To Think, To Know

Hinata had always thought that she was in love with one Uzumaki Naruto; never mind the fact that she was so young, and wasn't sure what exactly love was. The way she'd seen it, nobody really knows what love is, because it's different for everyone. So, for almost six years, she continued to blush and stutter around him (not to mention everyone else) and would watch him from afar with something twisting in her heart.

She had thought it was love.

But it wasn't. She wasn't sure what it was that she felt when she watched him-she would be the first to admit that-but she had been so sure that what she'd felt was love. But it really wasn't. Because even though he did give her confidence in herself, even though he was nice to her, and even though he had an unbeatable spirit that Hinata herself wish she had...she didn't love him. At least, not in the way she had first thought, and had unknowingly tricked herself into believing.

Because now she knows that love doesn't make you uncomfortable. Love doesn't make you stutter; love doesn't make you wish you were different. And she really can't describe just what it is. She can't really describe the flutter of emotions that run through her body when she's around them. Nor can she really recall when it was that she stopped stuttering and fidgeting around them.

All she knows is that she doesn't feel the need to. She's too comfortable around them; at peaze.

Hinata now knows that Naruto is nothing more to her than a friend that will always be there; with support, jokes, and his undying spirit.

Hinata now knows that Kiba and Shino will always be there for her. No matter the situation, no matter the time, no matter the company. She knows that the three of them share some form of love, and she knows that the two of them make her happy, safe, welcome, equal. And that's all that the three of them ask of each other in the first place, so Hinata thinks that it all works out. Hinata thinks that she's in love with the two of them.

No, Hinata knows that she's in love with the two of them. As for Kiba and Shino...they've always loved her, and they've always loved each other.

-Fin-

Disclaimer: Naruto and all of its characters are the property of Kishimoto-sensei. I am merely borrowing his characters for a little fun, making no profit from what I do other than the enjoyment of myself and whoever happens to read this.

AN: So, another one that's constantly being edited and refined. I love Team Eight with a passion, but found that fanfics for the three of them-as a unit-were very much lacking when I first wrote this. This time around I've edited some of the text and tried to get it to flow with more ease. If you spot any obvious or even not so grammar or spelling mistakes, please don't be afraid to inform me.

Hope you enjoyed yourself.