I see this pairing a lot and man, these two guys do get up to some nasty stuff. So here is some more. This occurs during the Shippuden arc. Kiba visits Kankuro after Sasori trashes his puppets and tries to console him, but not quite in the way Kankuro might have expected. This is a guy on guy pairing (KibaXKanky), so if you do not like such things, leave now. Rated 18+ for the sex, bad language, and because as usual, poor Akamaru has to watch which probably counts as cruelty to animals. I did not create these two bad lads, just borrowed them…and the little dog too.

Just The Way Dogs Are

Kiba pushed the door to the apartment open and walked in. He paused to remove his sandals. No one had answered his knocks. Temari had told him to just go in, but he still felt awkward. He would not like some stranger strolling into his place and he suspected that Kankuro was just as territorial. But he was only here for another day and he was not going to get another opportunity, so it was now or never. Kiba glanced at Akamaru. His dog cocked his head and whined.

"It's okay boy."

He was surprised at the size of the place, but then realized that it should come as no surprise. Kankuro was the brother of the current Kazekage, the son of the previous Kazekage, and a high ranking shinobi. So he would get good living quarters. Kiba took a quick look around. The apartment was on the top floor and had a sitting room, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, and a work room. One of the windows opened onto a small balcony with a great view of the Sand village. Well, Kiba thought, as great a view as one can get of sand, sand, and yet more sand. The place was clean, but disorganized. Kankuro seemed to be one of those guys who thought that flat surfaces were for storage, rather than drawers or cupboards. Kiba was not so neat himself, but since he shared one small flat with one large dog, he was forced to be organized.

The sound of cursing and the clatter of an object on a hard surface reminded Kiba of what he was doing. He adjusted his forehead protector, gave his jacket a nervous tug, and headed towards the work room. He stopped dead in the doorway. He almost did not recognize the Sand shinobi. Kankuro had changed a lot since they had last seen each other. Kiba should have expected that, he had changed himself. Plus, he had never seen Kankuro without his face covered with purple lines and his body covered by loose black clothing. The memory of that stocky kid did not jive at all with the muscular young man sitting in front of him. He was wearing black trousers, but that was all. Kankuro had grown up indeed.

Kankuro was concentrating on the puppet spread out in front of him, oblivious to his visitor. Such intense focus was impressive, Kiba thought, but not too smart for a shinobi. It was not good to let any one get close without you knowing it.

It was actually just part of a puppet; the thing on the work bench looked like the lower section of a backbone attached to a pelvic girdle. Kankuro was bent over it, wrench in one hand and file in the other. He was muttering curses. Not everything had changed; Kankuro still had a foul mouth. His eyes, ringed with thick dark lashes (and maybe some kohl), looked as fierce as ever. Kiba's heart started to race.

"Bastard son of a sand flea!" Kankuro threw the wrench onto the work bench.

Akamaru whined and backed away. He whined again to let Kiba know that he did not like the way the place smelled. There was too much in one small room; sand and sun, wood, metal, oil, lacquer, poison, old blood, copious chakra, and sweaty male. Kiba was having a little trouble going beyond the sweaty male at the moment, but Akamaru was right, the room was a little ripe.

Kankuro looked up at the sound, "What the hell? How did you get in here?"

He was up off his stool in a flash. Damn, but he moved fast for a big guy. Kiba took it all in; Kankuro's broad shoulders, the toned muscles on his chest and stomach. Lugging those creepy puppets around must be one hell of a workout. It was an unexpected, but very pleasant, surprise.

He caught sight of a fresh scar on Kankuro's chest; it must be where Sasori had stabbed him. There were other scars too; old knife cuts on his forearms, burn marks down his ribs on one side, and small horizontal scars on his shoulders from a garrote or some other string type weapon. Well, he was a jounin with a huge number of missions on his resume. You did not get to that level without getting a few scars.

Kankuro scowled at his uninvited guest and then looked around for his shirt. He had taken it off to use it as a rag and he could not remember where he had put it. It probably was not fit to wear now, but he did not like people looking at him and at his scars in particular. Especially his newest one, people would look at it and get all weird. He did not need their pity and he did not need any extra reminders. All he had to do was look in his workroom at what remained of Karasu and Kuroari.

"What's your problem, Inuzuka? How the hell did you get in here?"

"Temari told me to just walk in if you did not answer."

"Oh did she? She's getting as bad as you Leaf shinobi. Too soft, too easygoing. If someone doesn't answer their door, maybe they don't want guests."

"Well, excuse me, but she said it wouldn't be a problem. If you don't want to be disturbed then you should lock your door. And don't talk to me about soft. Man, I could've done just about anything to you. You totally had your guard down."

Kankuro snorted, "Not on your best day, Inuzuka. How the hell did you even get into this building? What moron of a shinobi let you up here alone? Somebody's going to get it when I find out who it was."

"Temari walked me past security. She wanted to go meet up with Shikamaru, so she told me where your place was. Calm down. We are allies, you know."

"So what. This is where the Kazekage has his residence. People can't just wander around." He scowled at Akamaru. "And their dogs too. Damn, what have you been feeding that thing? Ugly pills?"

Akamaru growled; he had had enough. Kiba felt pretty much the same way. What had he been thinking? He had followed the ghost of a memory up here and now he was being insulted. Or rather Akamaru was being insulted, but in Kiba's family, insulting the nin-dog was the same as insulting the shinobi.

It was weird because his memory was of something kinder. Kiba and Akamaru had been beaten up pretty bad by Sakon and Ukon. Then Kankuro had appeared and saved both their asses. Kiba had been weak from blood loss and pretty much drained of chakra. He had been terrified that he was going to lose Akamaru; the little guy had been so badly hurt. During that terrible time Kiba had a dim memory of strong arms holding him and of assurances murmured in his ear. Someone had rigged a sling for Akamaru so he could stay tucked against Kiba's side during the trip back to the Leaf village. He had not seen Kankuro again, but the Sand shinobi's smell had been everywhere in the hospital room, and all over Akamaru's bedding.

A more mature version of that same smell was in Kiba's nose right now. Kiba's sense of smell was so well developed that he could tell a lot about a person from one good whiff. But smell was linked to many other things and sometimes it was hard to control his reactions to people. And, to be honest, most of the time he did not try to.

"That's not very polite. I just came by to see how you were. I know how scary it can be." He gestured at Akamaru. "I remember how it was when I thought I was going to lose him."

"I am not going to lose anyone, damn it!"

Kankuro had spoken in his usual arrogant tone but Kiba knew he was covering. Kiba could smell his fear.

"I see that. I had heard that they had been destroyed by the guy that made them, and…"

"He didn't destroy them! What idiot told you that?!" Kankuro yelled. He clenched his fists.

Man, but the guy was touchy. Kiba could relate though, he could get really worked up too when it came to Akamaru.

"Well, I sat in on some meeting and some guy said that they could not be fixed. And that you really shouldn't have them anyways because they had been made by a traitor."

"They can be fixed damn it! What moron said…never mind, I know who it was. Idiot councilman freaking Sumisu! I should've belted that guy when I had the chance."

Kankuro stalked into the sitting room and sat down in a chair. He put his clenched fists on his knees. He continued, but it sounded like he was talking to himself more than to Kiba.

"I will figure it out. Just because I don't have their blueprints, it doesn't mean they can't be rebuilt. I don't need Ebizo's help or anyone else's. And I do not need anybody's pity. I just need the council to back the fuck off and let me work!"

Kankuro had gone pale and was breathing hard. His whole body was clenched into one big knot of misery. Kiba's irritation at his insults faded. He realized why Temari had been so eager for him to visit. She was worried about her brother, but had been unable to help. Kankuro's loss and damaged pride were too far outside her experience to allow her to console Kankuro. Well, Kiba was glad to try and help, and not just because his own sense of honour demanded it. He had spent the last couple of years imagining how it might go if he met up with Kankuro outside of a mission. Kiba's imaginary reunions with Kankuro had given him specific ideas about what might happen today. He had not shared those ideas with Temari.

"Sure thing. I know right now it feels like someone has kicked you in the gut. But you just have to stay focused and do your best to get them better again."

Kankuro grunted but did not say anything. His eyes had closed and he had hunched his shoulders up. His jaw muscles stood out in sharp relief against his pale skin. Kiba could see dark circles under his eyes. Worry and frustration had been robbing him of sleep.

Kiba walked behind the chair and cautiously set one hand on the back of Kankuro's neck. Kankuro flinched but did not protest, so Kiba applied both hands to the Sand shinobi's shoulders. The muscles were knotted tight; Kiba dug his thumbs in on either side of his spine. Kankuro sighed and relaxed a little. Kiba worked his way along Kankuro's shoulders to his upper arms. He massaged the base of his skull and up into his thick hair. He was careful not to let it turn into a caress. That would spook Kankuro for sure, right now.

It was amazing how what calmed an animal down also worked on people. Kiba had seen his sister soothe injured animals in the same way. She would sometimes get Kiba to help, because he was pretty good at it.

All at once, Kankuro went limp. Kiba grinned. It was a little weird but it reminded him of an injured cat. One minute you would be holding a hissing mass of muscle that was trying to claw your eyes out, and then the next there would be a soft bundle of fur draped across your arms. Yes, Kankuro was very much like a cat, and not just because the little hood he wore had ears. Cats seemed to be terminally pissed off too. Kiba was a dog person at heart, but he thought that he might learn to appreciate a cat or two.

He shifted from behind the chair to sit on the arm rest, so he was facing Kankuro. He sat that way for a while, watching the rise and fall of the puppeteer's lean torso. He could not believe it, Kankuro had fallen asleep. Kiba knew that he had a great touch but this was unusual. Kankuro must have really been stressing over his puppets. It made Kiba feel a little guilty about what he was about to do, but not guilty enough not to try it. He leaned forward and kissed Kankuro. At first it was not really a kiss, he just touched his lips to the other's. Kankuro twitched, but Kiba could tell it was in surprise and not distaste. His eyes opened a little, but he remained relaxed. Kiba leaned into the kiss, trying to encourage Kankuro to open his mouth. It was not just the make up he wore that made his mouth look so wide and inviting. The puppeteer's hand drifted up into Kiba's hair and pulled him into a deep kiss.

Akamaru slumped down to the floor and rested his muzzle on his front paws. His master was at it again; letting his body follow his nose into another bed. It was terribly unfair. Whenever Akamaru did something like this he was tossed in a kennel and threatened with castration. Whenever Kiba did it Akamaru sometimes still ended up in a kennel. Or worse, he would have to stay in the room and try to ignore the noise. He shut his eyes and hoped that they would go somewhere else.

Kiba placed his hand on Kankuro's shoulder. He was still being careful with his movements. Kankuro only seemed half aware of what was going on and Kiba did not want to startle him out of his relaxed, compliant state. At least not until things had progressed to a certain point. He ran his hand along Kankuro's collarbone to the base of his throat and then down his chest, over his ribs and down to his hip. He slipped his hand around to Kankuro's back and trailed his fingers to the base of his spine. Kankuro arched his back and Kiba took the opportunity to run his hand under the waistband of his trousers and boxers to have a quick fondle back there. As Kankuro settled back he brought his hand around to the front and opened the button at the top of Kankuro's trousers. At the same time he started to kiss his way down Kankuro's chest, following the contours of the lean muscles.

The Sand shinobi was going to have to wake up and move, Kiba thought. When he got his hands on Kankuro's fine ass again it was going to be someplace where he could appreciate it properly. Kankuro was just too tall to do what Kiba had planned in this flimsy chair. In Kiba's imagination, things were different. The shorter, chubbier genin in Kiba's memory would already be without his onesie and boxers and would have his knees up around his ears. He was still wearing the cowl though.

The burr of his zipper being pulled caused Kankuro's eyes to open all the way.

"What the hell?!"

Kankuro bolted out of the chair. He still had his hand in Kiba's hair, but now he was using the hold to put Kiba at arm's length.

Kiba grinned as Kankuro's trousers dropped to the floor.

"Purple boxers?! Are those things silk? Man, that is pretty wild."

"What the hell are you doing?"

"You know what I am doing." Kiba looked down. "You don't seem to mind."

"Taking advantage like that is sick."

"Well, you're awake now. So, let me go and I'll leave, or…"

He looked Kankuro straight in the eye and grinned his widest, most evil, feral canine grin. Kankuro sneered back him. Kiba had never seen anyone project such contempt and arrogance (and look so hot) with just a twitch of his lips.

Kankuro twined his fingers more firmly into Kiba's hair.

"Little dogs like you should be careful of what they wish for."

"This from a guy in purple panties."

Kankuro snorted and pulled so Kiba smacked into his solid torso. He kissed Kiba. Kankuro was not subtle, but he was thorough. He pulled Kiba's jacket off, yanking it down hard. So, Kiba thought, Kankuro liked it a little rough, no big surprise there.

Kankuro smacked into the wall with enough force to make him grunt. Kiba was smaller then he was, but as a close range fighter he knew how to use an opponent's weight against him. It had taken a while to get Kiba stripped down to his boxers, he kept trying to distract Kankuro. Kiba pushed him against the wall, using hands, teeth, and tongue, all at the same time and all to good effect.

Kiba put his hand in Kankuro's shorts and Kankuro took the opportunity to reach around to grab Kiba's ass. He pulled what he had grabbed towards him, trapping Kiba's hand between them. Kankuro could feel Kiba's mouth grinning against his. He nipped at Kankuro and then bit down harder. At the same time his fingers started wiggling their way past his balls. Kankuro realized what he was trying to do.

"Oh, hell no!"

He twitched sideways, away from the fingers. Kiba pushed against him and Kankuro started to fall backwards. He had been against the wall beside his bedroom door and when he had moved sideways, he had stepped into the doorway and now he was falling through it.

Kiba grabbed his shoulders and redirected his momentum towards the bed. Kankuro landed on his back beside a pile of freshly laundered sheets and towels. The pile toppled over onto his face. Kiba bounded onto the bed and landed on top of Kankuro with a joyous howl. In one swift motion he tugged the purple boxers off and tossed them across the room. His own followed after. He put his hands on Kankuro's hips and grinned his fierce grin. Kankuro was still trying to bat the treacherous laundry away when Kiba dipped his head down.

Damn, but the guy knew how to use his mouth and tongue. And his teeth. It felt great but the Leaf shinobi's hands were wandering to places they should not. Kankuro's preferences were very specific. He had imagined a few scenarios involving Kiba, but they always had him running the show. He reached down to grab Kiba's hair; it was time it exert some control over his performance. Kiba growled deep in his throat and smacked Kankuro's hand away. The vibrations from the growl sent a shiver up Kankuro's spine. It was getting hard to concentrate on what was happening. He reached down again and this time he was allowed to take a handful of dark hair.

Kiba let Kankuro guide the motion of his head, but he did what he wanted with his hands, running them along the inside of the puppeteer's long legs, pushing them up and apart to make room for his own body.

One of Kiba's fingers slipped inside Kankuro, sending heat up his spine; a sensation right on the border between pain and pleasure. Before that sensation faded, Kiba added another finger, making the Sand shinobi gasp. The fingers started to move and Kankuro arched his back off the bed. Kiba slid one hand around to grab his ass. Kankuro twitched, Kiba had dug his nails in, and they seemed a lot sharper now.

"Augh, fuck."

Kiba's head popped up, "Okay then."

The puppeteer had been right; it was not fair of Kiba to take advantage of Kankuro's distracted state. But the look on Kankuro's face and the noises he was making indicated that he was not minding too much. Kiba removed his fingers and put his hands on Kankuro's hips to hold him steady, tracing circles on his stomach and hip with his thumbs. He paused like that, letting the anticipation build.

"Damn it, if you don't…"

Kiba thrust into Kankuro. The puppeteer cursed again and bunched his fists up in the sheets and towels. Kiba paused to give Kankuro's body time to adjust, leaning down to lick the base of his throat. When Kankuro started to move under him, Kiba thrust again, eliciting a moan. Kiba watched the puppeteer's lean body writhe for a few heartbeats before he gave in to the shaky rhythm he had established and let his mind go.

In the other room, Akamaru cringed and wished that he had some way to stop up his ears.

Kankuro woke up tangled in a pile of sheets and Inuzuka. He reached down and rubbed his ass. Damn, but he was sore in places that did not bear thinking about. He was going to have to stand at his work bench for the next few days. Someone needed their nails trimmed, but bad.

Somewhere under the pile of sheets, Kiba muttered something and shifted. Kankuro eased off the bed and padded to the kitchen. He pulled his water jug out of the fridge and took a long drink. When he took the jug away from his lips the mutt was sitting in front of him. Akamaru had an almost human look of accusation on his furry face.

"Don't look at me like that, mutt. It wasn't my idea."

The dog made a noise that sounded like 'uff' and started to pant. He looked at the water jug and his eyes got all round and puppy like.

"I guess you are thirsty too." He pointed at the dog. "But if I give you some, no pissing or shitting on the floor."

Kankuro hunted around for a pot for the water. Pots were one of the few things actually in a cupboard, because Kankuro did not cook. He found one, filled it, and set it on the floor. He leaned against the fridge (the cool enamel felt good on his sore ass) and watched the dog drink.

"You certainly did get big. Damn."

Kankuro's mind slipped back to when he had first seen the mutt. Akamaru had been at the chunin exams but at that time Kankuro's mind had been on other things and he had not noticed the nin-dog. His first good look at him had been after his fight with Sakon and his brother. He had been so small and helpless looking, curled up in a bloody ball in Kiba's arms. During their debriefing Kankuro had heard about how Kiba had gotten away from the Sound shinobi. Kankuro knew that he was pretty tough; he had grown up with a demon after all, but what Kiba had done took some serious balls.

And the dog had been tougher than he looked, too. He had survived and grown into this monster slopping water on his kitchen floor. For the first time since his fight with Sasori, Kankuro thought that there was chance for Karasu, Kuroari, and Shanshouo. If this mutt had survived, then so would they.

What was it about these Leaf shinobi? They all thought that everything would work out fine if your just stayed positive and did your best. Kankuro had a hard time buying into such a sappy sentiment but maybe there was something to it. The lump that had been in his chest for weeks had eased. He would be able to go back to work and focus on what needed to be done.

Akamaru looked up at Kankuro and cocked his head.

"Well mutt, let's just hope that my best is good enough, because no one is going to come along and rescue me. And I am not learning another ninja art. I suck at close range tactics, sand is annoying, and the whole fan thing is just too gay." He took another drink. "But right now, I have to go back and teach your master a thing or two. He seems a little unclear on how these things are supposed to go." He poured the last of the water into the pot. "You stay in here."

Kiba was propped up in the bed, hands behind his head, looking smug.

"Were you talking to my dog?"

"More intelligent conversation than in here."

"Man, I am not the one with the vocabulary that consists mostly of four letter words. You should hear yourself sometime."

Kankuro planted one hand on his hip and curled his lip in a sneer. Kiba grinned back to show the Sand shinobi what impressive teeth really looked like. He hoped Kankuro would stay like that; it was a very fine sight. It was so wrong how the Sand village covered their finest asset in heavy black cloth and purple make up and then hid him behind puppets.

"So hey, do you put make up all over the place or just on your face?"

Kankuro rolled his eyes, "It's not make up, idiot. It helps keep the sun out of my eyes."

"Riiiight. So that is why you put it on your mouth and nose and on your chin too."

"It also keeps the sand from getting in my eyes, nose, and mouth. The patterns are traditional. Don't they teach you guys anything in that village of yours?"

Kiba shrugged, "Not stupid stuff like that."

He thought that Kankuro looked a little better. Some of the tension lines in his face had eased and his posture looked less hunched.

Kankuro eased himself into a sitting position on the edge of the bed and grimaced. Kiba leaned forward with a wicked chuckle to pat Kankuro on the ass. The puppeteer's hand clamped around his wrist.

"Don't even think about it."

He pulled hard on Kiba's wrist. Kiba let himself get jerked forward. He let Kankuro kiss him in the rough way he had. They were both a little breathless when Kankuro let him go.

"You are one twisted puppy to take advantage like that."

"Like I said before, you did not seem to mind. You did have me worried for a moment. You can never tell how a guy is going to react."

"Humph." Kankuro's thoughts went elsewhere. "Did my sister put you up to this?"

"Well, not this." Kiba snuck his hand in for a quick pat. "But when I asked if I could drop by, she thought it was a good idea. I still had a favour to return, you know."

"What? Oh right, the whole that's just how dogs are crap. I think you already returned the so-called favour though, a couple of years ago."

"Did I? I guess I forgot about that." Kiba was sitting with his hands behind his head again. Now he was making puppy eyes at Kankuro. The grin was pure evil though.

"Humph."

Kankuro raised his arms above his head and stretched, making his spine crackle and then relaxed back down to rest on his elbows. It was a leisurely feline motion. His eyes were half-closed; he might be falling back asleep. Then, just like a big hunting cat, he went from utter relaxed stillness to blurred motion. Kiba found himself face down on the bed with Kankuro's hands on his hips. One hand slid over his butt, the other slid up his spine and then around, lifting him up. Kiba wiggled in a half-hearted attempt to get away. The big jounin's voice purred in his ear.

"Let's just make sure you remember this time, little dog."