not approving at all of her crush on the parentless young man who housed a demon within him. It was only when the truth was revealed to the entire town about Naruto having the nine-tailed fox within him and that his father was actually the fourth Hokage that her own father withdrew his former stance on the boy. But it was too late…Hinata had already allowed her childhood feelings to wither away. She promised herself then that she would never allow her controlling father to destroy any feelings of love she had ever again. She accomplished this mostly by keeping the identity of the man that she now cared for a secret, not revealing it in any way like she had with her crush on Naruto. That was the real reason why marrying Sasuke was something that she was having extreme difficulty with…she loved someone else. What compounded the complexity of the situation is that he was a wonderfully kind person who she considered her closest friend in the entire world…and he was holding and comforting her right now. She never wanted the moment to end.
Never.
+++++++++++++++
END OF CHAPTER
+++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++