Unnecessary Disclaimer: Poor college student here. Nothing owned, nothing gained.
Inuzuka Kiba had questions. What groceries he would need for the coming week. Why Akamaru ran wild in the house at hearing raindrops drum on the roof. Why sometimes, on the nights when it was hardest to fall asleep, he felt an emptiness growing in something that was not quite his stomach.
Yes, Kiba had many questions. He pondered over them while waiting under a tree on a hill for his former teammate, fingers skimming idly over cool blades of grass as Akamaru romped in a sunbeam just outside the shade.
Kiba's ears twitched at the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps; if he squinted just so against the sunlight, he could make out the features of one Hyuuga Hinata."I'm sorry to have kept you waiting, Kiba-kun," Hinata said somewhat breathlessly before lowering herself against the tree beside Kiba. "My father wanted to speak with me." Her voice was still slight after all these years, but held little of the former uncertainty. She sounded now somewhat agitated, but then, encounters with her father often had that effect. Akamaru trotted over to the two, nudging his head beneath Hinata's hand. Hinata readily cuddled the dog, giggling softly when Akamaru's tongue met her chin."Ah, that's alright. Are you hungry? I packed us lunch."Hinata smiled at a face that was not quite looking at her and nodded agreeably. "Thank you," she said as she was handed a box, but Kiba thought that maybe the twinkle in her eye was thanks enough. And if their fingers brushed in the passing of the box, well, that was more than a fair enough exchange.She ate the slightly odd-tasting food, smiling a secret smile as she imagined Kiba preparing it: clumsily, and earnestly. Everything Kiba did, it seemed, was done with an adorable earnestness.Kiba ate quietly, carefully, in her presence. He was calm for her, could set aside his manic persona for her, so they could share these simple soft moments."So, what did your father want to talk about?" Kiba asked conversationally, nudging Hinata's side gently with his elbow. "Or is it top secret Hyuuga business?" He looked down at her, eyes not concealing his mirth.Hinata, upon seeing Kiba's kind face and meeting Kiba's warm eyes, could not deny him a forced laugh. Immediately his features shifted, furrowing and narrowing with concern. "Hinata?" he prompted softly when she didn't speak.She allowed herself a soft sigh, setting down her lunchbox as she suddenly became aware of the salt in her food. Impulsively she reached up and closely watched a nearly translucent finger trace one of the red marks on his face. Kiba held his breath until the hesitant touch retreated, only to tense again as she laid her head against his shoulder. Breathing shallowly, he asked himself why this delicate proximity seemed to widen the gaping hole inside of him."I will marry," came out, isolated between silences, softer even than her usual words.Kiba felt that something-not-his-stomach expand to his chest, pushing upward into his throat so that he could not speak.==Hinata lay in bed that night, hand pressed firmly to the skin of her belly, trying to stop the aching growth inside her.==In his own bed Kiba asked Akamaru what had happened beneath that tree on the hill, receiving only a whimper and a lick in response. He could still feel the whisper of a touch against his cheek.Well, I don't know. When I started I meant for this to be a one-shot, but it doesn't seem like it'll work out that way.