Author's Note: Thank you so much for the support! It really does mean a lot to me. Your reviews make me so happy, particularly when I read them after being somehow screwed by my university, ha! By the way, I apologize for the lack of updates recently. The weeks fly by. Gomen.
Disclaimer
Naruto belongs to that should-be-declared-insane Kishimoto-sensei.
Pardon Me…
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
She had never seen anything so utterly beautiful in her life.
It probably wasn't okay for anything to be that wonderful, that perfect, but it was there, calling to her. And she wouldn't let it ever leave her sight if she could. It would remain there, shining with all its magnificence.
Damn anyone who would dare to get in her way!
Bits of bread and meat flew around her as she attacked the table greedily, shoveling any and all types of food into her mouth, unaware of the stunned Inuzuka Kiba who stared at her with wide eyes.
Her teeth made a chomping sound as she bit into a buttered roll.
Kiba made a mental note to never keep her from food again, as he was now completely dumbfounded as to what poor Hyuuga Hinata was capable of when severely hungry.
He was scared of her.
And he kept his hands to himself, made no attempt to stop her crazed devouring of his mother's cooking. Even though he knew his mother wouldn't be happy in the slightest—and he would probably have to prepare another dinner for the entire family later on…
He sighed, though, acknowledging it was his fault in the first place… he had just gotten overly excited at his most amazing and foolproof plan. He only wanted to help after all.
A blob of jam hit his cheek and began sliding down his skin.
She finally slowed down, though Kiba had taken to leaning against his kitchen wall and people-watching out of his window, and tapping his foot.
Somehow, he noticed the pretty pink tint on her cheeks and that smile that meant she had made herself—or her stomach—very happy. He shook his head.
"Heh, sorry 'bout that, Hinata. Are you better now?" he asked, pushing himself off the wall, with his foot, no less. His mother was going to kill him… but he had other things to take care of.
She nodded vigorously, wiping her small mouth daintily. He thought it was funny after the way she attacked his family's dinner, but he didn't comment on it.
"Much better, Kiba-kun, thank you."
He nodded walking over to her. "Good. Because I've got a new idea and I'm positive it'll work this time. Yeah, the whole mysterious thing didn't quite work—and I'm sorry! But this will. Every real man wants a funny girl." He crossed his arms over his chest and grinned at her.
She gulped down the last of the food. "Funny?"
He clapped her on the shoulder, wincing quickly at the table, empty of everything except crumbs. His grin returned without a hitch. "Yeah, funny! You have to be able to make him laugh, right?"
"I do?" Her small voice expressed her uneasiness at his suggestion. Again.
Kiba couldn't doubt he deserved uneasiness, though, after the result of his last 'brilliant idea.'
His arms wrapped around her, bringing her back closer into his chest. His heart pounded, but he ignored the strange feeling. "Sure you do! You have jokes, don't you? Or a funny story? Of course you do!"
"I do?"
"Yeah!" He released her to pace around the table, tapping his finger to his lips as he walked. He opened his mouth, but closed it again at the dismissal of that idea. "Don't you have any funny family stories? Any time Neji did something crazy, or… something?"
She stared at him when he stopped. The kitchen clock seemed to tick very loudly. "Kiba-kun, I'm sorry, but… Are you hearing yourself?"
Kiba looked at her, an eyebrow raised. "Eh? Oh! You're right, what am I thinking?" he replied, scratching the back of his head nervously and laughing.
Nervous? Nervous? he thought quickly.
"Kiba-kun?" She was fiddling with her fingers again.
"We could always go to someone to give you some jokes… like… like… Lee! Yeah, he's always got a good story, he always makes me laugh. Let's go see Lee!" he exclaimed, clapping his hands together once before placing them on his hips.
She nodded, her fingers still tangled together as she fidgeted in her discomfort. "Um, Kiba-kun… is it okay if we continue with your plan tomorrow? I'm very tired and it is getting very late…"
He had taken to pacing again, plotting in his mind and possibly scaring her with the potential ways of carrying out his plan. "What? Oh, yeah, that's fine! Do you want me to walk you home or anything? Pack you some food?"
Hinata shook her head forcefully. "No, it's only a few streets away, thank you." She began to make her way out of the room and towards the front door, with Kiba following quickly behind her.
He reached to the door first and opened it for her. A gust of cold wind bit at their faces once it was completely open.
She looked from outside to Kiba. "Thank you for today, Kiba-kun." Her hand gently touched the side of his arm. "For all your help."
He nodded, dumbly, in his own opinion. "Y—yeah, sure. Sorry about the… clothes thing."
Hinata laughed, her laugh soft and ringing in his ears and his mind. She thanked him again before leaving and closing the door behind her. He stood there for a long time, staring at the dark wood in front of him, before he could speak.
"What the hell."
Something was definitely wrong.
"Kiba!"
He winced at the sound of his sister's voice. "Crap."
- - -
Exactly an hour later, Kiba dragged his tired feet up the stairs to his room, after re-preparing the entire family meal that he had first given to Hinata. His bed had never been softer against his head before that very moment.
Kiba hadn't even bothered turning the light on.
He sighed loudly into his pillow, wrapping an arm around it and bringing it closer to him. His fingers latched onto the blanket and he pulled it over his body, enjoying the warmth that enveloped him.
He sighed again.
He was exhausted, it was true, but a nagging voice at the back of his head kept repeating to him, 'It was worth it, it was worth it to see her smile.' Ever since Hinata closed the door.
And although he could not help but agree with it, it continued to be a nagging feeling he had never previously encountered and could not understand.
He wanted to help her with Naruto.
That's what he was doing this for, trying to find a way for Naruto to see her. Not for himself, not even for Naruto, but for her.
It was true, it was true he wanted to help her. He wanted to see her happy, no matter what it took to get there, no mater what it was. If she wanted Naruto to see her, Kiba would make it happen. Somehow.
Because even in her moment of sheer happiness at the sight of food, she was beautiful.
What was wrong with him? Was something wrong with him?
He wanted to help her with Naruto, yet at the same time… he could not understand this feeling. Somewhere, a part of him longed for her to want to be with him instead.
Laughing quietly, he turned over in his bed.
Something was definitely wrong.
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