A Flower's Shadow

Chapter 20: Kiba

Though the night clung to my face, it wasn't cold. I welcomed it as it continued to pull me out of my head. I felt bad about leaving, but I was just going to kill the mood. It wouldn't have been fair to Naruto and Hinata.

I just needed to think about what I was going to do for the rest of the night. Maybe I would take Akamaru for a late night stroll, we haven't had a chance to do that in a while. He would be thrilled to see me after he finished his pouting spell that would come from being left at home all evening. A soft grin came to my face, thinking of how he would try to hide the fact that his tail was wagging.

"Kiba!"

I froze as I immediately recognized the voice that had called my name. Turning around, Tikari was running down the street after me. She came to a stop a few feet away.

"I'm glad I caught you."

I just stared, "Why were you looking for me?"

Her eyes locked with mine, "I know something's bothering you, Kiba."

"I'm fine." I turned to continue home, "I don't want you to miss the rest of the party."

"Then come back with me." Tikari called, "If you want to talk on the way back, I'll listen."

"I said I'm fine."

She appeared in front of me, giving me nowhere else to look.

"You are not!" She pushed me back a step, "I can tell something is bothering you and I want you to get it off your chest."

"Tikari."

"Don't Kiba." She pointed a finger in my face, "I've been worried about you all night and I want you to tell me what is wrong."

I looked to the ground beside me, "You don't have to worry about me."

"Bull." Her hands went to her hips, "I may be the worst at keeping in touch, but I can see it in your eyes that you're upset about something and I don't like it."

My gaze crept back to her face as she continued, "I know I'm not ever around, but I'm here for you Kiba. I want to help. I want to know what's bothering you."

My chest ached. My whole being was telling me to wrap my arms around her and pull her closer, but I clenched my fists instead.

"It wouldn't be fair."

"What do you mean?"

"You're always alone." there was a soft growl in the undertone of my words. "It isn't fair for me to expect you to take my problems when I can't be there for you when you need someone to talk to."

Tikari's expression shifted from just concern to pain as well. I bit the inside of my cheek as I stepped around her.

Way to go idiot.

But it was the truth. How could I expect her to drop everything in her life to help me with my own problems? Even if right now, it was her. I couldn't be there for her. That was something I've never really been able to do. How could I ask her to trade her success in for me? A nineteen year old chunin who has had a crush on her since I was in the academy and talks to his dog more than breathing human beings.

"Kiba..."

Her voice was small. I stopped.

"Don't worry about me, Tikari. I don't want to ruin your time off."

I didn't hear her leave, but when I snuck a look over my shoulder, she was gone.