[This is my first "Naruto" shonen-ai story, and I'm thrilled to be sharing it with you here on FanFic. Please note that this story is about a male/male relationship. I also do not own "Naruto." Enjoy, and please review. I'll get the next chapter up as soon as I can!]

Kankuro was beginning to think he was going crazy. He'd been in Konoha for only a week and had two more to go before he could finally return to Suna. Konoha just wasn't home. There were unfamiliar people, animals, ninja, children… life everywhere. Currently he was hiding in a narrow alley on a quiet street in the warehouse district waiting for the shops to close. He'd walk home once it was truly quiet.

Temari usually handled the diplomatic missions to the Hidden Leaf, but she was needed elsewhere. Kankuro had been a reluctant replacement from the start, but Gaara insisted that he was the only other ninja that he could entrust with the job.

It had been six months since Gaara's abduction by Akatsuki and Kakuro's fight with the puppet master Sasori. Thankfully both of them survived and had made quick recoveries, but Kankuro insisted he was still needed in his home village to protect Gaara. His excuses seemed hollow however, even to him. Without the Tailed-Beast, Gaara was no longer targeted by Akatsuki and the Sand Village now stood by their Kazekage whole-heartedly and would protect him without fail.

Its finally quiet. Kankuro thought, making his way out into the nearly empty street now painted orange with the setting sun and slowly started on his way back to his temporary residence.

"Hey Kankuro!"

Great. Kankuro turned to find an enthusiastic green-clad ninja rushing forward.

"Hi Lee."

"What are you doing here? And where's uh… Temari and Gaara?" Lee looked around to see if he had missed someone.

"Its just me. I'm here on business." Kankuro replied.

"Lee! Wait up!" Ten-Ten came from around the corner panting. "Oh, hey Kankuro!" Ten-Ten waved and then started again on Lee. "Don't go so fast!"

"You two just get back from a mission?" Kankuro hadn't seen either ninja during his week in Konoha. Not that Kankuro saw much of anyone. But there was no sign of Neji or Gai-sensei.

"No… we uh… are just out looking around." Lee looked embarrassed.

Oh. They're on a date. Kankuro suddenly felt uncomfortable.

"Okay, well I won't keep you. 'Night." Kankuro gave a small bow and turned to go.

"Why don't you walk with us!" Ten-Ten offered happily. Lee, however, looked a little disappointed.

"No, I… I've got some work to do. You two have fun." Kankuro just wanted to leave. I don't think Lee wants extra company.

"Oh, okay. Next time then."

"Come on Ten-Ten!" Lee's smile had returned and he dragged the girl off in the other direction. "Bye Kankuro!"

Kankuro watched the pair for a moment before he stared back on his way. They looked happy.

The apartment wasn't too far, but it was getting dark by the time Kankuro unlocked the door and turned on the lights. Kankuro sighed. The apartment was very small, cold, and uninviting. But at least he could relax again. He shrugged off his pack, took off his hat, and started rummaging through the fridge looking for something to eat.

Who needs romance anyway? Poor Lee, Ten-Ten probably doesn't even know.

That was when he noticed the scroll. Some underling of the Hokage had obviously left it on the table, most likely because Kankuro had been hiding out and they couldn't deliver it to him in person. Kankuro sighed and opened it up to read what his next assignment would be.

^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^

"Thanks Kankuro!" Iruka-sensei called as Kankuro walked out of the classroom.

"Whatever…" Kankuro couldn't wait to leave. He did not like kids. He slid the door closed behind him and again walked home.

What a stupid mission.

Chakra control wasn't a simple skill, and no one in Konoha used puppets, so the Academy had requested a display for the students. Kankuro couldn't refuse, but that didn't mean he was happy about it.

Dolly boy? Couldn't those snot-nosed brats come up with anything worse to call me? And so what if I wear face-paint.

Thankfully the Academy was his only assignment for that day so he could head back to his tiny sanctuary away from the very green, very noisy village; hopefully without any distractions on the way.

Upon reaching his apartment, he gave a soft sigh and closed the door behind him. It was still cold, but at least it was quiet. Suna was never as loud as Konoha.

Of course that's probably because it's not nearly as nice to be outside at home. So why couldn't I wait to get back indoors? Why can't I seem to enjoy it here?

Kankuro wasn't worrying about Gaara or Temari. He knew they were safe and capable of handling what might come their way. So what was it?

Kankuro unrolled his puppet scroll on the table and summoned one of his three favorite weapons. "Crow." Sasori had crushed his small force easily only months before, and Kankuro was in the process of modifying each of his puppets to be more his own, and hopefully better than before.

There was something about working with his puppets that put his mind at ease. So to run away from running away, he started pulling apart Crow and replenishing his hidden weapons.

It was hours later when Kankuro heard a knock at the door. Who in the world?

Kankuro put Crow's arm back on the table, careful not to mix-up the many pieces he had strung about, and walked to the door.

"Yes?" Kankuro opened the door, dreading that it be another of the Hokage's messengers for a stupid mission.

"Kankuro! Hey, how long have you been in town?"

"Kiba?"

"Arf! Arf!"

"Oh, yes, and you Akamaru." Kankuro couldn't miss the giant dog nin.

"What you working on?" Kiba looked so happy and carefree. "Mind if we come in?"

"Oh, uh… I don't know if you'll fit." Kankuro's apartment really was tiny, and with Crow all in pieces, the last thing he wanted was for a giant dog for company.

"No worries. Akamaru sit!" The dog quickly complied with his master's order. Kiba walked right past Kankuro and into the apartment.

Kankuro hesitantly shut the door and turned around. Something told him that Kiba might not be much better company than the giant dog.

"Wow it is small in here!" Kiba said.

"Uh… sorry about the mess… I'm working." Kankuro just watched helplessly as Kiba inspected the tiny apartment and started looking over all of Crow's pieces on the kitchen table. He wouldn't hold still.

"Would you care to sit down?" Kankuro really was trying to be polite.

"Nah, I got to go soon to meet Shino and Hinata for training. Just stopped by to say hello. Ten-Ten and Lee said you were in town." Kiba kept picking-up puppet pieces off the table and examining them before putting them back down, not looking at Kankuro at all.

"Hi then." Kankuro wasn't a good host.

Kiba finally looked up and seemed to realize his rudeness. "Oh, uh… sorry. What's wrong, did one of them break?" He gestured to the table.

"No, I'm just changing a few things and keeping them well supplied and maintained. That's Crow." Kankuro doubted that Kiba remembered which puppet was which or cared for that matter anyway.

"Cool. What's this for?" Kiba asked holding up a canister of needles that fit into Crow's arm.

"Careful! Those are poisoned." Kankuro grabbed the canister out of Kiba's hand and placed it carefully back in place on the table.

Kiba seemed to become uncomfortable all the sudden and mumbled an apology.

"No, its okay." Kankuro couldn't think of anything else to say. They were quiet for a few seconds.

"Well, anyway… How long are you here for?" Kiba seemed to remember why he was there. The awkward pause already forgotten.

"Two more weeks. I'm substituting as Suna's ambassador."

"Wow. Hey, we should hang out then! What are you doing tonight?" Kiba was back to normal.

Kankuro couldn't come up with an excuse fast enough. "Uh…. Nothing."

"Great! After training we'll come get you for ramen or something." Kiba looked pleased. The Inuzuka's smile was heartfelt and infectious.

Kankuro didn't have the heart to refuse now. "Okay. Uh, Shino and Hinata too then?" Damn it, Kiba.

"Yeah!" Kiba walked to the door. "I better get going then. See you later!"

"Arf! Arf!" Akamaru was ready at the door. Kiba hopped on Akamaru's back and waved to Kankuro.

"Later." Kankuro gave a weak wave back and sighed as they retreated into the distance. Well, I better put Crow back together then.

Kankuro wasn't sure how to feel about Kiba's invitation. Hinata was very nice, but Kankuro didn't like Shino at all. He suspected Shino didn't like him much either. He just hoped they could ignore each other without hurting Kiba or Hinata's feelings.

[End Chapter 1!]