(no subject)

[illusionism]

The whole idea doesn't settle well with me... I had a feeling you'd make me go through all of this again. Gaining one and losing the other. Getting another chance with him is something I should be thankful for but the idea of ... being with out our child isn't right! Reconsidering isn't really an option due to the circumstances.

I just — I don't want to think or talk about this right now. Do what you have to and leave me alone for a while.

Comments

[selfdoubt]

[Oh, Kiba. She knows that deep inside, your heart is made of jelly.

What you said got her giggling, though, the sound almost melodic. Of course, she doesn't quite agree with your descriptions but the thought behind it warms something within her.]

Do- Do you really think so, Kiba-kun? [She looks down, lost in her own dreams.] I... I do wish I can make a difference in other people's lives, but to become a sensei... [Is she cut out for it?]

[keepitcanine]

Long as you want to, I don't see what's stopping you.

[He wrinkles his nose. His imagination, man.]

Even with Ino's high-strung kid thrown in.

[selfdoubt]

[She giggles some more.]

I think Ino-san will raise her child well, though.

1/2

[keepitcanine]

[Gods, her house would be more like estrogen-o-clock with a dash of whatever passes for female testosterone.]

[keepitcanine]

Yeah, sure. Nothing screams exceptional parenting than Ino Yamanaka and whatever poor guy she puts a leash on.

She'll either have a girl who's really good with knives, or a boy who will manage to turn flowers into a deadly weapon.

Yeah. Parent of the year.

[selfdoubt]

I still think she will be able to raise them properly. [Don't let your bias against her talk, Kiba.] I- I also think it will be nice if you both can get along well.

[keepitcanine]

We get along just fine.

She's just so—[waves hands]—like that.

[Easy to set off, though. Banter, at least, has never been boring yet. It's like watching fireworks go off. It's easy to admire his own conversational skills that way.]

[selfdoubt]

[Hinata knows how the other girl can be quite loud sometimes, so she sort of understands where Kiba's coming from.]

Maybe you should refrain from teasing her too much.

[keepitcanine]

Hard to when she leaves things wide open. It's like a door that never closes. Ever.

[And it's more entertaining than it should technically be.]

And there's like a note on it. Like, "Step over this line and my fist will find your obnoxious face."

Kind of hard to say "no" to that, because you just want to see how far you can push things until she does, or you find out she's bluffing. Or because she can't really hit you all that hard.

[Then, you know, it's just funny.]

[selfdoubt]

[Hinata listens on. On some points, she sorta agrees with Kiba while on some, she doesn't. She can only come up with one conclusion, though:]

Oh, so, um... you like teasing her then, Kiba-kun? [Said oh so innocently.]

[keepitcanine]

[Innocent. Just how many steps away is this from "angelic" and "kindhearted" according to the Innocent Hinata-meter?

Good hell, she's even going legitimately contemplative on him.]

Well, I guess you could put it that way.

[Wait.]

You know what? Yeah. So?

[selfdoubt]

[It's like all your innocence has been transferred to this girl, Kiba. She even puts a very pleased smile on her face.]

Ah-! That just means you like her that much to tease her.

[keepitcanine]

Hell, the way you're putting it—

[He's pretty sure this conversation has punctured its way through the ironic atmosphere.]

Look, Ino's fine. I like her sometime sure. She can occasionally be funny. Usually unintentionally, but whatever.

But I tease plenty of people. If you're going to imply what I think you're implying [Hinatas usually don't sneakily imply anything] then you better stake your claim on the orange moron or something, because otherwise I'd be competition by your definition.

Deadly competition.

1/2

[selfdoubt]

[She listens on what he had to say. Proof that Hinatas usually don't sneakily imply anything is the fact that she blinks once, twice, and pauses as if trying to digest what he just said.

Did he just say what she just heard?]

[selfdoubt]

[akjshdlas]

K- Kiba-kun, I wasn't-- That was not what I meant- [She meant 'like' as a friend and nothing more. But since he dragged Naruto's name into this, she can't help but blush. Did she just say something wrong earlier? Was it not in good spirit that Ino and Kiba like each other?]

1/2

[keepitcanine]

[Then everything is right and still stable with the world.

If he has to hand Naruto anything, it's that he's been the best conversational distraction since he was eight. He's this shiny thing nobody can look away from.]

[keepitcanine]

[Kiba will still laugh at her a little anyway. Because watching her flail will never not be funny.]

Then I agree with whatever you weren't actually implying, or what you really meant or, well, whatever it is that was actually in there before my brain got hold of it. Thought we pretty much all were in the friend zone since forever, though. In some level or other.

[selfdoubt]

[Her flailing will forever be the icing on the cake. Though, after which, her lips curve up into a radiant smile from what he stated.]

Yes, you're right. We were all together since our days in the academy, after all. It... would be hard not to be friends with everyone. [Even if some aren't as close etc.]

[keepitcanine]

[Except Sasuke.

Sasuke has had his friend privileges revoked, on account of being a goddamn anti-social bastard, and last Kiba checked, he would never be friends with anyone who was the perfect personification of a talking asshole.

He'll save telling Hinata this, however.]

See, there you go.

Still think we're the best team out of them all though. Everyone else missed out. Eight's supposed to be a lucky number or something, right?

[selfdoubt]

[She nods, her smile only widening further. Hinata can't help but agree.]

Mm, I believe so. I- I mean we always do our very best whenever we go to missions and whenever we train. [She doesn't want to assume and confirm that they are the best team, but deep inside, it brings her pride and joy hearing that they are.]

[keepitcanine]

What?

[You know what, he's just going to laugh.]

No. No. Stop.

Don't "I mean" anything, Hinata. I heard you the first time. You don't even have a reason to be modest. Come on.

[selfdoubt]

[She giggles. Oh, Kiba. If Hinata got all your innocence, you got all her pride.]

A- Alright. I will agree with you wholeheartedly, Kiba-kun. [Her smile turns more understanding, if not a bit wider. No more pretensions now. She did swear that she will never run away again.]

[keepitcanine]

[Hell yes!]

That's not enough though. You gotta say it. You can think it in your head all you want, but it's not really true until you say it out loud a couple times.

[selfdoubt]

[You're gonna turn her into Naruto, Kiba! akjskask but Hinata giggles, anyway. And with a grin as radiant as early morning sunlight, she nods.]

We are truly the best team. [Happy now, dogboy?]

[keepitcanine]

[It is sorely lacking an exclamation point, but it will do for now. He's so proud, man.]

Hell yeah, we are. And that's not going to change in like... forever and then some multiplied by something ridiculous.