Loud thumps echoed through the grassy clearing, the sounds of a training girl. Hotaru stood at the base of a tree, pummelling it angrily.

'Since when does he cause all these emotions?!' the redhead asked herself in disgust, ignoring how the rough bark bit into her knuckles, too caught up in her frustration.

At the hurt that filled his eyes, the desire to comfort him was overwhelming, along with the guilt. She had caused that adorable yet painful hurt expression, and usually she wouldn't have cared one bit, but today it seemed to be reflecting onto her. She seemed to be feeling his pain, as though the fact that he was upset, made her upset. And it sickened her.

'I must just be tired. I didn't sleep well last night.' she shrugged off her frustration, wiping away the sweat on her forehead on the back of her hand and then racing home. She hurried upstairs before Sasori could have time to confront her, and locked herself in the bathroom, filling up the bath. She slipped into the hot water, sliding down and blowing bubbles in the water, enjoying the pleasant burn that caused prickles over her skin. She let her hair float around her, and merely laid there, staring at the ceiling, until the water started to turn cold. She then sighed heavily (though it came as bubbles since her mouth was under water still) and sat up, finishing her routine and then getting out and ready for bed.

The kunoichi found that despite her training, she wasn't hungry, so she skipped dinner. In fact, she felt a little sick.

She frowned as she pulled her black vest top over her head, then slipped on some loose grey trackies and her purple boot-slippers. That damn mutt, getting her mind so screwed up.

"Hotaru! Door!!" Hotaru grunted.

"I'm in my pj's!!" she yelled back.

"Well I'm busy!! Answer the door!" Sasori shouted.

"You answer it! You're closer!"

"You're younger!"

"What's that got to do with it?!"

"I'm older, so I'm less sprightly and energetic!"

"You're only 26!!"

"Exactly!"

"Oh, for fuck sake!!"

"Language!"

"Fuck off, oldie!!"

Hotaru grumbled to herself as she stomped downstairs unecessarily hard, letting Sasori know how pissed she was.

She pulled the door open, greeting the person with an irate "What?!"

Then she saw who it was, and the glare deepened.

Kiba shifted a little uncomfortably, then stopped, seeing the glare she was giving him. It wasn't quite as cold as she would have liked, but still a glare, and Inuzuka seemed to not notice anyway. It disguised the erratic thumping of her heart, and that was good enough.

"Team Ten is meeting up tomorrow in the usual place, at Nine am." Kiba said, not looking her in the eye. "Don't be late-"

"I won't." Hotaru cut in, biting back a growl as she slammed the door in his face. Then she turned and leaned her back against it, closing her eyes and placing her hand over her thudding heart as she sank to the floor. Stupid dog-boy... why was he suddenly making her feel this way?!

Hotaru's eyes snapped open at a muffled giggle, and immediately locked on to Sasori, who was peering at her from around the kitchen door and laughing. She growled.

"SHUT UP SASORI!!"

---

Hotaru ran her hand back through her hair as she walked to the clearing. It really was getting too long... she must remember to get Sasori to cut it for her soon.

"Ohayo, everyone." The redhead called as she spotted her teammates, walking to join them, "Can you tell me what this is all about now?"

Kurenai looked up at the mildly surprised Hotaru and smiled, still holding baby Asumi. "Just a meeting to see how everyone has progressed in my absence, now that Asumi is a little bigger."

Hotaru nodded, and smiled slightly as the baby opened her big blue eyes and curled it's tiny fist in their Sensei's hair.

"First of all, lap the clearing five times to warm yourselves up." Kurenai said, and the chunin all nodded and set off. It was nice to have their sensei back, after such a long time.

A few minutes later, that was done. Hotaru's eyes narrowed slightly as she noticed a mysterious glint in Srnsei's eyes.

"Now, sparring. Hinata vs Shino, and," realisation hit Hotaru like a brick to the head, "Hotaru vs Kiba."

The redhead scowled at her sensei a moment, and the older woman just smiled pleasantly. 'I know what you're up to, Sensei...'

The two pairs of shinobi seperated, Kiba and Hotaru on one side of the clearing, and Hinata and Shino on the other. Kurenai sat with Asumi at the edge, in prime position to watch both matches.

"Don't worry, Dog-boy, I'll go easy on you." Hotaru taunted, the usual effect that the other shinobi caused on her dimmed in the exhiliration of the oncoming battle. Said male growled.

"Like I need you too!" he retorted, clenching his fists as his dog barked, "And stop calling me that! I'm 17, a man! Not a boy!"

Hotaru arched one eyebrow, smirking, "If there's a man in there, I'd struggle to find him..." she taunted, "And anyway, 'Dog-boy' is a lot more derogatory than 'Dog-man', don't you think?"

Kurenai, who had heard the whole argument, sighed. These two would be very difficult... "Ready... Start!"

Immediately, Kiba and Akamaru ran at the girl, aiming to knock her off of her feet, an easy and painless win. But the redhead merely scorned their attempt, dodging easily, then landing a firm kick on Akamaru, flinging him to the side and knocked out instantly. Then the two humans exchanged blows for a long while, with Hotaru at an advantage, using her Hikarigan for only a moment to catch the boy off guard.

Kiba shrank into himself as he waited for the strike, only for it never to come. He opened his eyes hesitantly, only to see a fist centimetres from his face, and agonised hazel eyes staring straight into his.

"I-I can't..." Kiba merely blinked at the girl in shock, as she retracted her fist and stared back at him, mouth starting to form words. She then shut her eyes tight in frustration and turned away, lean legs carrying her at a fast pace into the bordering trees.

Hotaru half cried half growled out her frustration as she ran, deeply shaken by the strength of the pain she felt at the prospect of harming the Inuzuka boy. She had been ready, been about to hit him... but no matter how hard she pushed, she just couldn't bring herself to do it.

Suddenly her foot caught on something, and she tripped and lost her footing, her ankle twisting painfully. The redhead cried out in frustration as she held it, and the limb made sure to throb badly everytime she touched it.

"Great! This is just what I need!" Hotaru said defeatedly, giving up. What was the point in all this? She couldn't run from Inuzuka forever... couldn't run from what he made her feel forever. As much as she hated it, she had to confront it.

"Hotaru?! I heard a yell, are you okay?!" a person crashed through the greenery, and Hotaru grimaced at the anxious expression on his face. She eyed him dejectedly, as he came over, looking her up and down.

"Stop this will you..?" Hotaru sighed, a frown working onto her face. Kiba just blinked, puzzled. "Stop acting so... so nice." Hotaru hissed the last part, as if the very thought disgusted her. Hurt crossed Kiba's face for a second, and Hotaru looked away, fighting the urge to apologise.

"You're hurt..." Kiba said slowly, eyeing her bruised ankle, that had already started to swell. Hotaru grit her teeth.

"I'm fine-" she cut off as she felt the ground disappearing from beneath her, and glared at the Inuzuka in shock, "Inuzuka! Put me down!"

Kiba just sighed, bringing his eyes lazily to meet hers, "You can't walk like that- and even if you could, I wouldn't let you."

He saw no point in hiding the fact that he cared for her wellbeing anymore. They were teammates, comrades, so should care for one another. Kiba convinced himself that it was strictly professional, but her rejection before had still stung. And anyway, he wasn't that same immature kid that he was before.

Hotaru just grit her teeth, deciding to bear with it as the male walked irritatingly slowly. It would have been a lot easier if her heart wasn't drumming hard against her ribcage, but she would have to deal.

Hotaru could remember the last time she had been in this position. That mission, all those years ago, when she had broken her leg and Inuzuka had had to carry her, just before they were confronted by Deidara and almost blown up. It had been the same leg, too...

'Okay, I'm pretty sure that my left leg is evil.' Hotaru thought, glaring down at the leg that had caused her such discomfort.

"--or home?" Hotaru tuned in just to catch the last of Kiba's sentence. She stared at him blankly.

"Huh?"

Kiba rolled his eyes. "I said, that looks pretty bad, do you want me to take you to the hospital or home?"

Hotaru frowned. "It's not that bad, just home."

"Hotaru, you might've broken it-"

"I said it's fine, Inuzuka!" Kiba visibly clenched his jaw, and the two walked back to Hotaru's home in a stony silence.

Once they had gone through the ordeal of actually getting inside the house (Sasori hadn't been home as Hotaru hoped he would be), Kiba let Hotaru down.

"Just what is your problem?!" he demanded, angered. Hotaru growled.

"Why do you always interfere?! I could have gotten home fine!" she ground out, trying to pull her attention away from staring at him.

"Can you say ungrateful?! I was trying to help!" Kiba yelled back, and Hotaru growled again, dangerously.

"I never asked for your help! I didn't need it! I got by for nine whole years without help, what makes you think I need it now?! Especially not from-!!" Hotaru's rant was cut off abruptly by pressure on her lips, and a hand on the back of her head. Her eyes strained wide, and her face flushed red, her heart thumping as though it was trying to leap out of her chest, and stay close to the boy that was kissing her forever.

It was as obvious as the moon in a clear night sky... Hotaru's heart was not her own anymore.

---

Well now... I bet y'all weren't expecting that!

Heh heheh heheheheheeeheeeeeee -cough cough- heheheheheHEEEEEHEEEHHH!!!!

Eh-hem... yeah.

So anyway!! What did you think of the first kiss? Kukukukuu >:3 arguing one moment, kissing the next... That's what leads to anger sex!

Haha, I made a rhyme >;D

So yeah, fan, vote, and comment!! :D