The Promise Of A Father

Chapter I: Where the darkest of clouds gather…

Disclaimer: This is merely a fictional attempt at 'self-created' scenarios and melodramatics. All of the mentioned characters, locations and elements (minus the storyline) belong to Masashi Kishimoto-sensei and their respective owners and relative associates.

AN: Howdy there all you good people! How's life been treating ya? ;D

Anyway, this is (as mentioned in the summary) NOT the promised sequel to my previous fic… rather it is a completely 'different' universe and should be treated as a separate piece of fiction… alright?

You ready? Here we go!

It... rained that day.

… and how, as if it had never experienced the sickening pleasure of being able to do so for eons previously or such.

Well, atleast that is what a certain individual's thoughts emphasized; presence remaining fixated upon their chosen perch… being the only one seated whilst the remainder of the gathered company of Konoha ninja kept themselves firmly on their own feet, a short distance away, heads lowered with an odd sob escaping one of them every now and then.

One amongst them however, noticed the former's silent presence behind the present crowd of mourners and felt his own tears resurface at the heart rendering and utterly broken sight of a once cheerful and loud-mouthed man…

… who was only one of the two who had bourn the biggest and most irreplaceable loss in their short lives on that accursed day.

Why? he asked to no one in particular. Why do only good people have to suffer... like this?

The blonde hokage directed his attention back to the mass of 'freshly refilled' soil in front of him; eyes failing to hold back the seeping liquid of raw emotion.

Why was it you who had to leave the rest of us?

A gentle tug upon his left pant leg made him clench his fingers tightly around his umbrella's handle, eyelids shutting themselves closed at the sensation of tiny fingers on the lower half of said garb.

Us… and your beloved son behind?

With the persistent and confused child unceasing in his minuscule attempts at trying to grab his attention, Naruto adopted a brave curtain over his sorrowful features, bending down to the toddlers level…

… whilst subconsciously making sure that the dark umbrella kept the both of them protected from the relentless raindrops, that were raining down upon them and all of the other members of the morose crowd... a sure sign of the plight that had befallen all of them, courtesy of the crying heavens above.

"N-Naruto-san… why did you all put mama into the ground like that? Won't she get scared in there?"

Large, pupil less eyes looked up at him with unmistakable concern, as if expecting to find their answers hidden somewhere within them. Why are all of them crying so much? What's going on?

"..."

Feeling his cerulean orbs moisten considerably at his innocent words, the speechless leader of Konoha patted his head gently... gesturing for him to head on over to where his 'grieving' father was situated…

… all alone and completely shut off from the outside world, letting his tortured soul drown within the dark, seemingly never-ending pools of his own grief; chosen seat being a simple, slab of cold stone.

Only you can tell him Kiba.

His eyes rested upon the jounin's gloomy figure as he guided the little child through the small amount of mud and wet grass that stood in their path. He needs you more than anyone else right now...

They finally stopped in their approach once there in front of the quiet man, his tear-streaked face remaining painfully steady the entire while... only trying to let the most silent of sobs escape his control... and I know that you do too.

"D-Daddy?"

"..."

The unsure voice of his son made him immediately raise his lowered head to meet his gaze. A gaze that reminded him of…

... the eyes of the one he had lost…

... forever.

Those beautifully milky eyes that made him feel as if an endless quantity of love and affection was just about to envelope him in its warm embrace whenever he would 'peek' into their depths.

"T-Takeo…"

The brown-haired man's own voice was quite hoarse as he spoke out his next words… and with reddened eyes to boot. He easily summarized that he looked like complete shit right then.

"What... what is it?"

Giving the 3-year old boy a soft push in the direction of the 'heartbroken' man who was his father from behind, Naruto nodded silently at the latter one final time before heading back over to his previous station by his own sobbing wife; sad smile present on his face as he did so.

I just know that they will come through this together.

An unshakable hope in the abilities of the Inuzuka male, as a pillar of love for the innocent young child, shone through his thoughts… and he only had 'one special person' to thank for all of that.

You'll… be there to help your two boys…

His blue eyes noticed the bright rays of the sun that had pierced through the thick cover of the overbearing clouds right then... won't you, Hinata?

"..."

Reaching for the hand of the precious gift that his angel had left behind for him to treasure, Kiba held the child in his gentle embrace; arms nearly afraid of also losing the one in his present hold.

No, I… I won't let her last wish go to waste… never.

Pulling back from his shaking father, little Takeo saw fresh tears forming, and then subsequently falling, from his dark chocolate orbs. Daddy… don't cry.

Wiping away at his left cheek with his tiny palm, keeping his affectionate touch on that part of the Inuzuka male's face, he whispered out, "Why are you crying so much daddy? Where's mama? W-Where did... she go?"

Unable to answer his questions, atleast not in their current location... lest the child suffered from a miniature breakdown, akin to the one he had suffered not too long back, Kiba picked him up into his strong arms without another word and…

… turning towards the final resting place of his beloved wife, the glowing source of light that had once existed and burned brightly, for him and their little bundle of joy, held back a heavy sob before making his way out of the premises as quickly as he possibly could; not trusting his present 'condition' to aid him in any way possible.

I… I can't tell him that here. Kami, why did you do this… he is still just a child!

Kiba Inuzuka was angry, hurt, furious and utterly broken from the inside; absolutely and truly devoid of all hope. All in that one singular moment too… as he blamed his heartless God outright for the grave injustice done…

… against not only him and his recently deceased soul mate… but their innocent child as well.

I hope you're happy... with what you've done, he mused to himself, mind bitter and heart shattered as he frowned darkly, cheeks drenched in rivers of his own 'incalculable' grief.

It was only the unwavering faith and sheer love that his late wife had in him that made him still capable of placing one foot ahead of the other…

... as he successfully made his way over to their…

Home, he remembered, the image of his angel's smiling face reappearing in his psyche yet again… 'taunting' him with a teasing gait about it as he shut his eyes for a brief moment, a small shudder escaping his silent lips.

Holding his little boy in one hand as he unlocked the front door to the cozy house with the other, the dog-nin recalled another thing that Hinata had once disclosed to him in one of their many moments of mutual passion and peace. One that nearly rivaled that state of being known as… sanctity.

And to think that she had so many dreams for us all… his eyes moved upwards to glance briefly at the top of the door frame; mind recalling the first time that he had brought her with him there.

… starting with this place.

Putting his quiet son down on their drawing room sofa tenderly, the brunette brushed away the drops of water that had, up until now, managed to hold onto the spikes of the boy's dark brown hair with almost stubborn resilience, away from his pallid eyes.

The proud and loving father that he was and had always been for his beautiful little pup, Kiba simply couldn't help but smile softly as he met the pair of light lavender eyes… a resulting effect of the 'wondrous' traits that the boy had inherited from his beautiful Hyuuga mother.

She loved you so much Takeo, he inwardly sighed... yet refused to let it show. Atleast, not right then.

Instead... he felt a pair of small hands reach out and cup his tattooed cheeks, gently lifting his face towards their owner with whatever little strength that they possessed.

"Daddy, where's mama? Please tell me… I'm getting scared."

The man held back an impending sniff of emotion while nearly seizing his small son into another loving hug, letting his feelings transfer over to the heart of the 'precious' memento that had been left behind by his loving wife for him to remember her by.

Hinata… why did you leave us. Why did you leave me… like this? He knew, for a fact, that no one would be able to answer that question for him.

"Mama is… she's never coming back son."

"...!" The boy's eyes widened immediately in fear. "W-What?! Why daddy? W-Was it something that I did?"

Kiba could tell, without looking his way, that the kind-hearted child had begun to shed crystal-clear tears, the mere thought of his kind mother, leaving him because of a mistake that he may have unknowingly committed, hurting him…

… deep inside of his tiny little heart.

"No son… she wasn't mad at you," the man reassured him, brushing his spiky locks back with pure affection rolling off of him in waves.

"She loved you… even more than daddy. Didn't she ever tell you that?" She... also loved you even more than herself.

A welcome period of silence surrounded them both, the father and son, right then, for a few moments as the latter wiped away his tears properly with his stumpy little fingers.

Nodding at his father's thoughtful words yet still having an alien fear present within his heart, the truthful child thought it best to disclose his feelings to his parent at that point.

"But then… why does it hurt me here…"

He lifted his chubby finger and hesitantly placed it over his chest, right next to where his softly beating heart resided… as his loving Inuzuka father listened to him with all the patience and understanding in the world.

"… so much daddy?"

"..."

Kiba hung his head low for a second before coming up with a satisfactory response to his offspring's query… hoping that whatever he may utter, would hold true in the eyes of the latter. (Sigh) Takeo… how am I gonna tell you?

Softening his gaze lest he started sobbing outright in front of the confused toddler, the dog-nin held his composure in check before replying to the query of the former in a soft, kind voice... "That's... because…"

Unfortunately enough, he simply ran out of words to say… not knowing exactly how to break the sad news to the innocent child. His and his late wife's 'innocent' little child.

"... because mama has…"

He hesitated but ploughed on with a restored sense of his old determination egging him on, "… left us, Takeo."

A look of confusion and mild fear was clearly visible in the eyes of the little boy as his father pressed on with a heavy heart.

Even if he's gonna hate me for saying this… he sighed to himself, the kind face of his angel popping up in his mind once again... it… must be done.

He clenched his jaw, feeling his courage begin to falter, Please forgive your useless father this one time… Takeo.

"She's… gone somewhere far away… far, far away from where she can see us and be happy at the same time."

On any other day, his sweet-natured wife would have laughed along with him at his 'absurd' description of the great beyond... but, sadly enough, that didn't seem to be a possibility for the unfortunate man this time around.

"..."

Tilting his head to one side whilst trying to imagine such a place, if it really existed, the small boy suddenly grew curious, "Oh… but... then why didn't she tell us about it before going daddy?"

Smiling before stroking his child's right cheek, tracing his thumb softly over one of the two tattoos that were exactly identical, albeit smaller in size, to the ones present on his own face, Kiba continued on in a more gentle tone, "Well son, mama just didn't have… the time or the heart to tell that to you by herself. She simply didn't want to hurt you."

A small nod was all that the boy managed to provide him with; mouth opening once again to speak.

"B-But didn't mama know that we would be happy for her... if she went to someplace that nice?"

Little Takeo was entirely convinced by his father's false reasons by that point and yet… he just could not fight off the ever-growing feeling of confusion and mysterious sorrow within his heart.

Placing both of his hands on the small shoulders of the chibi, Kiba spoke in a more serious yet still gentle tone of voice, "Listen to me Takeo."

His obedient son was 'all ears' then.

"Mama has gone away from us but…" He felt far too ashamed to even meet his own child's gaze right then, innately knowing that he was the only one capable of telling this to him throughout.

"… she is… never coming back… ever."

The finality in his voice instantly moved the little boy to tears, his father's statement making him sob loudly.

"B-But... why daddy?! I want mama back! Take me to her… I'll talk to her and ask her to come with us and-!"

He was abruptly halted in his verbal tantrum by a consoling hand upon his small head, courtesy of an already burdened jounin...

... the same man who he referred to as his loving father.

"D-Daddy? Why are you crying again?"

"..."

Forgive me for this Takeo… but… your mother, even for someone as kind and wonderful as her, would never forgive me if I simply decided to keep you in the dark for the rest of your life.

Sobs and loud wails escaped Takeo's tiny lungs... upon hearing the dreaded words that no 3-year old should ever have the misfortune to hear.

It's better this way… for the both of us.

"Mama is never coming back Takeo… she…" Kiba visibly struggled with his final words as, this would also mean that he had himself come to terms with his wife's demise as well.

The love of his life who had given him 'so much' joy and happiness... first as a caring friend, then as an affectionate lover and eventually as a perfect life partner. Who had been at his side ever since they had first been assigned as squad members in the same team... all those years ago.

It was simply too much for him to take all at once and yet… he prevailed because of her loving smile appearing within his psyche once again.

"... she's dead… gone."

"?!"

And that was it, the bomb had been dropped and it's devastating effects were mere moments away from taking hold over not one… but two living beings in that, once lively, yet currently… gloomy room.

"N-No…"

The tone of the shocked boy's voice was raised, as if doing so would stamp his words down as being the truth and nothing else…

... effectively making the ones, that had been uttered regretfully by his father, to be proven as blatantly false in their entirety.

"No! You're lying! M-Mama would never leave me like that… sh-she wouldn't… n-never…"

Desperately trying his level best to calm his hysterical son down, Kiba moved forward to give him a consoling embrace…

... only to be pushed away by the devastated child; the latter hopping off of the sofa seat and running all the way up to his room, plunging the entire house into a deathly silence after having slammed his bedroom door behind his vanishing form…

… hard.

"..."

Still in the same pathetic position that his young son had left him in, the dog-nin remained in a kneeling posture in front of the previously occupied sofa seat... one hand placed over it as he thought back to how things had escalated, or rather, deteriorated so badly…

... causing a seemingly permanent darkness to envelope both him and his naïve child as they did so.

If only we had known all of that sooner… Hinata… you would've been...

He felt another hot tear trickle down his face, failing to hold back his sobs any longer... choosing to just bury his face into the soft cushion of the loveseat as they racked his shivering body menacingly.

A, once joyful, memory being recalled by his lonely heart as he did so…

Flashback (to a month prior)

"S-Slow down sweetie…" a melodious voice called out towards the child of its owner, innate fear residing within it all the while.

"You'll fall if you aren't careful…!"

It wasn't a situation that warranted any caution however… it was merely one in which a mother was chasing after her playful child around the drawing room of their cozy little home.

"!"

Trying his best to keep his distance from his worried (and chasing) mother, the boy giggled as he slipped out from between her legs using dexterous precision and skill.

"Haha! I'm too fast for you mama!" he grinned widely at her, as said woman's hands found their rightful place upon her curvy hips; eyes softly glaring at her naughty offspring's antics.

("What am I going to do with him?" she sighed in defeat. "He's just like his father… always energetic.")

Pouting at the mischievous toddler playfully, Hinata suddenly caught sight of her approaching husband, from beyond the door connecting the room to the hallway, snickering to herself at what would happen next... ("It's about time, hmm… hmm!")

"...?!"

Eyes widening as his body started rising into the air against his will, Takeo turned his head around... only to find his grinning father's big hands wrapped securely around his tummy. "Wha-?"

"Hehe, you still gotta get faster than daddy though," Kiba grinned toothily at his little ball of energy, the latter crossing his arms before frowning at him.

Whining in defeat as the man chuckled good-naturedly at his 'mini tantrum', the child halted his flow of depressed tears as soon as he felt his loving mother's lips upon his pink cheek.

Smiling happily, first at her spoilsport of a husband and then at their living symbol of love, the Hyuuga female reached out to gently take her son from the jounin's grasp... stroking his tufts of hair tenderly after she had done so.

"Hmm… hmm! Don't cry Takeo-kun."

She carefully wiped away some of the warm liquid, receiving a tight hug from her child in return; on that made her smile into his hair with a small sigh of contentment.

"Daddy won't interrupt our little game next time..."

Her milky orbs landed upon the handsome brunette at that, "... right?"

Winking cheekily at them both whilst trying his best to not gush at how adorable they looked right then, Kiba gave them a simple thumbs up as a sign of his promise.

"You got it…"

He simply could not resist adding a taste of his infamous humour into that statement however, "... mama…" ("I'm a real prick sometimes, Ha-ha!")

Barely ducking under his mate's playful slap that was aimed for his head, the man laughed heartily at her cute frown before enveloping the both of them, his beloved wife and child, into an affectionate hug.

"Gomen Hina-chan... I just couldn't resist! Hehe!

Shaking her head at her husband's childish antics, Hinata nevertheless smiled at his grin before giving him a small peck upon his left cheek…

… as a 'sheepish' Takeo shyly closed his eyes with his hands; small giggle following his act soon after.

"Ew! Mama... why do you always do that to daddy?" he inquired in an accusatory tone.

"Hm? Oh um… w-well…"

The mother, with her customary 'reddened' cheeks, was at a loss for words at that moment; meeting her husband's amused gaze with a pleading look framing her own.

Smirking at the flustered reply of the beautiful woman in his hold, Kiba turned his head towards the curious child and said, "Well ya see son, all mommy's and daddy's have got to…"

His feral orbs met the widened ones belonging to his gorgeous mate as she blushed and glanced away from his gaze, thoroughly embarrassed.

"… show their love for each other in some way or another. We just do this for each other as well." ("Man, it's a good thing that he's a heavy sleeper or this might've actually gotten really awkward," he inwardly sighed in relief.)

Still not convinced enough by his father's words, the boy's doubts had to be left for another day as his mother placed him down; another soft kiss being placed upon his cheek as she spoke, "Alright, it's time to go to bed honey… you do have to get up early tomorrow, ne?"

Scratching at his messy locks in confusion, her husband intervened in a jovial tone, "Aw c'mon Hina, let the poor kid stay up late for once…"

Sadly enough, his views on the matter had to be put on hold; beautiful spouse giving him a small glare in response, effectively shutting him up as he chuckled nervously and glanced away from her pale orbs.

("Whoa man, I really gotta keep track of what I say around her." He inwardly sighed, wisely choosing defeat in front of his mate's will. "Heh, she just doesn't budge when it comes to the little tyke's sleepy time.")

Looking up at his mother, the toddler sighed and trudged up the stairs to his room... the very same way he always did on days when he had been 'allowed' to stay up past his bedtime.

Luckily for him though, the kind-hearted woman would eventually follow him to his bedroom and 'tuck him in' with another loving kiss on his forehead; eventual bedtime story following soon after... depending on the time remaining stated by his bedside clock of course.

"Oi, Takeo..." a voice from behind him called.

Turning his entire body towards the sound, his small hand placed upon the side railing of the stairs, the boy replied in a small voice, "What daddy?"

Winking at his dejected expression, Kiba spoke with a wide grin on his handsome face, "Like it or not, we're gonna be going on a big picnic tomorrow!"

"...?!"

The dog-nin didn't miss the incredulous look of disbelief that appeared on Hinata's face then, already formulating an explanation for her in his 'street-smart' mind.

"If…" he simply smirked before continuing, "… you promise to go upstairs and sleep like a good boy... just like your mama told you to."

"!"

Eyes widening as a loud whoop escaped his throat, Takeo obediently raced up to his room at once and laid his tiny body to sleep; father's words taking the form of a pleasant dream in his head as he did so.

("Oh wow! A picnic! YAY!")

Downstairs…

Folding her arms across her 'ample' bosom, the female turned away from her carefree husband in slight disapproval.

"You didn't have to tell him that Kiba … what will he feel like when he finds out that you have a mission to go on tomorrow?"

Hugging his angel from behind and placing a chaste kiss upon her cheek, the Inuzuka whispered out his apologies in her left ear with a small smile, "Don't worry hime… I'll be sure to take him…"

He suddenly poked at her cheek with his forefinger as she giggled helplessly in response; leaning further into his loving embrace, "… and you to that promised picnic, okay?"

Convinced due to the sheer sincerity present in his voice, Hinata smiled and leaned against his hard body.

"Hmm… promise?"

He turned her around so that she was facing him and kissed her deeply... not relenting the intense lip-lock until his flustered wife moaned into his mouth in response, nimble fingers digging themselves into his shoulders as she pressed herself willingly against him... his warmth enveloping her completely as she did so.

"How's that for a 'yes' hm?" he grinned, showing off his prominent canines to her desire-filled orbs with pride.

Meeting his gaze before burying her face in his chest to hear his steady heartbeat, Hinata replied in a soft voice, "It's... good enough for me dear."

As unpredictable as he already was, Kiba merely picked her up bridal style before promptly making his way to 'their' bedroom, her giggling outright at his blatant impatience the entire time.

"I thought so. Now…"

A glint, one that she was 'all too familiar' with, found its way into his dark eyes as she stroked his cheek with a serene look passing across her own.

"… how about a late night... 'workout' Hon?"

"Hmm... hmm! Would you even listen to me if I refused?" Hinata giggled in amusement.

"Not at all Hina. Not. At. All," the aroused male smirked right back.

A few days later… as the small family was getting ready for their afternoon lunch

"Maamaaa… how much longerrr...?"

The little child's whining reflected his obvious impatience as his mother responded back sweetly from her position in the next room, "Almost done sweetheart… just a few more minutes okay?"

Knowing her little man's 'impressive' appetite… Hinata hastened with her cooking; mind wishing that she had a helping hand around the house ("Kiba won't be home for another hour…" she sighed. "I'd better talk to him about that then.")

"!"

All of a sudden, the world itself began to spin for the young woman as her vision began to blur in and out of focus… ("W-What?")

It did not take long for her to lose her balance and find herself lying on her side, knocked out of any and all sense of consciousness... mind entering into a deep sleep.

"Mama?" a head peeked from behind the kitchen door in mild curiosity…

... only to be met with a highly unexpected sight.

"Mama! Mama what's wrong? Get up… g-get up!"

His desperate cries of fear fell upon deaf ears as his mother refused to wake, lying unconscious on the floor with steady breaths following each rise and fall of her chest... as her child heard the front door to their home open with a click.

"Hinata? Takeo? I'm back!"

It did not take long for the dog-nin to come to the conclusion that something... was terribly wrong.

"HINATA!"

Konoha Hospital

Rubbing his frightened son's back to calm him down a notch, a highly tense Kiba kept his gaze fixated upon the observation ward… praying that his beloved's condition wasn't 'too' serious.

("Why would she just pass out all of a sudden?" he sighed, looking at the chibi's face. "The poor kid's gotten scared silly because of it.")

As the ex-hokage, Tsunade Senju, made her way out of the chamber, her faithful 'pink-haired' former student in tow, she caught sight of the man who was patting his small son's back in reassurance... pacing back and forth in visible worry.

Closing her eyes with a sad sigh escaping her, the woman approached him… as Sakura wiped away some of her tears behind her.

"Kiba…"

Said man raised his head in surprise and rushed to speak with her as she stopped mere feet away from him.

"Tsu-Tsunade-sama? How is she? Why did-?"

He was cut off by her raised hand as she spoke with a heavy voice, "It… it seems that Hinata is suffering from an extremely rare type of illness."

Ignoring his small gasp of shock, the blonde woman ploughed on with obvious difficulty visible in her words, "I'm afraid that… even with my knowledge I…"

Her voice noticeably 'cracked', a stray droplet of emotion dripping down her cheek.

"… I cannot save her from it… I'm sorry."

"..."

Unwilling to believe a single word that had been uttered by her, the dog-nin turned to his fellow jounin and asked in a pleading tone of voice, "S-Sakura? Is… is this true?"

A sorrowful nod and a sniff was all he received in response, his son calling out to him from underneath his chin... "Daddy? What is it? Can we go see how mama is doing now?"

"..."

Kiba had no answer to offer him at that point… ("H-Hinata…")

Two weeks later, in a certain ward that beheld a loving mother and beloved wife…

Entering the room with his son held securely in his arms, the brown-haired man made his way over to his wife's bed…

... trying his level best to adopt a fake smile as he did so.

("She… still looks so beautiful…" he commented, seeing her form lying upon the bed, unmoving.)

Indeed, with hair looking as lustrous as it always did, her pupil-less eyes, although half-lidded due to her weakened physical state, still turned bright and showed off her joy... as a response to her loved ones coming to meet her.

"Kiba…" she whispered out, left arm beckoning them over to her slowly. "... Takeo…"

Noticing the raspy tone that her melodiously soft voice carried within it as she spoke, Kiba quietly made his way over by her side and… placing the small boy onto his lap, proceeded to ask her in a gentle tone, "Hey… how are you feeling love?"

Smiling sadly at the fact that her heartbroken husband was trying to hold back his 'dam of tears' at her expense, Hinata raised her hand and stroked his right cheek as his eyes widened at her action.

"Never better…"

Her pained sigh didn't go by unnoticed by the two male's as her confused son proceeded to ask her, small hands resting on the white sheets by the side of her bed, "Mama?"

Her lilac-coloured orbs meeting their 'twins' at that, a wide smile grew across her tired face as she patted his head in response.

"Why…"

Kiba held back his choked sob but was saved by the remainder of Takeo's question.

"... why is everyone saying that you're sick? Y-You'll get better right?"

"..."

Feeling her own tears escaping her control due to his complete innocence towards her plight, Hinata stroked his cheek lovingly and whispered out, her voice a bit strained, "Don't worry sweetie… mama will... get better soon."

Her statement brought a bright grin onto her precious baby's round face and, frankly, for her… that's all that mattered at that point.

"Then… we'll all go home and I'll make your favourite-"

A sudden cough made her raise a hand towards her face as Kiba reached for her shaking shoulder; concern literally 'dripping' forth… right out from his moist eyes. ("Kami, why?")

He clenched the railing near the head of her bed in an iron grip, his tears threatened to fall free... down his face.

Pulling her hand away from her mouth and noticing traces of her own crimson blood upon it, Hinata met her husband's gaze with fear reflecting itself in hers.

("Hinata… why did this happen?")

The man had absolutely no answer for his inner query as he maintained his grip upon her trembling shoulder, trying to offer her some 'necessary' comfort.

Placing her other hand over his and giving it a light squeeze, she silently requested him to take their son away from the immediate premises. ("Please Kiba… I c-can't face him... like this.")

"..."

Understanding exactly what the pleading woman was trying to tell him, through those eyes that he loved so very much, the Inuzuka rose from his perch...

... his little boy letting out a sound of surprise at the act.

"Daddy? W-Where are we going?"

The female's soft voice stopped him in his tracks however...

"Kiba… wait…"

Turning back towards his wife, the dog-nin saw her hands outstretched towards him... or rather, their little bundle of joy as she spoke, "Takeo… please bring him here."

Complying with her request, he handed the boy over to the latter's mother and stood frozen on his spot... witnessing how the 'distraught' woman placed loving kisses all over her baby boy's little face…

... all the way over to his tiny fingers as her flowing tears betrayed her completely in the process.

Her nearly crushing embrace of their small son made the man glance away from the heart-rending scene, hand trembling as he raised it to hide his eyes from their immediate view.

("M-My child… I-I'm so sorry," the depressed woman innately cried, letting her sadness at her helpless condition out of her system for the first time in many days.)

"Mama loves you… very much Takeo… so very much," she nearly gasped out as a wave of grief shook her body from head to toe, the very 'thought' of her beloved baby being left without her presence in his life making her sob quietly as her kind-hearted son started to wipe her tears away for her.

"Mama…"

His concerned voice made her meet his pallid orbs as his own confused tears started to flow down his pink cheeks.

"… p-please don't cry. I love you very much too."

His purity-laced words easing her inner sorrow, Hinata managed a weak smile in return.

"Thank you honey… mama promises… to always remain in your heart, with you, okay?"

"..."

Not completely understanding her statement at that point, the boy merely nodded with a happy grin forming on his cute little face, due to the fact that his mother's tears had momentarily ceased to flow then.

"Hai!"

His positive answer earned him yet another wet kiss from his frail parent.

Smiling lovingly at him, eyes still gleaming with unshed tears before handing him over to his father, Hinata waved at him until he had disappeared out the door… her heavy heart 'aching' with the urge to touch her child once more the entire while.

"..."

Once outside, Kiba placed his son down onto an empty seat and, promising him that he would be right back, made his way over to meet his ailing wife once more…

("Why her?!" His inner rage towards the one above almost reached its 'boiling point'… yet he chose to keep himself in check instead. "You should have taken me instead dammit!")

As she closed her eyes with a shuddering sigh, having laid back down to rest her aching torso, Hinata felt the presence of someone very dear to her heart approach her stationary position.

"K-Kiba?"

"..."

Taking his previously occupied station once more, without a word, the man simply stared at the 'love of his life'; eyes looking utterly bloodshot and in the garb of the type that had been, secretly, shedding tears at every available opportunity.

"How could you?" he said, voice emotionless and face unreadable; quivering lips held together soon after in a thin line.

Hinata glanced away from his smoldering gaze and bit her lower lip, her own sobs returning in full force at his words.

"I-I'm sorry Kiba. I-It's… all my fault that you and-"

She was instantly enraptured in his fierce embrace, his body shaking with every sob that found its way out of his grieving heart.

"Why? WHY?! H-How can you… just leave the both of us like this?" ("You have no right…" he inwardly added out of sheer 'spite' at his God's injustice.)

"What will our son do without you in his life? W-What will I…"

He simply could not continue further... instead choosing to bury his face in the crook of her neck; pale hands wrapping themselves around his shoulders as her fingers stroked his brown locks with unrestrained affection.

"Kiba… please…" she began in a shaky voice, "... you have to be strong… f-for Takeo."

Meeting her eyes by pulling out of her hold, Kiba claimed her lips… (possibly for the very last time) as the latter let her torrent of tears fall down her face whilst responding to his loving touch to the best of her ability.

"T-Trust me Hina…" he gasped, unattaching his lips from hers... "I... won't let you down."

The Inuzuka held his nerve and continued on in a pained voice, "I swear… on your love, that Takeo…"

A tragically sad smile found its way onto his tattooed face as he finished his vow with a sniff, "… our son, will grow up just the way you wanted him to. I'll make sure that he… never forgets about his loving mother as long as I live."

Sobbing harder than ever before, as he lifted her up carefully from her lying position and rocked her gently in his lap, Hinata clutched at his shirt and buried her nose in his chest; tears flowing out like a gushing river down her face... with him holding her close, wanting for her to hide herself away...

… away from the horrors of life as well as all of its sorrows.

"I will always remember our love… Hinata…" he whispered into her silky hair, words reflecting his hearts deepest emotions to her as he spoke.

Blinded by her own never-ending tears, Hinata kissed her beloved husband as deeply as she could, pulling herself back only to word out her feelings against his lips, "I love you too Kiba… please… please take care of our little baby…"

His sorrowful cry was all that reached her ears as he held her securely against his shivering body…

... for another entire 'hour' of verbal remorse and promises for their son's future.

"Please don't leave me… Hina… please…!"

It was…

... a futile wish on his part however.

The… day of the funeral

Keeping his little boy away from the proceedings after the both of them had witnessed the body of their loved one placed in the black casket, Kiba let him down as his throat went dry, unable to form words or 'offer' any to the latter at the moment.

"N-Naruto-san?"

The Rokudaime Hokage of Konohagakure seemed to be in some other world as he comforted his sobbing wife, arm wrapped around her trembling shoulder as his own heart ached... for a lost friend and comrade, from within.

(What's the point?" he mused to himself, droplets of utter regret cascading down his cheek; out of his cerulean blue pools, constantly. "If I can't do anything in my power… to help those who need it…")

A sudden drop of rain gave him no answers however… instead making him raise his dark umbrella up and above his head.

Effectively 'shielding' his crying wife, himself…

... and the unfortunate young child near his left leg, from it.

End Flashback

Wiping at the dried tear stains on his face, the Inuzuka male made his way over to the pantry… inwardly 'hoping' that his infant son would recover from the shock of loss and accept it as soon as possible.

He just (Sigh) has to… there's simply no other way for the both of us to move on from this if he doesn't.

Quenching his thirst with a glass of ice-cold water, he closed his eyes and raised his head towards the ceiling; 'once parched' throat and chest easing up somewhat, courtesy of the life-giving liquid.

You… don't realize what you have just done… do you?

His mental questioning, regarding the events that had been set into motion by the lord 'upstairs', had to wait as…

Knock! Knock!

Glancing in the direction of the front door, Kiba raised an eyebrow and made his way over to open it. Who could be visiting us now?

Upon opening it, he came face to face with a dark-haired and pale-eyed man, dressed in a set of robes that were 'all too familiar' to his slitted eyes.

"Yes?" Why would they send someone here? Why now?

Clearing his throat in a calm manner… the man began to speak in a formal tone, just as the rest of his kin were taught, "Inuzuka Kiba-san?"

The brunette simply nodded in reply as the former continued.

"Hiashi-sama…" he seemingly ignored the look of surprise that passed over the taller man's face at that point. "… as well as the rest of the Hyuuga elders, wish to speak with you…"

Clenching his jaw in annoyance at the mere mention of the hypocrites who were situated over at his wife's previous 'home', Kiba felt a certain amount of understanding seep into his mind at the name of his father-in-law. Don't tell me…

"… urgently."

"..."

Frowning dangerously at the aide standing mere inches in front of him, the brown-haired man grounded out through his teeth, "Tell 'em that I'll…" he gave his strategy a second thought in his mind before ending the small conversation.

"… drop by later... today."

Not waiting for the man's 'response-cum-protest', he slammed his front door in his face.

Hinata, the man mused, powerful fist being clenched tightly at his side as he did so. You were… right to fear your family's intentions then.

He was instantly reminded of the warning that the dying woman had provided him with... mere moments before her demise.

A tired sigh escaped him as he let his body lean against the wall to the right of the doorframe… finally finding his bottom 'meet' the floor below him; gaze moving over in the direction of his son's room.

Better not take him along for this one, Kiba mentally decided as he headed over to open said boy's door… inwardly 'hoping' to have another talk with him before he left.

I'll have to leave him at Naruto's place before going… can't risk it with those self-centered bastards prowling all over the place.

AN: Aaand that's a wrap for this prologue folks. I, personally, have HIGH hopes from this project to be frank. ;)

Kindly 'Read and Review' this chapter and let me know your suggestions and opinions on it… along with any other details which you may want to add in!

[Note: BTW, the sequel for my 1st fic will be started AFTER this venture is finished]