A Fatalistic Series of Events

nm1716: Glad you like it so much! Hopefully this will satisfy you. xD
aliceinyaoiland: I'm glad you liked it, hee~ Hopefully the other story was just as good!
Tellnoone_Noonetells: Oh, pfft. You should know by now that we don't do short stories. xD This will be just as long as TSoE.

Mass upload happening today so lol. You guys will have a lot to read. 83

--

Kiba cursed, Akamaru whining from the sidelines as he launched himself at the next tree, demolishing it under his claws and brute force.

“Can you believe that selfish, arrogant, self-absorbed fucking asshole?!”

"K-Kiba!" Hinata gasped, flinching a little as the tree's debris flew everywhere. She brushed some out from her hair, looking at him in concern. He hadn't stopped yelling since he'd shown up to the training field and all Hinata could get from it so far was that he was upset with Neji. She knew he wasn't the easiest to get along with, but...

“Hinata, how can you even stand to be related to such a complete and utter prick!” He demanded, not even looking at the girl in question as he shot towards some of the larger chunks of tree left, picking them up and pulling them apart bit by bit by bit, imagining it to be the stick lodged up Neji’s tight ass. In a fit of newborn rage as he remembered just how tight, he suddenly cracked a limb against another one, both of the heavy branches splintering under the force.

“No pride my fucking ass! He’s the one with way too much! Someone needs to pull the fucking stick out and beat him over his pretty princess fucking head!”

Hinata blushed brightly. She was used to Kiba being crude, but it still shook her every time. "K-Kiba, ah-um... w-what happened?"

Kiba rounded on her, another unfortunate branch held above his head, poised to be smashed against its fallen comrade’s remains. His nostrils flared as he dropped it, waving a hand angrily.

“What happened was that last night me and Neji fucked around and in the end when I started to clean him up without a fucking towel, he pitched a bitch fit at me! I even fucking apologized to the ass and he just kept on throwing a hissy fit! Last time I ever let him take my ass for sure; I’m surprised his dick wasn’t cold, fucking ice princess that he fucking is. Fucking queen.” He punctuated his anger by kicking the branch he’d intended to smash.

Hinata's face grew redder, the blush covering her entire face as she stuttered nonsense. She hadn't expected anything like that! Somehow managing to not faint, she stuttered out, "D-d-d-did you h-hurt hi-him or s-something, m-maybe?"

Kiba gave her a genuinely insulted look.

“…not physically, and only after he’d said some nasty things first!” He said hotly. “And besides, Neji was the one to go all byakugan on me and leave me paralyzed in a hotel room!”

Hinata's eyes widened in surprise. Neji wouldn't do that! ...Would he?

"H-he did th-that?" She frowned slightly, remembering how angry he looked the night before. Obviously something really bad had happened but... what?

Kiba sneered.

“Yes, the precious Hyuuga Neji lost his temper and attacked.” He kicked out, catching a thin branch and snapping it. He knew he’d brought it on himself with the harsh words, but damnit! Neji had said some bad things too!

She winced slightly, glancing away. She really couldn't believe that her cousin would do that; not on purpose or with bad intent. It just wasn't like him.

"I-I'm su-sure he didn't m-mean t-to hurt you..."

“Oh, I’m sure he did Hinata.” He crossed his arms, his fingers tapping impatiently across the jacket he always wore. “To tell the truth I did kinda provoke him, but still! He didn’t exactly sit back and look pretty during the yelling.”

Hinata sighed, fidgeting with a bit of her hair. "W-what d-di-did y-you say?" she asked hesitantly.

Kiba sighed, scuffing his toes in the dirt. He couldn’t stay mad when talking to Hinata, not for long anyway.

“…I was mad okay? He said some really bad things and I said some bad things. That might have been about his clan. And might have been about his mark.”

"O-oh! K-Kiba..."

No wonder he had been mad. That wasn't something you talked about with Neji, especially not as an argument or insult.

“He deserved it Hinata! He called me a slut, said I had no pride!”

"I-I-I... s-suppose..." she whispered, forehead creasing in worry. "B-but y-you do s-sleep around a-a lot..."

Kiba’s eyes widened, before narrowing down, masking his hurt with still more anger.

“You Hyuuga’s are all the same, aren’t you? All you can see is the number of people I’ve been with, not who, or when. You call it disgusting and immoral and… and Hinata just go away.” He turned, Akamaru already by his side, whining again. He rested his hand on his dogs head, biting his lips to keep in his anger and any more words.

Hinata gasped and shook her head, bowing low. "I-I'm s-sorry, K-Kiba-kun," she said quickly. "I d-d-didn't m-mean... I-I j-just thought, m-maybe th-that's ho-how he s-saw it?"

She knew her friend didn't just sleep around with anybody, but there had been quite a few.

Kiba turned, waving a hand dismissively.

“No Hinata, you and your own just don’t get it. To my family, to me, sex is a part of life. A way to show someone you appreciate them, their body, a connection. Yes, I do it for fun too, but never with anyone I wouldn’t consider… worth it.” He shook his head. “Whatever. I’m outta here.”

"K-Kiba, w-wait," she said, voice stronger than normal, but still soft. "I-I k-know th-that it's special t-to you... I underst-stand. N-Neji-niisan j-just... H-he has it harder w-when i-it comes to th-that..."

“No, it’s… you make it seem ritualistic Hinata.” Kiba couldn’t help but smile. “It just… is. It’s not special, or not the way you make it seem, it just is. It’s like, you wouldn’t hug a stranger right, but you’ll hug your friends? Well I wouldn’t fuck some guy, but I’ll lay with someone I respect.” He wouldn’t call Neji a friend, but he did respect him. He turned back.

“Don’t you dare repeat that to anyone.” He said, a little embarrassed. To him it was a kind of knowledge that he just knew, and he forgot that others didn’t think that way and explaining it to someone like that felt a little weird. “Especially not Hyuuga."

Hinata shook her head, smiling a little shyly. "I-I won't, K-Kiba..."

Kiba let his shoulders relax, slumping a little. Hinata would keep her word, or at least have a really good reason for breaking it. She was trustworthy.

“I’d hate to hear what Neji thinks about that…” He mumbled, fidgeting with his hands a little. “So just forget about everything, alright? This whole conversation. Me and Neji never got together.”

Hinata hesitated for a moment before giving a nod. "A-Alright, Kiba," she said softly. Of course if she could pry information out of Neji without asking anything...

Kiba sagged a little more in relief. He smiled at her thankfully, though he wished sometimes that he could stay mad at her. It just wasn’t fair that he couldn’t.

“Thanks Hinata. You know, talking about feelings and crap and not making it seem so stupid and girly.” Otherwise he’d probably still be off killing trees.

Hinata covered her mouth as she giggled. "I-I'm just glad I c-could help," she said, smiling.

“Yeah, yeah, sure.” Kiba said, lifting hands behind his head. “Let’s start training for real now.”

Hinata nodded, still smiling lightly, and activated her byakugan, ready for their usual training session.

--

Later, wandering the compound, Hinata couldn’t help it. She sought out Neji, hoping to maybe find out a little more about what had happened.

She flushed, about to check if her cousin was in his rooms. Well, not that much more. She flushed harder and announced her presence. She found using Byakugan to check rooms was both rude and a little dangerous.

“Neji? I-if you’re in th-there, I-I’d like t-to t-t-talk.”

Neji had had the whole day to not-sulk (because Hyuuga's never sulked, of course), and feel bad about what he'd done. Not that Kiba hadn't deserved to be attacked, but...

He let out a sigh and stood up as his cousin's voice filtered through the door. He went over and slid open the door, looking down at her. "Yes, Hinata-sama?"

“I-I w-was wonderi-ing if you w-were still u-upset? F-from last n-night.”

Neji shook his head, frowning a little. "I'm fine," he said, lying.

Hinata frowned a little, worry etching onto her soft features.

“N-Neji-nii, p-please. S-someth-thing is u-upsetting y-you.”

He stared at Hinata, expression softening after a while. "It's nothing, Hinata," he said, dropping the usual suffix. "Don't worry yourself."

“I-I am al-already w-worried.” She said, giving him pleading eyes. “Neji-nii, p-please, t-t-tell m-me what’s w-wrong.”

Neji hesitated. He didn't want to upset her, but it wasn't something he could talk about with her. What would she think if she knew he had gone and attacked a friend of hers like that? Or what they had done before that? No he couldn't tell her.

“N-Neji…” Hinata chewed her bottom lip, but decided she had to at least know Neji’s side of it. “D-do y-y-you know w-why K-Kiba-k-kun was u-upset t-tod-day?”

Neji inwardly winced. Of course Kiba would still be upset. "...We had a disagreement yesterday," he said finally.

Hinata frowned even more in worry, hand tightening and pressing to her mouth as she lowered her eyes.

“N-neji-nii, w-will you t-t-tell me w-what a-a-about?”

"Hinata-sama," he started, ready to lie through his teeth. "It's not something you should concern with. It was something petty and I'm sure it will blow over in time."

“F-forgive m-me, N-n-neji-nii, b-but y-y-you aren’t p-petty.” She said, looking up quickly. “W-what h-happened?”

Neji sighed, looking at the ceiling for a while before taking a step back into his room. "Let's not talk about this out here."

Hinata’s eyes widened slightly. She’d never been into Neji’s room before. She breathed deeply, nodding to her cousin, stepping over the threshold.

Neji really must have been affected by this if she was being invited into his personal space.

Neji sat down next to his futon, legs folded under him in proper posture. He nodded silently to the cushion, letting her sit there comfortably.

She did so, her worry increasing. From what Kiba had said it was just a fight, albeit after having sex…

Neji was silent for a while, trying to find a way to say what happened without actually giving anything away.

"...We had an argument; insults were thrown by both of us. It's not something I'm proud of doing."

“A-a-a-argum-ment a-a-about w-what?” Hinata asked, trying her best not to flush as she remembered all that Kiba had told her.

Neji studied Hinata critically for a while. "...He did something I was not comfortable with and then over-reacted."

“K-kiba o-over-react-ted to something y-you d-d-didn’t l-like?’ She questioned, finding it a bit strange. Kiba normally would have just teased someone if they were uncomfortable. It was his way.

Neji frowned a little, giving a nod. "It led to more arguing and things I'm sure we both regret were said. Like I said, I'm sure it will just blow over in a few days."

Hinata chewed her lip more. She didn’t want to tell Neji exactly what Kiba had said, but it was the most hurt she’d ever seen Kiba show…

“….P-please N-neji-nii, it w-won’t. W-whatever i-it is, K-kiba-kun w-was really h-hurt… H-he was hurting h-himself i-in a-a-anger…” She was sure some of those punches he’d given the unrelenting trees had to have hurt.

Neji looked startled for a second, glancing down at his lap. "...I see."

“N-neji-nii, please, e-even if y-you w-won’t tell m-me what h-happened, p-please j-j-just s-say you w-will talk t-to him?”

Neji sighed, closing his eyes and nodded. He didn't want to, but if Kiba was reacting like this he had to do something.

"I'll talk with him tomorrow."

Hinata smiled, a weight lifting from her chest. She’d gotten through to Neji without revealing anything Kiba had said.

“Th-th-thank y-you n-neji-nii!” She stood quickly, bowing. “I-I’ll b-be going n-now.”

Neji stood up as well, giving his own bow. "Of course. Have a good night, Hinata-sama."

--

Kiba growled as he walked towards the meeting room. What was the big deal anyway, rushing around to get him to meet someone in private like this? Go to any training ground and it’s private. He sighed as he approached the door, clearing his throat in a gruff gesture to announce himself.

Neji tensed, sitting up taller and steeling himself for what he had to do. Now there was definitely no going back.

Kiba scowled as no one responded, using his nose to see if anyone was in there. He stiffened, recognizing who was behind the door only after he’d begun opening the door. He sighed in anger.

No going back now, not without seeming like a chicken.

He opened the door the rest of the way with a soft growl, glare and anger set protectively across his face and body.

Neji kept his face as calm as he could, the exact opposite of Kiba. He let out a breath and looked up at the other boy.

"...I apologize," he said simply.

About to snap out some form of unsavory comment, Kiba was caught off guard. He’d never expected Neji to apologize, not to someone like himself.

“…What for?”

Neji narrowed his eyes a little, wondering if the Inuzuka was being a smartass or not.

"For attacking you," he said. "While what you said... I cannot overlook what you said, but what I did in return was uncalled for. For that, I apologize."

Kiba let his shoulders slump a little in relief.

“Good. I thought you were going to apologize for the whole thing, but if it’s just for when you went crazy then I accept.”

Neji's shoulders tensed and he struggled to hold his tongue. He hadn't gone crazy! And he had hoped that Kiba would give an apology back for insulting him and his clan; even if it would be fake, but that obviously wasn't going to happen.

"Very well; then I should leave you to... whatever I have pulled you from," he said, getting to his feet.

“Wait, Neji.” Kiba said, sighing. “Do you really care about what you did to me? You’re really sorry and not just doing it out of some weird obligation thing?”

Neji looked back at him, staring. "I would not be here if it was just some obligation or duty, Inuzuka," he said calmly.

“You’re the type to see your duties through to the end, Neji. You’d be here.” Kiba shook his head before the other could respond. “But since I think you’re sincere I’ll say this; I’m not sorry for what we did. It was some good sex. I’m not sorry for what I did that lead to the fight either. What I am sorry for is what I said during the fight.”

Neji relaxed slightly and nodded in acceptance, figuring that was the most he would get out of him. He wondered how much of it he was sorry for, but he didn't want to push it and he didn't want to be reminded of what he had said in the first place.

Kiba shifted a little, not sure what to say now. He was still a little ticked, but nothing he wouldn’t get over.

“So yeah… That’s it I guess.”

Neji gave another nod. "I'll see you around then," he said, turning and walking out.

Kiba gave a weak little wave, not knowing how he felt about the Hyuuga.

--

“Alright, a mission finally!” Kiba said, stretching. He’d been forced to leave Akamaru at home, since the dog wouldn’t be coming on the mission. He mourned that, but his excitement at finally being able to get up and do something was greater than that. He stepped into the headquarters, moving to his debriefing room. He was surprised into speechlessness to see Neji sitting down in the room, obviously his partner in crime this time around.

Neji glanced over at his entrance, inwardly sighing. At least they weren't fighting anymore, but now it seemed a heavy awkwardness had settled between them instead. He wouldn't let it stain his mission success rate, though.

He turned forward again, looking back at the Hokage and waiting for her to fill them in as she had said they were only waiting for one other.

“Kiba sit. It’s just Neji.” Tsunade made an impatient noise. “You act like you’re seeing a ghost or something.”

Kiba shook his head to clear it, nodding at the Hokage. He sat down, doing his best not to glance at Neji as he did it.

“Alright, to lay it out for you two, there’s a missing nin that might be in a small village nearby.” She pushed a scroll towards the two. “This contains more information on the village. The nin is said to frequent a pretty ritzy club for the young and rich. The only problem is this club only allows rich couples in,” she paused to let that sink in. “and at that, they are an entirely homophobic group.”

Neji reached out and took the scroll before Kiba could, leadership tendencies surfacing. He paused when opening it, looking back up at Tsunade with narrowed eyes. This did not sound promising.

"...Then why choose two men for this mission, Tsunade-sama?" he asked suspiciously. "Shouldn't one of us be going with a kunoichi instead?"

“Ino and Tenten are on missions, I can’t afford to send Sakura on a mission, I don’t want to send Hinata. These sorts of places seem beautiful on the surface and then you set your glass down and someone spikes it for some entertainment. I’m left with a choice of men.” Tsunade sighed helplessly. “And those eight of you are cut back a full three due to Shikamaru, Naruto, and Sasuke. Lee, I would never send on this kind of mission, same as Shino. Unfortunately Chouji doesn’t meet their standards."

"Which leaves us two.” Tsunade looked at Kiba coolly.

“Normally I wouldn’t send you out there either. Preferably this mission would have been Neji and Shikamaru. I need people who can remain calm under stress and you have a reckless habit of getting overeager.” She sighed again while Kiba sulked. “That’s why Neji will be team leader. You will obey everything he says to a T, got that?”

“Yes…”

Neji inwardly gloated but kept his face perfectly schooled from that. He was still confused though. "Alright, so... If we're going that still doesn't help much. Is this a stealth mission then; go in and out unseen?" That was ANBU's job, though, so why would they...?

Tsunade lifted a hand to the bridge of her nose. This was the hard part.

“This is an information gathering mission. How do you think we know where to send ANBU for stealth missions? Someone has to be sent to confirm the identity first hand. That’s you two. You’ll infiltrate, mingle and make nice, and then see if he’s our guy. The targets information, what you’re checking to confirm, is also in the scroll.”

“But we’re both still guys.” Kiba said. Tsunade winced at his speech. And he was going to attending what amounted to an old fashioned ball…

“Yes, the only ninja I have that can do it. Neji, you’ll play the part of the female; Kiba, the male. You’ll have to use make-up to cover your tattoos though.”

Neji paled. He had to do what?

"I... what?" he asked, almost squeaking, shaking his head. "No. No, there's no way I'm doing that."

Tsunade narrowed her eyes and looked scary enough that Kiba thought twice about the teasing he’d been about to do.

“What did you say to your Hokage?”

Neji hesitated, intimidated by the woman, but he really didn't want to dress and act like a girl. Especially not around the Inuzuka.

"I... are you sure no one else can do this? Anko-san, maybe?" he asked, trying to get out of it. He couldn't refuse unless he wanted to be suspended from all missions, or worse, but if he could find someone else to take Kiba's place...

“Young, Neji. Young as in twenty-four or younger, preferably younger. And no jutsu’s to hide appearances, too risky if it really is a nin in there. You and Kiba are my only option.”

Neji sighed, shoulders slumping a little in defeat. "When do we leave then?" he merely asked.

Sitting back with a satisfied curl to her lips, Tsunade folded her hands.

“Tomorrow, anytime between day break and noon. You’re the team leader, you decide. I’ll send someone with the necessary things and I’m betting you both don’t know how to apply make-up.” She laughed as Kiba growled. “So someone will stop by and give a quick lesson.”

Neji wisely kept his mouth shut about having to help Hinata and Hanabi put on make-up before attending the main branch parties. He pursed his lips slightly and nodded. "Understood. Is that all?"

Tsunade held up a hand, ticking off the main points as she spoke.

“Missing nin, Neji team leader, Neji cross-dressing, Kiba wearing make-up, gave you the scroll, told you the time, someone will give Kiba lessons on make-up, someone will give Neji his dresses… Yes, that is all.”

“Wait, why am I the only one getting lessons?!” Kiba asked, not happy about being the make-up guy. She snorted.

“Neji will probably get it the first time around since he’ll more than likely pay attention. You’re the one that would need more than one example.”

Kiba glowered but kept silent.

Neji's expression darkened at the reminder of what he had to do. He snapped out of his inward sulk, eyes widening. "W-wait, who is going to be... doing all... that?" he asked, hoping it wasn't someone he knew. He would never live it down.

“Sakura of course.” Tsunade said as if it were the most obvious choice in the world. Kiba blanched and snarled his response.

“No way! You could send Shizune or Anko or you yourself! It doesn’t have to be Sakura!”

“Shizune is helping me today, Anko isn’t all that appreciative of make-up and I’m busy.”

Neji let out a soft groan of despair. Yeah, he was never going to live this down. Especially if Sakura ever let it slip to Naruto and then, god forbid, Shikamaru.

"Are you sure there's no one else?"

Tsunade sighed. “Is there anyone in either of your families you’d be more comfortable with? Has Hinata gotten into make-up yet?”

Neji sighed softly through his nose and nodded. "Hinata has been using make-up for a few years now, just not every day." With Hinata, it was just as embarrassing; she was family and respected him. But at least he knew she would keep it a secret from anyone else, including Hiashi-sama.

“What?! Hinata?!” Kiba looked horrified. Have his teammate be the one to do it? The girl he constantly said to keep the girly stuff to herself? The girl he’d used to have a crush on? The cousin to the guy he’d screwed just the other night?

“Yes and now it’s an order. It’s final.” Tsunade said, having had enough with their whining. Kiba looked like he would rather choke on his own tongue than have Hinata teach him how to apply make-up. She gave him her best scary look. He flinched but bit back a growl.

“Why not have Neji learn it and teach it to me later or something?” Tsunade sighed. Honestly!

“No! Now both of you; out!”

Neji stood up, ignoring them both as best he could, and walked out of the room. He was not looking forward to the next few days, probably weeks.