The trees rustled. A boy jumped over to the next branch, and the tree let out a sigh from the wind against him. Kiba was out on his daily "walk" with Akamaru, which was actually jumping through trees to improve their speed. Akamaru suddenly stopped and nuzzled Kiba with his nose.

"What's the matter, boy? Already tired?" He patted the big dog on the head. Then he saw why he stopped. A beautiful girl in shorts and a tube top all bordered in fuzzy trim and a vest was stroking her dog. Kiba's heart fluttered a bit at her beauty. The dog was a long-haired dog, with light grey fur that looked blue, and it kind of looked like a wolf. Even Akamaru blushed (as much as dogs can, that is). She suddenly stopped and sniffed at the air.

"Who's there?" she called. Kiba jumped down to greet her.

"Sorry, I..." he scratched his head. Then he realized. She had SMELLED him out, "How did you do that?"

"I'm part of the Okami clan, the wolf clan." she smiled sweetly and put her finger to the tip of her nose, "I'm Keira. What's your name?"

"Kiba. Kiba Inuzuka." he said. Her eyes widened.

"Kiba?! THE Kiba?!" she looked really happy.

"You know me?"

"Totally! Your clan is very similar to ours, we're allies! My mom tells me about you all the time! I've wanted to meet you for so long!"

"Wow..." he blushed, and tried to change the subject so his face wouldn't get any redder, "What's your dog's name?"

"Aoi." A fitting name, "Yours is Akamaru, right?" Akamaru ran to Aoi and they started to get acquainted. Keira giggled cutely.

"Looks like they like each other."

"Are you a ninja? Wait, why am I asking that? I mean, such a cute girl couldn't possibly-"

"I AM ninja!" she had a bit of an angry look now, "I'll fight you to prove it!"

"What...?" Kiba felt guilty. He had pissed her off GOOD.

They took their places to battle.

"Let's go Aoi!" she called.

"Waf! Waf!" the dog barked. Kiba was getting into battle position, but she was ready to go!

"Kanashii Yume no jutsu!" she called and signed her hands, rat, ox, rabbit, horse. Aoi and Keira had been almost turned into wolves themselves. They howled loudly, so loud, it was like it smashed into Kiba's ears. It felt as though Kiba had been hit by a block. A REALLY HEAVY ONE. Akamaru and Kiba just stood there, totally spaced. He suddenly saw something in the distance of a green, grassy field.

"Kiba, Kiba, come on Kiba, come here." a woman with a kind face called to him. Kiba was small now, a child. He smiled at the sight of the woman. It was his mom. He came closer to her, and just as he was about to reach her... A blade stuck through her chest. A man with something animal-like on his shoulder smirked at Kiba.

"MAMA!!" he cried. Back in reality, his empty eyes were welling up with tears, and they dripped down his face. Keira ran to him at the speed of a bullet and placed the kunai to his throat.

"Kai. Release." she said softly. His eyes reverted to their original state.

"What...?" he whispered, totally shocked at the sight of his loss.

"That was the sad dream jutsu. It makes you get so stuck in your sad memories or dreams that you space out," she pulled her kunai back into her pouch, "You had a really bad dream, huh? Poor thing..." She went on her tip-toes and put her mouth on his cheeks. She stroked her velvet tongue over his salty tears. He looked at her with wide eyes and a red face.

"Why did...?"

"It's what dogs to their companions if they're injured, right?" she smiled, "I'm part of the wolves, so it's part of my blood."

"I remembered something... Something I didn't want to remember..." he sighed.

"Oh, sorry..." she looked down guiltily.

"No, it's my fault. I said you couldn't be a ninja, I was dead wrong."

"You're right about that!" she laughed mischievously.

"Why are you in Konoha, anyway? You live faraway, right?"

"Yeah..." she looked down, "I'm here to make arrangements for the wedding with my fiancee."

"Fiancee?!" he exclaimed. But he looked at her. She was really sad.

"Yeah... We're just friends, but my family is making me marry into his family." she sighed, "I'll see you later, OK Kiba-kun?" she sadly smiled and ran off. Kiba was totally in a daze with her.

"Have you fallen for her?" a voice asked. Kiba knew that voice, but why?! "Keira is a kind girl, isn't she? Not that I want to marry her..." It was Shino.

"Wait, Shino, YOU'RE her fiancee?!"

"ARRANGED fiancee. Keira has taken a liking to you. Why don't you chase her?" Shino asked plainly. Kiba blushed.

"WHAT?!" he sputtered. Shino sighed.

"Keira... Has thought of you as an idol since she was a kid." Those words rung through Kiba's mind again, and again.

"You want to marry Akane, am I right?" he smiled, and even he was cloaked, he knew that Shino was burning from embarrassment. Akane was a girl Shino had played with from his childhood. She was a quiet beauty, black hair cut short, with her intelligent glasses always on to hide her true feelings. She was very shy.

"...Yeah..."

"As your friend, I feel the need to help you call off the engagement!" Kiba patted him on the back.

"...More like you want to do that so Keira's free game."

"Oh geez, you put it so harshly..." Kiba laughed, and Shino showed a small smile.

The two went to the main household of Shino where Keira and her parents were waiting.

"Shino, good to see you." said her mother. Kiba's heart froze at the sight of the father. He looked so familiar... It was scary... And to make matters worse, he was approaching Kiba!

"You... You look like her... Kaori..." Kaori was his mother's name. The father put his face close to him and whispered, "Don't come near my daughter." Kiba got a glare on his face, and gritted his teeth.

"I don't wish to marry Keira, Lord Okami. Please. Don't make us marry." Shino told him.

"You dare break off an arrangement...?" he looked at the boy with deadly eyes. He shivered because of the bad vibes.

"I agree with our son... I don't think this is right..." His mother quivered in fear.

"We can keep living the way we used to. We don't need to be in a prestigious clan." Shino's father said in a quiet and brave voice.

"Oh? So you want to end up the same way SHE did?" Lord Okami showed them a scary look that would be imprinted in their memories forever. SHE? Who was she? Kiba pondered on this question.

"Father, stop it!" Keira rose even with her fear and grabbed on to her father's arm. He snatched her by the elbow and dragged her outside, her mother following close behind.

"Keira!" Kiba called for her, and she reached her hand to touch his, but she couldn't make it.