3dogknight
in
no_air
[AIM log] [The Inuzuka Birthday Hike] [Hana and Kiba] [closed]
The first Inuzuka Birthday Hike Kiba could remember hadn't been his first hike at all; he knew there were pictures somewhere of him in a backpack slung over his mom's back, teething on a rawhide bone he must have filched from one of the dogs. By the time he was four he'd been walking on his own though, tagging at Hana's heels or bounding off the trail to chase a squirrel or running ahead to hide behind a tree and try to scare his mom. When he got tired, his dad had carried him, and he'd never felt so safe before or since.
Sixteen years in between that birthday hike and this, though, and now it was just him and Hana and four dogs. Too early in the season for most hikers--both of the Inuzuka were wearing sweatshirts, and Kiba had a couple ponchos in his pack in case of rain. Not for the humans, though--cuddling up with wet dog wasn't much fun at all.
...Speaking of which. He kicked a stone up off the trail, caught it, and shied it at a tree; it hit dead-center on a knot. "So, Hana. You and Kuchiki, eh?"
The peaceful silence of the woods was interrupted for a moment as a few birds took flight from the shaken tree, squawking and flapping in protest. Hana shook her head and hoisted her backpack a bit higher, readjusting one of the straps. Kiba's question made her fumble with the cinch for a moment, not surprised, but taken slightly off guard.
"Huh? What about him?" She raised an eyebrow at her younger brother, brushing a stray lock of hair out of her face and tucking it behind her ear.
Kiba'd never seen the point in beating around the bush. He was terrible at keeping his own secrets, anyway. And though he couldn't have explained the logic of that if you asked him, it made enough instinctual sense to him that he went straight ahead.
"You dating him?"
Hana shook her head. Honesty among Inuzukas was almost a family trait, and especially between the siblings. No secrets, no lies. She had no qualms sharing (most) everything with her younger brother.
"No, I'm not. It's, uh... I dunno. I like him. But he's kind of oblivious." Hana shrugged. "We're just friends, I guess."
"Not surprise he's not getting it," Kiba said wisely, kicking up a pine cone. He tossed it at Akamaru this time; the white dog caught it with a snap of his teeth and immediately engaged in a tussel with Shinri over possession. "Dunno if I ever saw a guy more out of it. I mean, at least Hinata's cousin can talk with people sometimes."
But with all the rotten guys he'd seen chasing after Hana over the years--and had chased off, himself--he had to admit that Byakuya wasn't half-bad. If she liked him, there had to be something interesting about him.
"Well, it isn't like I've come out and said, 'hey, I like you,' but most guys probably would've gotten the hint by now." She shrugged again, picking up a stick and throwing it down the trail for Kougi and Shouri to chase after. Kicking at a stone as they trekked down the path, she thought quietly for a moment.
"He's a nice guy. Just needs more sunlight, is all. You know how people get when stay inside all the time."
Another pause, this one slightly longer than the first. "I probably don't need to be in a relationship right now anyway, really. Not after... you know, my last one." A vague wave of her hand punctuated that statement. Hana knew she didn't have to expound on that comment. Kiba had hated her previous boyfriend since they had met, and after the spectacular failure of her relationship, she realized why. It was a topic not often brought to the table, still rather raw and uncomfortable.
Kiba's eyes slewed round immediately, hard and angry. "He's not--?"
'Cause there really would be bloodshed if Byakuya was at all like the last guy, rumored collection of swords or not.
"No! I didn't mean that." Hana waved her arms in an attempt to placate her brother. She didn't want him getting the wrong ideas. "He's not like Brad at all. He has scruples. He wouldn't try anything funny like that."
Hana punched Kiba lightly in the arm, grabbing his hand as they walked. "What I meant is that I probably should take things slow, y'know? You know how things work when you're on the 'rebound.' And it's like I said, he doesn't even know that I like him."
"You slept in his lap," Kiba pointed out, obnoxious little brother at work. "And no guy's polite enough that he'd let some random girl with a cold snuggle up to him just 'cause. Unless he didn't mind it."
Ah yes. That. Hana's face was now a bright shade of red, she was sure. She pointed an accusatory finger at her brother's face. "I explained that whole situation to you already! It was an accident! You know how medicine knocks me out unless it's the non-drowsy kind. He just didn't move fast enough."
"He coulda shoved you on the floor," Kiba said mercilessly. "Hell, I woulda. Unless it was Hinata--she could sneeze all over me if she wanted." His face softened a little--certainly not dreamy, but verging on the edges of the brotherly smirk and a smile. "'xcept she wouldn't. She's way too refined for that."
Up ahead, Akamaru barked and tore off into the bushes; Kiba snapped out of his momentary reverie. "Watch where you're going, idiot! You fall in another stream, I'm not sharing a sleeping bag with you tonight!"
Hana chuckled, and a part of her silently hoped that Akamaru came back drenched and jumped on his owner. The brat. She quashed that train of thought quickly, though. "Y'know, not all guys are mean enough to shove poor sick girls onto the floor like you would. And!" the accusatory pointer-finger returned, here, "and, what would you have said if he'd done that, huh? From what I heard, you gave him a hard enough time as it was."
"I'd've beaten him up," Kiba said promptly. "I'm the only one allowed to shove you anywhere." He did just to prove his point, a not-altogether-gentle push on her shoulder. "Sides, I'm the only brother you got. Who's gonna look out for you if I don't?"
"I do a pretty good job of looking out for myself," said Hana as she returned the push in an equally not-gentle manner. "And anyway, we look out for each other, right?" She nodded sagely, ruffling his hair.
"S'what familes are for," Kiba agreed, ducking out from under her hand and poking her in the ribs. "Beating each other up and making sure nobody else does."
At least, that was how the Inuzukas operated. And Kiba really didn't see how else a family could.
A white burst through the trees announced the return of the youngest member of their family; Akamaru came in a joyful whirlwind, leaping up and around Hana and Kiba. He was disturbingly silent, though, and in the white blur there were alarming streaks of red--
Kiba grabbed for Akamaru's collar with one hand and for the rabbit carcass dangling from the dog's jaws with the other. He didn't bother to bite back his grin or the snorted laughter. "How d'you think of rabbit for Easter eve dinner?"
At first surprised by the sudden intrusion of the dog, Hana joined Kiba in prying the rabbit from Akamaru's jaws. "I'll fix it up if you get a fire started," she said.
This was turning out to be one of the best Inuzuka Birthday Hikes in recent history. Being able to put life on hold for a few days was always a welcome event. Hana felt at ease with her brother close by, working side-by-side to prepare their dinner like they'd done so many times before. And, she figured, things would always be okay as long as she knew she could count on him.
Sixteen years in between that birthday hike and this, though, and now it was just him and Hana and four dogs. Too early in the season for most hikers--both of the Inuzuka were wearing sweatshirts, and Kiba had a couple ponchos in his pack in case of rain. Not for the humans, though--cuddling up with wet dog wasn't much fun at all.
...Speaking of which. He kicked a stone up off the trail, caught it, and shied it at a tree; it hit dead-center on a knot. "So, Hana. You and Kuchiki, eh?"
The peaceful silence of the woods was interrupted for a moment as a few birds took flight from the shaken tree, squawking and flapping in protest. Hana shook her head and hoisted her backpack a bit higher, readjusting one of the straps. Kiba's question made her fumble with the cinch for a moment, not surprised, but taken slightly off guard.
"Huh? What about him?" She raised an eyebrow at her younger brother, brushing a stray lock of hair out of her face and tucking it behind her ear.
Kiba'd never seen the point in beating around the bush. He was terrible at keeping his own secrets, anyway. And though he couldn't have explained the logic of that if you asked him, it made enough instinctual sense to him that he went straight ahead.
"You dating him?"
Hana shook her head. Honesty among Inuzukas was almost a family trait, and especially between the siblings. No secrets, no lies. She had no qualms sharing (most) everything with her younger brother.
"No, I'm not. It's, uh... I dunno. I like him. But he's kind of oblivious." Hana shrugged. "We're just friends, I guess."
"Not surprise he's not getting it," Kiba said wisely, kicking up a pine cone. He tossed it at Akamaru this time; the white dog caught it with a snap of his teeth and immediately engaged in a tussel with Shinri over possession. "Dunno if I ever saw a guy more out of it. I mean, at least Hinata's cousin can talk with people sometimes."
But with all the rotten guys he'd seen chasing after Hana over the years--and had chased off, himself--he had to admit that Byakuya wasn't half-bad. If she liked him, there had to be something interesting about him.
"Well, it isn't like I've come out and said, 'hey, I like you,' but most guys probably would've gotten the hint by now." She shrugged again, picking up a stick and throwing it down the trail for Kougi and Shouri to chase after. Kicking at a stone as they trekked down the path, she thought quietly for a moment.
"He's a nice guy. Just needs more sunlight, is all. You know how people get when stay inside all the time."
Another pause, this one slightly longer than the first. "I probably don't need to be in a relationship right now anyway, really. Not after... you know, my last one." A vague wave of her hand punctuated that statement. Hana knew she didn't have to expound on that comment. Kiba had hated her previous boyfriend since they had met, and after the spectacular failure of her relationship, she realized why. It was a topic not often brought to the table, still rather raw and uncomfortable.
Kiba's eyes slewed round immediately, hard and angry. "He's not--?"
'Cause there really would be bloodshed if Byakuya was at all like the last guy, rumored collection of swords or not.
"No! I didn't mean that." Hana waved her arms in an attempt to placate her brother. She didn't want him getting the wrong ideas. "He's not like Brad at all. He has scruples. He wouldn't try anything funny like that."
Hana punched Kiba lightly in the arm, grabbing his hand as they walked. "What I meant is that I probably should take things slow, y'know? You know how things work when you're on the 'rebound.' And it's like I said, he doesn't even know that I like him."
"You slept in his lap," Kiba pointed out, obnoxious little brother at work. "And no guy's polite enough that he'd let some random girl with a cold snuggle up to him just 'cause. Unless he didn't mind it."
Ah yes. That. Hana's face was now a bright shade of red, she was sure. She pointed an accusatory finger at her brother's face. "I explained that whole situation to you already! It was an accident! You know how medicine knocks me out unless it's the non-drowsy kind. He just didn't move fast enough."
"He coulda shoved you on the floor," Kiba said mercilessly. "Hell, I woulda. Unless it was Hinata--she could sneeze all over me if she wanted." His face softened a little--certainly not dreamy, but verging on the edges of the brotherly smirk and a smile. "'xcept she wouldn't. She's way too refined for that."
Up ahead, Akamaru barked and tore off into the bushes; Kiba snapped out of his momentary reverie. "Watch where you're going, idiot! You fall in another stream, I'm not sharing a sleeping bag with you tonight!"
Hana chuckled, and a part of her silently hoped that Akamaru came back drenched and jumped on his owner. The brat. She quashed that train of thought quickly, though. "Y'know, not all guys are mean enough to shove poor sick girls onto the floor like you would. And!" the accusatory pointer-finger returned, here, "and, what would you have said if he'd done that, huh? From what I heard, you gave him a hard enough time as it was."
"I'd've beaten him up," Kiba said promptly. "I'm the only one allowed to shove you anywhere." He did just to prove his point, a not-altogether-gentle push on her shoulder. "Sides, I'm the only brother you got. Who's gonna look out for you if I don't?"
"I do a pretty good job of looking out for myself," said Hana as she returned the push in an equally not-gentle manner. "And anyway, we look out for each other, right?" She nodded sagely, ruffling his hair.
"S'what familes are for," Kiba agreed, ducking out from under her hand and poking her in the ribs. "Beating each other up and making sure nobody else does."
At least, that was how the Inuzukas operated. And Kiba really didn't see how else a family could.
A white burst through the trees announced the return of the youngest member of their family; Akamaru came in a joyful whirlwind, leaping up and around Hana and Kiba. He was disturbingly silent, though, and in the white blur there were alarming streaks of red--
Kiba grabbed for Akamaru's collar with one hand and for the rabbit carcass dangling from the dog's jaws with the other. He didn't bother to bite back his grin or the snorted laughter. "How d'you think of rabbit for Easter eve dinner?"
At first surprised by the sudden intrusion of the dog, Hana joined Kiba in prying the rabbit from Akamaru's jaws. "I'll fix it up if you get a fire started," she said.
This was turning out to be one of the best Inuzuka Birthday Hikes in recent history. Being able to put life on hold for a few days was always a welcome event. Hana felt at ease with her brother close by, working side-by-side to prepare their dinner like they'd done so many times before. And, she figured, things would always be okay as long as she knew she could count on him.