Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Rating: K+, which is really and truly a surprise. I don't know what's wrong with me.
A/N: Another one of those bursts of inspiration; a clear image or scene that I can't shake. I wish I could manage more than 400 hundred words at a time. *sigh*
Sick Day
Kiba sensed something wrong the minute he turned the corner to the house he shared with Ino and saw the blinds down. The mailbox stuffed with flyers and bills and articles. The flowers wilted. The lawn not neatly mowed. He'd been on a mission only a few days.
You think she finally got tired of your mess and moved out? Akamaru joked. Kiba silenced him with a glare before opening the door.
The hallway was eerily dim. He could smell the dirty dishes in the sink, the staleness of the house. Ino's scent came from upstairs. Slowly, swallowing back trepidation- -the small, tiny worry that maybe Akamaru was right- -Kiba ascended. Moved down the quiet hallway to their bedroom door. Suddenly, a noise like a duck quacking erupted and sent Kiba's heart skittering.
He opened the door and found his wife waiting for him.
A mountain of wadded tissue surrounded her. Her eyes were red, glazed. Her hair in greasy locks. Her favorite pink fuzzy pj's peeked under the covers pulled up to her chin.
"'i, Keba," she said. Her stuffed nose made her sound weird. "I'b seck."
His love for her stuck in his throat, and he grabbed the trashcan from the bathroom to sweep the tissues into. Ino weakly assisted, and all his sympathy went to her. He knew how she hated being sick.
"Tanks, huny."
"Yer welcome." He leaned down and kissed her forehead. "How long've you been sick?"
"I dunno." She sniffed and blew her nose again. "I hae be-ging seck."
"Would you like some soup? I can manage that, at least."
Her eyes shone. "Woug you? Pease? You migh hafta fing anoter pot." She ducked her head into her elbow and sneezed rapidly, three times in a row. His poor wife groaned. "Ooohugh."
"No problem. I'll take care of you." He kissed her heated forehead again. "Anything else before I go?"
"I wuve you."
Kiba clucked her under her chin. "Love you, sweetcheeks."
Ino smiled and giggled half-heartedly, and then as if the conversation had sapped her energy, she dropped her head back and closed her eyes. Kiba tiptoed out, smirking. She'd probably been too worried about him to take care of herself properly, he thought. Which meant he was responsible for her usual chores. But really, a pile of dirty dishes or a house that needed cleaning didn't bother him.
A/N: Short and to the point. Hope you enjoyed! =)