Konoha Academy's Stay With Me |Naruto x Hinata|

32.) In Love with that Boy

The church is dimly lit with the flickering candlelight from over a dozen lanterns hung along the outermost walls of the room and the end of every row. The flowers are modest, mostly green shrubbery accented with white lilies. Even so, the elegance is breathtaking. However, it doesn't take away the fact that I was begged to come and have yet to spend any quality time with my boyfriend.

It's been a bit on the boring side this vacation with Kiba and quite frankly I am close to my limit. I have hardly seen him and as I sit in the second row from the front I can't shake the overwhelming feeling like I don't belong here. Kiba said the wedding was for family and close friends, which I am neither. Yet here I am, sitting alone, partaking in the wedding of my boyfriend's older sister.

I have thought so many times of calling my dad to come and get me but despite being so miserable here I can't bring myself to be that girl. So I wait with partial nerves and mostly annoyance as the pews fill and the music begins to play slow and steady. It's time. As everyone stands for the bride I drag myself to my feet reluctantly, averting my attention to the back of the church where Hana will enter from. I thought he would be the first to walk out with Konan, but when she walks the aisle with Yahiko I'm slightly confused.

Nagato had asked Kiba to be his best man, something Kiba had grumbled about for weeks. His reasoning was simple though, and I had secretly agreed with Nagato despite Kiba being so irritated. Hana and Kiba were close and Nagato knew that. He wanted Kiba to be his best man to show him that their family was his family now and that Hana getting married to him wasn't going to change that. Along with all the grumbling about the responsibility, I thought I remembered him complaining about having to walk with Konan, but maybe I'm finally going crazy. The possibility was a real one. 

When I finally see him, his arm intertwined with a glowing Hana's,  it dawns on me what he's done for his sister and why he wasn't with the maid of honor. In that one moment, the sight reduces me to a puddle, all my annoyance draining from me. My eyes beginning to water as they fill with small tears. 

Kiba's father is a subject that we never really talk about. He passed away when Kiba was small and there has been a hole in their lives ever since. The thought had never crossed my mind that this must be a hard day for Hana to do without their father, but as an overwhelming feeling of love and pride engulfs me I get the feeling that despite him being absent it's like he's here with them. I can't be the only one here that knows the significance of what he just did for his sister and it makes me grateful to Kiba that he helped me fix my relationship with my own father.

And then it hits me like a freight train, I'm in love with him.

I thought that Sasuke was the one, ever since I first heard his voice when I moved to this town. But if the last few years have taught me anything it's that you couldn't possibly know what you want for the rest of your life when you are eight years old. In the last two years, Kiba has helped me in so many ways but most of all figuring out who I want to be. In the middle of all of life's craziness, Kiba has become everything I could ever need in this lifetime. He has been there through my darkest hours and I think I knew then when we spent time apart that my life would forever be at it's best if he were a part of it.

As he approaches the front of the church he winks at me and gives me one of his heart-stopping smiles, before placing Hana's hand in Nagato's. It takes every ounce of self-restraint not to tell him how I feel at that moment, so I smile at him and hope that later during the reception we finally have a moment to ourselves. 

As the ceremony starts my eyes can't decide if they want to watch Hana and Nagato or Kiba who seems to be having the same problem I am. As our eyes lock for the dozenth time his stare brings a fresh tingle to my eyes as more tears try to form. For the first time since we arrived, I think I finally get why he brought me. My heart is literally trying to explode with all the feeling I am feeling for the exceptional young man now smiling down at me and his stare is reflecting that.