"..." Ino looked at Kiba,
incredulous. What had the idiot said? Ino's hand quivered in anticipation, then a sound rang throughout the neighbourhood...
SMACK!
Kiba's smirk was wiped away as her hand connected with his cheek, and the heel
of her hand smashed him in the nose on the way past. Looking at her like a
kicked puppy
"How DARE you, Kiba! I've ignored it because Hinata would've been
embarrassed, but THIS is the last straw!" She screamed at him, glaring.
Kiba stepped back, which only fuelled her anger.
"Don't try to run away from me, you JERK!" she screamed, grabbing him
by the shirt and pulling him back, albiet with some
force needed. "Why would you say something like that!
I worked HARD to graduate, and I've done a
Hinata looked down at the squirming Kiba. "Kiba-kun... That really was
insulting..."
~~~
Insulted
By Alden-san
What happens when you speak your mind...
~~~
Ino had been training with Team 8, because Chouji was in the hospital, and
Shikamaru was off doing fancy Chuunin missions (Ino ground her teeth every time
it was mentioned... "Why HIM and not me!?), subbing for Shino while he was
away (Aburame family bug thing, Ino assumed...). Normally she would have gone
over to Team 7, to see (annoy) Sasuke, but Hinata asked her too... And Ino
could never say no to Hinata... But now...
'How DARE he...' Tears were flung furiously from Ino's face as she shook it
violently. All those other shots throughout the week hadn't been that bad,
but...
Didn't he know how insulting it was? Why...
"Ino-san! He didn't mean it!" Hinata called,
following behind. Ino walked faster, wiping her eyes furiously. "It wasn't
THAT bad, was it?" she said, walking behind Ino into her backyard.
"Hmph..." Ino snorted, turning around. "He called me a useless
blonde! A masculine, stupid BLONDE, and all
stereotypes wherein! Basically a weak baby that depends on her teammates to see her through the missions! BASICALLY, he
meant that I didn't deserve to be a shinobi! You
heard him... I don't know what that jerk has against me, but... that
hurt..." Ino sat down, looking at her shoes.
Hinata sat slowly, putting an arm around her new friend. "Ino-san... You
graduated at the top of your female class, smart and pretty... and you were so
vibrant all the time! You always worked hard, like Naruto-kun..."
"Don't compare me to that loser..." Ino shot a glare towards the
Konoha apartments. "All he does is yell, and point, and stalk
Sakura..."
Hinata fought to keep tears down, remembering that Ino knew practically nothing
about Naruto. "Naruto-kun isn't a loser... He may not have any super
techniques, but he works so hard... And he never gives up... 'What doesn't kill
us makes us stronger'..."
"I work hard... But... I just DON'T get
stronger... No matte how much I fight, I never get stronger. No matter how much
I practise, I never get better. The more dressed up I look, Sasuke-kun... He
just doesn't notice... I've tried so hard, and lost my best friend to rivalry
over him, and... I'm starting to doubt it's worth it... Between my failures and
Kiba's thiny veiled insults, I've been worn thin, and
I can't take it anymore, Hinata..." Ino sobbed on her friened's
shoulder. "You... and Kiba and Akamaru, and Shino and his bugs... Even
Shikamaru is useful in battle... Naruto has his insane Bunshin... But my
special technique is practically USELESS! I'm just... another... useless
blonde..."
"Ino-san..."
"Hinata-chan, don't call me that... I'm not worth it..." Ino said,
blinking.
"No, Ino-sa-... No, Ino... You're beautiful, and
strong, and smart and sexy and everything I'm not... You have everything within
your grasp... You just need help, but Ino.... Never say that your
useless, because everyone, and you especially, have every chance to make
themselves how they want..." Hinata said, patting Ino's back.
"But-"
"No, Ino... Don't be that way. Say it: I am strong, and I will make
it."
"Hinata..."
"Say it..."
"IamstrongandIwillmakeit, okay?...
Hey, I actually feel better..." Ino stood, smiling. "Thanks,
Hinata... I hope you and Naruto make out- I mean, work out, 'kay?" She grinned at Hinata's expression. "I
could tell by the little gasp you gave after I called him a loser... Well, I'll
go eat dinner... wanna come in?"
Hinata nodded, and both went inside, where they ate soup and bread. Hinata went
to bed, and Ino fell asleep...
~~~
"What the hell is wrong with you, Kiba-kun!?" Hinata whacked Kiba
over the head. "Why would you say that about her?"
Kiba had listened to Hinata describe the scene, and was thoroughly surprised. How
did a little comment escalate into this?
'No...' he mentally whacked himself over the head, 'Not one... I've been
throwing insults at her all week, since she started training with us... Kiba,
you IDIOT..."
"I... I..." he looked down, guilt-filled. Why? He didn't dislike her,
did he?
Actually, he did. He hated all of it, her perfumes that hurt his nose, her
whining, her obsession over Sasuke, how she graduated with high marks in spite
of a diet, while he strained his body every day, training with Akamaru every
hour in between studies... He hated her natural flair for picking the perfect
clothing that would double as a mission suit, to come back from any missions
looking perfect, to distract him every time she came to train, frustrating him
to no end...
Ino, in short, was annoyingly perfect.
Shaking his head, he looked down at his hand... one of his fingers was bleeding!
And Akamaru was laughing! Well, he'd show him...
Kiba flicked Akamaru ih the back of the head, then
ran off. Hinata looked annoyed, and called after him, "You better apologise,
Kiba-kun!"
~~~
Kiba laughed - Akamaru would never catch him! Turning, his...
Ended up in Ino's backyard... and she was standing there, with a mug of what he
suspected was tea, looking at him confusedly.
"Kiba?" she asked, "why are you here?" 'Maybe he's going to
apologise!'
"Hey, Blondie..." he said, standing up, gasping for breath. Ino
narrowed her eyes and glared at him down her nose.
"Leave."
"What?" Kiba looked up at Ino's angry stare, and gulped. "Ino,
I-i-i..."
"Go. Now..." She definitely looked angry. "Before
I hurt you."
"Ino, you're so thin from your crazy diet that I'm surprised you
can walk without breaking!" he yelled back, and she opened her mouth. Then,
she deflated slightly.
"I- What?" She was confused? Kiba shook his
head.
"I don't think making yourself smaller is going to make you easier for him
to see..." Kiba snorted. "Sasuke isn't looking for a hot chick...
He's looking for someone who can handle herself, in case IT happens again... He
wants a sparring partner, someone who'll bring his clan back to existence... He
isn't looking for looks, Ino, and you know it..."
Ino's eyes widened, as if it was the first time the idea had struck her. She
hadn't noticed his attitude? She just assumed that if she was so thin as to be
nearly nonexistent, he would find her attractive?
"K-k-kiba... Is that true?" She looked...
lost? Hopeless? Of course, she'd spent years on a diet
that wouldn't work, of course she'd feel lost.
"Ino, if you want to get stronger, AND catch Sasuke (not that I know why
they would, he wouldn't even pay attention to them....) they'd have to be
strong... And Ino, you and Sakura have less chance at Sasuke than Tenten, who
he barely knows, or Hinata, who's family is related to
his way back... Ino, you have to eat good food, not less or thinning
food..." Kiba decided: He didn't like talking. But in this case, he'd
decided Ino needed help and here he was to give it...
"Kiba... Thanks..." she smiled. "Apology
accepted, you're forgiven... Wanna come inside?" she asked.
Kiba shrugged. That hadn't been as bad as he'd thought it would be... a little
more complicated, but less violent... "Sure..."
And both went in, and watched movies. Akamaru showed up, and Kiba slept on
Ino's couch. Ino's parents returned in the morning, and found Kiba and Ino
training...
"Well, I hope she's over that Uchiha boy..." her mother said to her
father. "Inoshi-kun... Could you go get some
soap?"
"Yes, dear..." Inoshi rolled his eyes. Why didn't she mention it on
the way back? Well, he'd catch a drink with Shikato and Chomaru
on his way home...
.:Ended:.