Connections
One more move, one more school, and hundreds of new names that I never bother connecting with faces. Except one, except his. I know his face anywhere; with those red fangs on his cheeks and spiky brown hair, I could never mistake him for anyone else. I can pick his voice out of a million others. Those people around him don't deserve his attention, his smile, his laughter. But neither do I. I'm nothing but a new kid that barely anyone knows the name of. I suppose that's my fault but I don't want to make the mistake of having friends just to leave them, not again. I just couldn't help myself with him. With Kiba. Even his name is so beautiful I feel worried to say it out loud. I'll never forget the first time I heard that name.
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I stepped through the main doors of the school and immediately the noise of hundreds of students washed over me.
'Number 6' I thought. I turned and walked into the main office and up to a woman behind a desk, her name tag said 'Shizune'.
"Hello are you..." she looked down at a piece of paper on her desk "Shino Aburame?" I nodded and she handed me my class schedule. Turning around in her chair she yelled "Inuzuka!" In a second he walked into the room and I felt my mouth go dry.
"Yeah Shizune?"
"This is Shino. He's new and I need you to show him around until he knows where all his classes are." His face lit up and gave me a heart melting grin.
"Sweet I can get outta here and help the new guy around." he walked up to me and stuck his hand out ."I'm Kiba." From anyone else I wouldn't have even responded but I found myself shaking his hand and muttering my name. Throwing his arm around my shoulder, he led me out of the office.
"Thanks for getting me out of there, I owe you one." After a moment he took his arm off my shoulder, much to my displeasure, and stopped.
"So what's your homeroom?" he asked.
"English with Mr. Umino." I said quietly. He clapped me on the shoulder and gave me that same smile.
"Me too! So where'd you move from?"
"South Dakota."
"Jeez that's quite a way. Why'd you move?"
"Dad's in the military so we have to move a lot."
"That sucks." He said morosely but he quickly smiled again and patted my shoulder "And poor you, you get stuck with me to show you around." I actually smiled at the joke and looked down slightly. "There we go!"
"Huh?"
"It took me like five whole minutes to get you to even smile, most everyone is cracking up in seconds with my flawless comedic routine." he said, sticking his chest out like he was serious. I chuckled lowly at his antics and he stopped at room number 85.
"Here we are." he proclaimed. He opened the door for me and gestured for me to follow him. He walked down the aisle of seats and sat down before patting the seat to his right. "Sit here."
"Thanks." I muttered. I didn't know why but something inexplicably drew me to this boy. I'd never looked at guys before but when I think about it I never looked at girls either. Maybe it's only Kiba.
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That was months before and I was just sitting against the big oak tree in front of the school, reading one of the entomology books my dad gave me.
"Shino." Someone whispered. I drew my eyes up and saw that Kiba was standing in front of me. He also had a Danaus plexippus, or Monarch Butterfly, on his nose. "Quick Shino get one of your bug bottles." I was surprised that he knew I carried specimen jars but I got one out anyway. Dabbing a cotton ball in some chemicals I dropped it into the jar.
"Hold your breath." I said quietly. He inhaled deeply and I coaxed the butterfly into the jar and closed it. He let out a loud breath a smiled.
"That guy landed on my nose and-"
"Girl." I corrected softly
"Huh?" he asked.
"It's a female. The wing veins are thicker."
"Oh. Well, anyway I was wondering if you'd like to make a trade."
"Trade?"
"Yeah. You keep that monarch and you know that dog pencil-topper?"
"Yeah."I replied.
"It looks exactly like Akimaru and I was wondering if I could have it." I dug in my pocket and pulled out the white pencil-topper.
"This one."
"Yeah!" he exclaimed, his eyes lighting up. I shrugged and handed it to him. When I turned to sit back down he cleared his throat.
"Hey Shino you busy?"
"Not particularly."
"Would you like to come see a movie with me, Naruto, and Sasuke. They're on a date and I feel weird being a third wheel." Throughout my observing of Kiba I'd seen him hang out with the couple, which led me to believe he had no problem with gays, and I had made it a point to remeber Kiba's friends. Nodding in response I grabbed my backpack, put my stuff inside, and followed Kiba across the schoolyard. As we rounded a corner on the sidewalk I blushed as Naruto and Sasuke came into view. It was public knowledge that their romance was, well, public. The two were laying on the grass, kissing avidly. Kiba rolled his eyes and kicked Sasuke's foot.
"Hey love birds are we going?" The boys pulled apart, panting heavily.
"Sorry" Naruto said "You were taking to long and we got bored." Kiba sighed in exasperation but I could hear no real anger in his voice, only fond annoyance.
"Terribly sorry that you two can't stop a grope-fest from happening if your left alone for five minutes."
"Apology accepted." Sasuke said monotonously. The older boy stood up and grabbed Naruto's hand, pulling him up. We were walking down the street towards the theater when Naruto turned to me and stuck out his hand.
"Sorry but I don't think we've been introduced properly. I'm Naruto Uzumaki." Not wanting to offend Kiba's friend, I shook his hand lightly. Naruto elbowed the Uchiha and cleared his throat loudly.
"I'm Sasuke Uchiha." He inclined his head slightly and I returned the gesture.
"Anyway..." Naruto began loudly "what do you want to see Shino?" When I just looked at him he smiled, unfazed by my silence. "I prefer a good comedy."
"No way." Sasuke said behind him.
"And why not?!"
"Because you repeat every line of the movie for days until I have to smack you." Sasuke retorted. "Let's see a horror movie." Naruto paled slightly and shook his head.
"Hell no. You know I hate scary movies."
"Your just scared." Kiba taunted. The blonde immediately rounded on him.
"I am not, dog-breath!" Sasuke simply wrapped his arms around Naruto's waist and set his chin his shoulder.
"Be quiet moron, you're making a scene. It's fine if you're scared."
"But I'm not." Naruto whined.
"Then you should be fine for the movie eh?" Sasuke asked, using Naruto's words against him.
"Fine." Naruto muttered before he pulled out of Sasuke's grip. Looking up, I realized we were at the movie theater. As we walked along the carpeted interior Naruto pointed to and read the various posters advertising movies. We all stepped up to the ticket counter and Sasuke ordered four tickets to a movie called "Past Curfew". As I pulled out my wallet Kiba said.
"I got yours Shino." When I looked up at him he added "I invited you along." Shrugging, I thanked him and the guy handed Sasuke four tickets. As we passed a girl by a red rope she took our tickets, tore them, then handed them back. Passing by the snack bar, we took our seats in theater 5. As the previews played I grew more and more anxious.
'Why did I agree to come to a horror movie' I thought miserably. As I tapped my fingers on the arm rest Kiba reached over and gently grabbed my forearm. I jumped, I later realized the very unmanly squeak I heard came from me, and whipped my head over to look at him.
"What!?" I hissed quietly.
"Are you okay? You seem really tense and jittery." I could hear the concern coloring his voice but at that moment my irritation outweighed my affections.
"I do not like scary movies." I said quietly, returning my gaze to the screen.
"Do you want to leave?"
"No." I sighed. "I can deal with a horror movie for an hour."
"OK." He replied warily. We sat in silence as some paper-thin story line involving a police enforced curfew because of some psycho killer legend was explained. Then some teenagers were complaining and saying that it wasn't real. Obviously the idiots would have a compulsory need to disobey and sneak out after curfew. The plot was nothing that a fourth grader couldn't have predicted from reading the back cover yet I still found myself tensing as the music took an ominous tone.
"Shino are you OK?" Kiba asked quietly beside me. As I turned my head to answer, a blood-curdling scream issued from the screen. My mind immediately shut down and my body sought refuge in the closest safe place, namely Kiba's shoulder. I could feel the dog-lover tense as my face buried into his arm and my heart stopped for a moment when he pushed me away. As I watched him, with terror in my eyes, he pushed the armrest between us up and beckoned me back over. For a moment I hesitated, until another scream came from the movie and I practically dove into Kiba's arms. As I clung to him I took the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to inhale Kiba's scent. It was intoxicating and musky and I found myself calming down quickly but I refused to relinquish my hold and Kiba made no move to pry me off. So we stayed like that, inexplicably entwined, for the rest of the movie. The rest of the watered-down plot took it's course as I sat in my own personal heaven until the last people were dead and the story set itself up for an obvious sequel. As the theater started to lighten and the credits played, I cursed the lazy jerks who only made this movie an hour long. Surely that Katie girl's chase scene could have been longer or Jerry could have fought back a little harder. As I pulled away I looked over at Naruto and Sasuke to answer the questions I knew would come from their seeing our intimate holding. I regretted the decision immediately. Both boys were rather.......engrossed with each other. 'Engrossed' meaning battling to see who could remove the others tongue first. Looking back to my left I saw Kiba stand up and roll his eyes. He pushed past me and rapped both boys on the head with his knuckles.
"What the hell?!"
"Ow!"
"Sorry, the movie was over but the horror was still happening." I don't if it was the stress of the situation or if I had just finally fallen off my rocker, (my vote is for the latter) but I immediately burst out laughing. All three heads swung to look at me but even their incredulous looks couldn't derail my crazy train. After a second Kiba joined in. Naruto began cracking up as well and even Sasuke even managed a low snicker. When our laughing had subsided we took our leave of the theater and headed outside. As we were wrapped in the cooling summer air Naruto grabbed the Uchiha's arm and tugged him along.
"Come on 'Suke. Walk me home." The blonde said. The Uchiha growled and pulled Naruto back by their linked arms.
"Dammit I told you to stop calling me that moron." Naruto pouted for a moment until a mischievous look crossed his face. He leaned up to Sasuke's ear and said.
"Then why don't I call you..." The last part was whispered so no one but Naruto and Sasuke could hear. Everyone could see the results though. Sasuke paled slightly, if possible, then turned red with anger. He grabbed the blonde's shoulders and slammed him into the building. Leaning in until their noses nearly touched, Sasuke growled.
"You wouldn't dare." Naruto smirked, scarily akin to the trademark 'Uchiha Smirk', and said.
"Oh wouldn't I, u-" Sasuke smashed his lips against Naruto's, cutting the blonde off. When he pulled away he growled lowly.
"Fine, let's go." He then turned on his heels and stomped off, leaving Naruto to follow. As the blonde ran to catch up both me and Kiba heard Sasuke say.
"You are in so much trouble."
"Then you'll just have to punish me eh?" I shuddered at the, none to well hidden, innuendo. Beside me Kiba chuckled and my focus was immediately back on my reason for being here.
"So Shino..." Kiba began slowly "I'm not one to beat around the bush. So I'll come right out and ask. Do you...like...like me, in a more-than-friend way?" My heart raced at his question and I looked away.
"W-what would you do if I did......hypothetically?" I asked.
"I'd do this." Kiba said calmly. He gently gripped my chin, tilted my head backward, and pressed a soft kiss to my lips. After a moment he pulled away and looked at me. "Hypothetically." I wracked my brain for a response but my mouth found one first. I leaned back in and captured those delicious lips again. My hands found their way into Kiba's soft, brown hair and he growled before wrapping his arms around my waist, pulling me closer. We stayed like that for a while, our mouths moving gently against each other, until we ran out of air and reluctantly pulled away from each other. We stared at each other for a moment, tension thick in the air, until Kiba smiled that same heart warming, goofy grin of his and laughed. The tension melted like butter and we walked, together, to my house. We stopped at the door and Kiba gave me one more soft kiss before scurrying off. I leaned against the door until the Inuzuka was out of sight and my heart ceased it's racing. Turning I opened the door and headed inside. My dad stuck his head out of the kitchen.
"Your late, why?" He asked me.
"Hangin' out with some friends." I answered dreamily. My dad smiled at me and went back in the kitchen saying.
"I'm glad." I went up to my room and lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My dreams that night were filled with screams, warm, musky shoulders and the plump, red lips of a certain dog-lover.
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Okay this is my first story I've ever put up and my currently fragile confidence rest in your hands, the readers. Please be honest but try not to be too brutal. I'm in foreign territory and I need some buddies. Review for me and let me know what you thought. ItaNaru out.