F A M I L I A R

Friends and Feelings

It's been about a month since my first day in Konoha, and I still wasn't sure if I liked it here. The people were nice enough, and I finally got a chance to meet some of the other Chunin as they returned from their missions, but even though I was making friends, I still didn't quite feel at home.

I rolled over in my bed, face down in my pillows. I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to focus on turning back time, or at least postponing it. It was Friday and I was dreading tonight. I groaned outwardly to myself. Friday night meant I had to go out on border patrol with Kiba again, and I really did not want to go. It wasn't because I didn't like Kiba, I did, or I might? I didn't know anymore. He was still nice and everything, but I couldn't help but feel awkward around him now.

You see, over this last month, things between me and Kiba have gotten... well, they've gotten weird. I can't bring myself to look at him the same, not since I learned that he sleeps around. I had dinner with his teammate Hinata about two week ago, and learned about numerous times where he went out with many different girls. She ensured me that, although that was all true, it had been a couple weeks since his last fling. She probably noticed how disappointed I looked and tried to make me feel better. I was never very good with hiding my emotions. Since that meal, Hinata and I sprouted a friendship, but me and Kiba only grew farther apart. Part of me wanted to be around him all the time, his personality was just so warm, but the other part of me could not ignore his track record.

I was torn, because I had let myself get so attached to him to begin with.

I rolled myself out of bed and made for the bathroom. Hinata, her cousin Neji, and I were going to train today so I wanted to be prepared. I took a quick shower, got dressed, and grabbed my Iwa ninja headband and tied it around my arm as I walked out the door.

The Hyuga Clan was not too far away from my apartment building thankfully, so I didn't have too far to go. They had personal training grounds within their reservation, so I knew I would find Hinata and Neji out there. I'd only met Neji once before in passing, but Hinata had informed me that he could come off strong. I smirked to myself as I entered the Hyuga territory. I could take him.

"Hey Hinata!" I greeted as I walked into the grounds. "Hanabi answered the door for me."

"Oh good," Hinata smiled, panting slightly. Neji stood a little farther away, positioned in a defensive stance.

They must have already started.

I reached down to make sure my weapons holster was secured and that I was ready to go. I could tell that Neji kid would waste no time. I knelt down and placed my right palm face down on the ground. 

"You guys ready to get started?" I asked while taking in some nature energy. I had been coming to the Hyuga's to train since that dinner with Hinata, so she was already familiar with my style of attack.

"I'm already pretty tired. Why don't you take on Asuna, Neji?" I saw Hinata grin timidly as she stepped aside. He leaned forward slightly and smirked, not knowing what was in store for him.

"It would be my pleasure."

~~~~~

Kiba's POV

The breeze ruffled my hair slightly as I sat in the grass of the Konoha training grounds. Me and Akamaru met Shino here early this morning to train. He left about an hour ago, saying something about replenishing his bugs. I shivered unintentionally at the memory. Shino was a good guy, he just creeped me out sometimes. I looked up at the sky and decided it was about noon. My stomach growled hungrily and I sweat dropped. 

I forgot to eat breakfast again.

I looked over at Akamaru. He was standing perfectly still, practicing his concentration of chakra. I couldn't help but be proud of him. He really pushed himself to be the best he can be.