OH EM GEE SEVENTEENTH CHAPTER ALREADY?! I DID NOT REALISE!!Okay, so I'm sorry for not replying to comments on previous chapter, but I figured you'd rather I updated quickly ^^ I mean, come on! Like, nine people commented! Already! After one night of it being posted!

Also, I realised that I haven't done this in a while so:

Disclaimer- I DO NOT OWN NARUTO!!

ONTO THE STORY!! :D

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"No, you don't understand!" Hotaru cried, "I can't do all this, I'm not cut out for-"

She was cut off once again by Kiba's lips being slammed into hers.

>:3

Hotaru's eyes widened, before falling shut dreamily. Her hands, which had been poised defensively in front of her chest, reached up to fist tightly in the collar of the Inu's jacket. She was barely aware of the hands that travelled one to the small of her back, and the other to her head to hold her in place. Their lips worked together softly, and Hotaru could hear Kiba's heart drumming like a hummingbird, or maybe that was her own. Kiba gently broke away, then pulled her head to rest on his chest. It was definitely his heart.

"I thought of a way to prove it." Kiba said, slightly breathless. Hotaru rose her eyes confusedly, too blissed to move for the moment.

"Prove what?" she asked, also breathless, hearing the skip in Kiba's heartbeat as she spoke.

"That I care for you more than I do anyone else." Hotaru blushed slightly, but soured, remembering her previous annoyance. She started to pull away, only for Kiba to sigh and hold her still. "Just hear me out, please." Hotaru frowned, but nodded. Kiba let go of her, and she sat up straight again. He looked her directly in the eyes, and she pursed her lips unhappily as he picked up her left hand and placed it on his chest, over his heart. It seemed to jump, and started thudding slightly faster, surprising the redhead.

"This only happens when you touch me, Hotaru. No one else." Kiba said sincerely, a slight dusting of pink on his cheeks. "Usually it would bother me," he admitted, "but today it seems to have come in handy."

Hotaru just stared at the boy for a long moment, her face pulling into a torn frown. "I don't get what you want from me-"

"Just one date. Just one." Kiba asked, his gaze imploring. "And if it's awkward, or you don't like it, then it'll end and we'll never speak of it again. Just give me a chance."

Hotaru measured his expression for a long moment, before closing her eyes and nodding slowly. Kiba grinned. He was determined to win her over.

---

Kiba growled in frustration. He had his date with Hotaru coming up, and he had no idea where to take her!

"Hana...?" Kiba asked reluctantly, and the woman looked up questioningly.

"Yeah?" Kiba stood straight and twiddled his thumbs, unsure of how to ask. However, Hana soon got impatient. "Spit it out, Kiba!"

"I have a date with a girl I really like soon and I have no idea where to take her so I was hoping you could help!" Kiba said all in a rush. It was like ripping off a plaster (Band-aid if you're American :) ). You have to just rip it straight off.

Hana blinked, then grinned. "Aww, Kiba's got a crush." she teased, and Kiba grimaced. She then gave it some thought. "Who is this girl and what do you know about her?"

"It's Hotaru-"

"That girl on your team that you always used to argue with?! I knew it!" Hana laughed, and Kiba scowled.

"Are you helping or not?!" he demanded, and Hana stifled her giggles.

"Okay, okay. I'm sorry. Continue." Kiba then reeled off a few choice things about her personality. Hana pursed her lips in thought, folding her arms.

"Sounds to me like she's the sort of person that would prefer something simple, just the two of you." Hana said thoughtfully, and Kiba frowned.

"Something just the two of us..." he repeated, then looked up to Hana, "Okay, thanks Nee-san."

---

"So what happened?" Kurenai asked at training the next day, once she had managed to quieten Asumi and get her to sleep. It was obvious that Naruto had informed her about what had happened, and had become her inside source. Hotaru had sworn to beat that sneaky little blonde within an inch of his life next time she saw him.

"Well, we-!" Kiba was cut off by Hotaru's hand being slammed over his mouth.

"Stop talking!" she hissed, and Kiba pried her hand off of his face.

"Why can't I tell them about our-" Kiba was cut off once more by Hotaru, except this time she hit him over the head. "Itai! What'd you hit me for?!"

Hotaru just laughed awkwardly, "Umm, let's spar now, 'kay?"

She dragged Kiba away by his hand, leaving their team confused behind them.

They quickly lined up, then started, fast meeting in close combat. Neither hit hard enough to really hurt the other, and this did not go unnoticed by the others of the team.

"I don't get why you don't want to tell anyone that we're da-" he cut off to duck as Hotaru's foot swung for his head.

"Don't say it!" she hissed, and Kiba growled.

"What is your problem?" he demanded, slightly hurt. Was she ashamed of him?

Hotaru stopped, and dropped her stance. "I... I don't want to tell everyone, in case it doesn't work out." she said quietly, and Kiba was at a loss for what to say. Did she really have that much doubt in him?

---

"My Imouto has a boyfriend?!" Sasori seemed torn between singing and growling. It was as though he couldn't decide whether to be happy or to go and threaten the boy.

"Um, no?" for the first time, Hotaru felt unsure of herself. And she didn't like it. And anyway, they technically weren't boyfriend and girlfriend, they were just going to date and see how it went. "We're just... I have a date on Thursday."

"That's great!" Sasori sang, but then his eyes narrowed dangerously, "Who?"

Hotaru seemed to recover her character. "I'm not going to tell you if you're going to go threaten to rip off his man-parts."

Sasori sighed, "Fine, I won't..."

Hotaru frowned, but let it go. "Kiba."

Sasori blinked, then grinned wide. "I knew it! I knew it was him you liked!" Hotaru just grimaced, cursing the heat rising to her cheeks. She then blinked, and realised that Sasori was out the door and skipping down the road.

"Sasori!! Where're you going?!" she called out of the door, and Sasori smiled.

"I don't care who he is, Imma still threaten to rip off his balls if he hurts you!" he sang happily, and Hotaru growled.

"You said you wouldn't!!" she yelled.

"I lied!" Sasori yelled back.

"Ugh!"

---

Hotaru flopped face-first onto her bed. She was so nervous, and she hated it!

If anyone had told her a few months ago that Kiba would eventually make her feel so confused but happy, she would have laughed, called the person crazy, then possibly punched them in the face. Even now, she still couldn't quite believe it.

Her date was in less than five minutes. She was already ready, but she had no idea what Inuzu- er, Kiba had planned.

"Hotaruuuuu~! Your date's here!" the redhead hurriedly scrambled downstairs, seeing Kiba standing a little awkwardly in the hall, with Sasori emanating an extremely threatening vibe. Hotaru sighed, and went and stood next to the younger male.

"Behave, Sasori." she said, sending her older brother a glare. He just smiled, and the couple turned to leave.

"Have a nice time, you two!" Sasori called, then poked his head out of the door to give Kiba a menacing glare. "And keep you hands to yourself, Dog."

Kiba turned a little pink, and shifted nervously. Hotaru pulled a pencil from her bag and threw it at Sasori, hitting him square in the face. She then yelled, "Go back inside, Sasori!!"

They then walked off, leaving a slightly swirly-eyed Sasori on the doorstep.

---

There ya have it! Hotaru has finally not rejected Kiba!! Yay!!

'Not rejected'... That doesn't sound right to me. Oh well.

So how do you think their date will go? Good or ungood? Or I suppose I should say not good. IGNORE MY BAD GRAMMAR!! FFS!! D:<

Well, anyway! Fan, vote and Comment!! :D

In case you're wondering: yes, I am Bipolar xD