*Editing* Dying From The Inside Out. (A Kiba Inuzuka Love Story)

Two:

At eight years old, one should have a certain experience with the subject of love. The love of parents, grandparents and friends. Love for toys and fun and sweets.

I don't think anyone has ever loved me. Not that I can remember; if my father loved me he would not have abandoned my mother and I. If my brother had loved me he would not be a rogue ninja right now. And if my mother had loved me, I would have been enough for her after my father left.

But I wasn't, and so she lost herself.

Friendship, I believe, is different from Love.

Naruto and I have friendship, forever and always. I suppose our similarities attracted me to him, in the way that I'd have someone who understood.

Even then, I don't understand Naruto's struggle. People acknowledge me and check to see if I'm okay when passing by. When Naruto is walking the streets alone people consciously avoid him.

I'll never understand that.

Three friendships, I can count. Naruto, the Hokage and the doctor who treats my mother and sometimes me, Akane.

Hate is an entirely different thing. Something I'd associate with, my father,  my brother, Arino, Yuki and Sayuri. 

Kiba? I may be young but I know the difference between how I feel about him and how I feel about them. It's not hate.

And it's not love.

Guilt? Sadness? Disgust?

I draw myself from my internal philosophy, to look up at where I'm going. His presence always gets my attention. Dark and gloomy, such a contrast to how it was just two years ago.

I, like everyone, had a huge crush on him.

"Hello Sasuke," I mumble softly, not even looking up at him as we pass.

"Kaira," he replies, equally quiet. Neither of us show any sign of contact.

We're not friends, but he, like Naruto, understands. And, he, again like Naruto, is in a worse situation than mine.

I have respect for both of them.

"Good morning Kaira!" Akane's chipper voice greets me when I walk into the long-term hospital ward.

"Good morning," I reply softly, trying to keep myself calm to avoid wringing the flowers in my hand.

"Are you okay?" The red-head asks sincerely. 

"Y-Yes," I reply. Do I look like I'm not?...Truthfully I never am when I come here. The longterm ward is quiet and clean, but seeing my mother frightens me.

"Well you know where to go. If you need anything I'm right here, okay?" She smiles brightly. There's something else in her eyes. I nod, thanking her before turning to the hallway.

I used to come here at least once a weak, but ever since she stopped talking and acknowledging me I haven't bothered.

Reaching her room at the end of the hall, I take a deep breath and open up the door sporting her name plaque.

Inside, instead of finding my mother staring out the window, blank of any thought, I find her sitting at the small wooden table with the Hokage across from her.

She's smiling and colouring in. The Hokage is watching her with sad eyes. She was a sort of student of his, at one point.

"Sit down Kaira," he says, rough voice sounding strange in such a soft tone. I do as he says silently, sitting at the end of the bed.