"You guys are sure you don't wanna stay home?" Temari asked as she put her back pack on her back, placing her fan under it.
"I won't miss it that much..." Kankuro answered.
"Where are you guys going to stay? You know I didn't warn Shikamaru that you guys were tagging along."
"Don't worry about us, we'll figure it out..."
The 3 of them walked out there house, locked the door and left the village.
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Aftre 3 days of traveling, they all made it to Konoha a little passed 6. It was colder then usual, a lot colder.
"is it alwas that cold in konoha in december?" Gaara asked.
"Not as I remember... Anyways, I'm going to Shikmaru's place, you guys better decide on somewhere to stay fast before one of you get cold..."
"so... where do you wanna go?" Kankuro asked.
"I don't know..."
"Doesn't seem any different from Suna beside being a lot colder..." Kankuro said as he started to walk off, followed by his little brother.
It was so cold that day it was snowing a little bit.
"Gaara? Hey guys what brings you in Konoha?" Naruto asked as he walked up to them.
"Chrismas vacation..." Gaara plainly said.
"Are you guys here to visit anyone?"
"nah, just thought it'd be nice to spend this christmas out of Suna... Now that I think of it, I belive it won't be any different from other years..." Kankuro said as he walked off again.
"What's up with him?" Naruto asked.
"He just doesn't like christmas..." Gaara explained.
"Gaara, you're coming? We'll go get an hotel room somewhere..."
"You mean you guys will stay by yourselves on christmas?" Naruto asked.
"We're used to it by now..."
"I'll be spending christmas eve with Kakashi and Iruka, I'm sure they wouldn't mind two more persons joining us! You guys can sleep in the living room!"
"No offence, but, no..." Kankuro said.
"I'll join you Naruto." Gaara said.
"Fine! I'll see you latter then little bro..." Kankuro said as he walked away.
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"What do you mean no vacancy?" Kankuro said anglry.
"Listen kid, it's christmas time, people come from everywhere to see there familly and friends, whadya expect!" The owner explained.
"fine... Thanks anyways..." Kankuro said as he walked out.
"I told you, it wasn't me... I'm not controling fleas..." Shino said.
"Bullshit! Get these off me! My familly will be at my place tommorow, it's gonna be a desaster if me or Akamaru have fleas!!" Kiba was wispering angrily, trying not to get anyone's attention.
Shino was dressed as usual but was wearing shoes instead of sandals and Kiba was wearing longer pants and a jacket the looked a lot like is old one when he was younger, but was black with grey fur. Kankuro couldn't belive it, everythime he'd see them, they were always arguing about something. He just wished none of them would notice him, but it failed mesirably.
"Arrf!!" Akamaru barked happilly as he noticed Kankuro.
"Hey Kankuro!!" Kiba said with a light blush, he hoped the older teen didn't ear there conversation and tried as hard as he could not to scratch everywhere.
"Having a little fleas probleme aren't we..."Kankuro chucled as he walked to them.
"Ok ok! I get it, don't rub it in my face will ya..." Kiba said as he gave up and scratched his head furiously under his hood. "Aren't you cold?" Shino asked as he noticed Kankuro was wearing the same thing as usual, but added a long scarf and wore shoes.
"I'm freezing..." He admited.
"Sucks to be you!" Kiba laughed. "What brings you here anyways?" he then asked.
"Just thought christmas would be less boring here then in the desert..." Kankuro answered. He was shaking because of the cold, nights in Suna were pretty cold, but he wasn't used to the humidity of Konoha.
"Why didn't you leave your stuff in your hotel room?" Kiba asked as he saw Kankuro's bag hanging from his shoulder.
"no such luck, they don't have any free rooms... I guess I'll go tell Temari and Gaara I'll be going back to Suna." Kankuro said.
"And spend christmas by yourself?" Kiba asked, still scratching his neck.
"Trust me, it's won't change much... I'll see you around..." Kankuro said as he started to walk off.
"W-wait!" Kiba said as he followed him.
"I'll get going, cold is not good for the bugs, I'm feeling sleepy now..." Shino said as he walked in the other direction.
"See ya Shino..." Kankuro said as he kept on walking.
"You guys walked from Suna to here, you must be exausted! I'll ask my sis if you can sleep at my place tonight! You can go back tommorow I guess..." Kiba said as he walked beside Kankuro.
"I think you have some other things to take care of Mutt..." Kankuro said as he pointed AKamaru scratching himself.
"Stop calling me that! Why can't you just accept when people ofers help? Just come with me..." Kiba said as he grabed Kankuro's forearm and forced him to follow.
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As they walked in, Kankuro noticed all the christmas decorations, and the smell of food being prepared. The hole house was perfectly clean, after all they were having gests on the next day.
"Hey Hanna! two questions; Can my friend sleep here tonight? He traveled all the way from Suna to Konoha and the hotel rooms are all taken... He's gonna go back to Suna tommorow..."
"Ofcourse he can! Is it Kankuro?" Hanna asked from the kitchen.
"Yes..."
"Why going back to Suna so soon, you can spend christmas here with us if you want!" She said as she walk out the kitchen.
"Thanks a lot, but I don't want to intrude..." Kankuro said.
"Come on Kankuro, you're not intruding!" Kiba said.
"Just think about it, if you change your mind, you're welcome to stay!" Hanna said. "Now what about the second question?" She asked.
"Where's the flea shampoo?" Kiba asked trying to scratch his back.
"Wh- You stay away from me and the dogs! Under the bathroom sink..." Hanna said as her brother walked up the stairs to his room, followed by Akamaru and Kankuro.
Once they walked in Kiba's room, Kiba took off his jacket and struggled to scratch his own back again.
"Stop scratching yourself..." Kankuro said.
"Easier said than done..." Kiba winned trying desperatly to reach the only spot he couldn't reach on his back.
Kankuro sighed and walked to the boy, lifted his shirt a little and ran his hand on the boys back to scratch his back. He instantly felt goose bump under his fingers as Kiba arched his back a little. He also would have sworn he felt the boys right leg shaking a little like when you scratch a pet behind the ears.
"Sorry, my hands are cold..." Kankuro said as he moved away from Kiba.
"It's ok... Thanks... You can watch tv while I'm getting rid of these... Come here Akamaru!" Kiba said as he walked out the room.
Kankuro suddently felt wierd about what just happened. He turned on the tv and sat down on his friend's bed. He could ear Kiba and Akamaru discussing in the bathroom and suddently wondered how awkward it must be to bath with someone you know, cause to Kiba, Akamaru was more than a dog, he was his best friend. Then again, it was normal for young children to bath together, but his parents never let him and his brother or sister bath together. Kankuro was draged out of his thoughts as he heard the bathroom door open.
"As much as I hate that, we'll have to go for an other tommorow morning Akamaru..." Kiba said and got a wine noise from his dog as an answer.
"I know but we can't have familly over with all these fleas..." Kiba said again as he walked in his room.
Kankuro was shocked to see Kiba walking in only wearing a towel around his hips. Kiba's body was still wet from the bath he just took, his skin looked so warm that Kankuro suddently felt like cuddeling him since he was still cold from walking around in unapropriate clothings for winter.
"toss me my pants will you?" Kiba said, pointing at the pile of cloths on the other side of the bed.
Kankuro did as he was told and tried to forget about what he was thinking a second ago. Luckily he was good hidding his feelings. then it hit him. 'He's a dog, he's gonna smell it!' he started to panic, how he didn't want Kiba to think he was atracted by him. Was he even attracted by him.
"What's wrong?" Kiba asked as he poped his head out of his shirt.
"Nothing..." Kankuro answered as Akamaru jumped on the bed to lay down behind him.
"Hn! Whatever... You know you're lucky you don't have to deal with fleas..."
"Yeah speaking about that, aren't fleas only on animals?" Kankuro asked to change the subject.
"I never understood either, but apparently, fleas can also get to some humans who are closely related to animals. The Inuzuka clan for exemple..." Kiba explained as he could.
"I see..."
"Are you ok?" "Yes, why?"
"I don't know, you look... wierd..."
"I'm just a little cold, that's all. Anyways, I got to go the the washroom, can I borow a towel to clean my face?"
"Yeah, look under the sink... You can take a shower too if you want..." Kiba said as he scratched his scalp some more.
"You sure this flea shampoo works?"
"Yeah... it's just that chemical products make me itchy..."
"You should stop scrathing yourself, seriously... you'll get scares if you keep it up..." Kankuro said as he noticed Kiba's shoulder was now bleeding from scratching too much.
"I know..." Kiba said as he licked his bleeding shoulder.
That's when Kankuro decided it was time to get out the room. He grabed his bag and went to the washroom. He washed his face paint off and turned on the hot water. He striped and steped in the shower. He felt relaxed and warmer, damn he hated cold weather. Once he was clean, he turned off the water and steped out. He looked around for a towel, dried himself before putting on some cloths and walked out.
"Kiba! I don't mind Kankuro sleeping here, but remember we have to get up early tomorow morning to prepare everything, don't go to bed to late!" Hanna said from downstairs as Kankuro walked back in the room.
"Yeah sis!" Kiba answered.
"Damn!" Kiba steped back as he saw Kankuro.
"What?" "Nothing, I just never tried to picture you without make up... You know you should stop wearing that, you look quite handsome without it..."
"Am I suppose to say thanks or kick your ass for saying I'm ugly the rest of the time?" Kankuro asked as he turned away and crossed his arms over his cheast to hide the light blush he had across the face.
"I- I never said you look ugly the rest of the time? It's just-... I-... It was a compliment, dumb ass..."Kiba tried to explain.
"It's ok... Thanks anyways..." Kankuro said.
"I'll go get some extra blankets for you if you want... You can sleep in my bed, I'll sleep on the floor with Akamaru." He said as he walked out the bedroom.
"No no, you sleep in your bed, I'll sleep on the floor!" Kankuro protest.
Kiba walked to the laundry room and walked back to his room with a pile of blankets.
"you're my guest so you sleep in my bed!" Kiba said as he trew the blankets on the bed.
"Allright..."
"You wanna have something to eat before we go sleep?"
"You know it's not good to eat before going to bed?"
"Who cares, I'm ungry... Are you?"
"Guess I am..."
"Alright, come with me..."
they both walked out the room followed by Akamaru and walked down the stairs to the kitchen.
"I guess we can steel a couple of cookies hanna has been preparing..."
"Isn't it for your party tommorow?"
"Yes, but there's so many, it's ok to take a couple... Witch one do you want... there's gingerbread cookies or beef cookies..." Kiba said as he tossed one to Akamaru.
Kankuro made a discusted face at the thought of beef and cookies...
"I'll stick to the regular gingerbread cookies thanks..." Kankuro said.
"You don't know what you're missing..." Kiba said as he gave him two bone shapped gigerbread cookies and put one darker cookie in his mouth.
"I'd rather not know..." Kankuro said as he brought one of his cookies to his mouth.
"It's really good I tell you! It's a special recipe Hanna has been working on a couple of year ago and everybody liked it, so now it's a tradition in the Inuzuka clan. She'll be insulted if you dont try one tommorow..." Kiba said.
"Fine, tommorow... wait, who said I was staying?" Kankuro asked.
"I did! ... please?" Kiba said his mouth full.
"*sigh*Alright..." Kankuro said as he set down at the table with his cookies.
"Milk?" Kiba asked, his mouth still full, holding the milk jar in his hand.
"Please..."
They both finished there cookies and went back to Kiba's bedroom. Kiba opened his wardrobe and took out his mission camping kit to find the rolled matress, he sat it down on the floor and took some blankets from the pile he brought earlier.
"You can sleep in your bed, really, I don't mind..." Kankuro said.
"I said no, I'll be alright, I'm use to this anyways..." Kiba said as he got up to change to his pijama, wich was his boxer shorts.
Kankuro just looked away as he sat down on the bed. Kiba could clearly smell he wasn't confortable. he turned off the light, Akamaru laid down on the floor next to the small matress and Kiba joind him, resting his head on his dog. Kankuro was now wraped in the heavy blankets his friend offered.
"What's up Kankuro?" Kiba asked softly.
"What do you mean what's up?"
"Sorry if I get into anything personal, I just happen to have a very well trained nose, so I know when someone's not feeling well... you don't seem to be confortable around me..." Kiba said.
"I-... It's-... Just sleep will you?" Kankuro said.
"*chuckle* Too personal, I get it..." Kiba said as he closed his eyes to sleep.
"Shut up..." Kankuro said as he rolled on his side.
"Good night buddie" Kiba said as he ruffled Akamaru's fur. "You too Kankuro..." He said again.
"Arf!"
"g'night..."
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On the next day, everyone was up early. After Kiba and Akamaru took an othe flea bath, Kiba had to help his sister with the food, and Kankuro decided he'd help too.
"So, you're spending christmas eve with us?" Hanna asked.
"If you don't mind..." Kankuro said as he prepared some sushi.
"Ofcourse not!" Kiba said with a smile.
"There'll be plenty of food for everyone! and beside, we need you guys to entertain the younger ones!" Hanna said.
"Wh-"
"Yeah, kind of forgot to tell you that... most of my cousins are older then me and have kids..." Kiba said.
"Great..." Kankuro sighed.
"Come on it'll be fun!" Kiba said.
"If you say so..."
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"Where's uncle Kiba!!" "And Akamaru!!" two kids yelled as they ran in the house.
"Right HERE!!" Kiba yelled as he grabed one of them by the collar and lift him off the ground.
"Carefull Kiba, you'll hurt him!" Kankuro said.
"Naah! They're Inuzuka, can't get hurt that easily... Am I right?" Kiba asked looking at the little guy laughing.
"You are... and you won't get me- that easily!" The kid said as he sliped out his shirt and ran off.
"Hey come back here and put your shirt back on!" Kiba yelled.
"You have to catch me first!!"
"Akamaru! Go get him boy!" Kiba ordered, Akamaru obeyed and ran through the room, knocking over everything on his way to catch the boy.
"*sigh*it's gonna be a looong night..." Kankuro said.
"So who's the stranger!" An laidy said as she walked in the livingroom where Kiba and Kankuro were.
"He's my friend, Kankuro! Kankuro, this is my cousin, Ayaki! Mother of the two little kids that just ran by..."
"Nice to meet you!" Kankuro said as the laidy walked to him and sniffed the air around him.
"You're from Suna aren't you?"
"Yes, is that a problem?" Kankuro asked, steping back cautiously "Not at all!" Ayaki said with a smile and walked away.
"You're familly is wired..." Kankuro almost wispered to Kiba.
"I HEARD THAT!" Ayaki said playfully.
"Don't worry, they're nice people..."
"I hope they are..."
"Let go Akamaru!!!" The boy yelled as Akamaru ran to Kiba, holding the moy by his pants with his large jaw.
"Gotcha! Now put that shirt back on!" Kiba said as Akamaru dropped the kid on the floor.
"Poor kid..." Kankuro said as he looked away.
"What do you mean, poor kid! That's how the Inuzukas are raised, these kids are not crybabies... These things won't cry unless you break on of there bones or hurt there feelings!" Kiba said as he forced the kid in his shirt.
'I bet I can make you cry withought breaking any of your bone kid...' Kankuro thought to himself.
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"Come on Kankuro! You said you'd try one last night!!!" Kiba said as he shoved a cookie into Kankuro's mouth.
It was almost 12, Kiba had slightly abused on the punch his sister prepared, but he was still quite lucid. The kids were all sleeping, exausted from running around. Tsume, Kiba's mother, was about to go wake them up so they get there present at midnight, like they always did.
"So?" Kiba asked.
"It's- wierd... not bad... Just wierd..." Kankuro said as he finished eating the cookie that Kiba just shoved in his mouth.
Hanna looked happy about the comment.
"Kiba!" Hanna called.
Kiba turned around and his sister motioned to look above them, Kankuro looked too out of curiousity. 'Misltetoe!'
"No, no, no!" Kankuro protest.
Kiba grined, Held Kankuro's face still with his two hands on each side and licked Kankuro's face slowly. Kankuro's face turned red.
"You taste exactly how I thought you would!" Kiba said softly.
At this, Kankuro's face tunred a brighter shade of red, it sounded so wrong.
"did santa pass by yet?" One of the kid said as they all walked to the christmas tree.
"Yes, you guys missed him again this year..." Ayaki said.
"You guys don't have anyone as santa?" Kankuro wispered to Kiba, still wipping his face with his shirt.
"Nah... you know, the hole Inuzuka nose would just ruin it..." Kiba explained.
"Make sence..."
So Hanna started to hand the christmas gift to the kids. Kiba got some but he didn't ask for much this year and was pretty happy with what he got. After there was no more gifts under the tree, Kankuro decided he'd help them clean the mess the kids did with the wrapping, all of them ran off with there new toys.
"Kankuro?" Kiba called out from the stair way.
"Yeah?" Kankuro answered as he walked to the stairs.
"Come with me, I got something for you..." Kiba said as he walked up the stairs. Kankuro followed.
As they got up stairs, Kiba walked to his bedroom door and grabed Kankuro's forearm and pulled him in the doorway. He pointed upward with a little smile across his face. Kankuro looked up. 'Mistletoe?'
"No, not falling for that agai-" Kankuro was cut mid sentence by Kiba's lips crashing against his.
Kankuro blushed deeply again and let his eyes close. the kiss was short but sweet.
"How did-... wh-...?" Was all Kankuro managed to say once they parted.
"You talk in your sleep handsome... Merry christmas" Kiba answered as he leaned against the door frame and draged Kankuro along with him.
Kankuro leaned in closer to Kiba and kissed him again, he softly played with Kiba's bottom lips asking for entrence. Kiba understood and parted his lips, letting Kankuro's tongue invade his mouth. Kiba's arms wrapped around Kankuro's neck and shoulders, wile Kankuro's hands rested on Kiba's hipbones, his tumbs tracing circles on Kiba's soft and warm skin under his shirt.
"Uncle Kiba- What are you doing to uncle Kiba, get off him!" the youngest of the kids yelled as she walked to them. Kankuro mentaly cursed the kid for walking up to them at that particular moment.
"It's ok Yura, Uncle Kiba bit his tounge and Kankuro just kissed his bobo..." Kiba said with a smirk.
"Are you ok now?" She asked.
"Yes I'm fine..."
"mom just asked me to tell you we are leaving!"
"Already?"
"I don't wanna go..."
"It's ok Yura, I'll see you again soon, it's new year next week!"
"You'll be there?"
"Ofcourse I will! Like every year!"
"Will he be there too?" She asked, pointing at Kankuro.
"I don't know, you have to ask mom before... you want him to be there?"
"Yes..."
"Why?"
"Cause you like each other and mom always say we have to spend holidays with people we like! and beside, he's funny!"
"haha Ok, I get it! Get back downstairs, I'll be there in a second..." Kiba said.
"So... Look like you're coming back next week?" Kiba said.
"Ask first, I don't wanna be a burden to your familly..."
"I'll ask them later..."
"If they don't mind, I can stay here and go back after new year..."
"KIBA!! Come down here and say bey to your cousins..." Tsume yelled from downstairs.
Kiba walked down the stairs followed by Kankuro, they both went to say good bye to everyone. Kiba passed by Ayaki and asked her if it was ok to bring Kankuro to her place the week after.
"Yura just asked me, I don't mind!" She answered with a smile.
"Thanks!"
Everybody was gone, eccept Tsume cause she insisted on helping cleaning the hole place on the next day.
"I'm exausted, we'll clean everything tommorow... mom, you know where are the blankets... you can sleep on the couch..." Hanna said before walking to her bedroom that was right next to the stairway.
"Yeah we're going to sleep too... Good night mom, good night sis." Kiba said as he walked up the stairs followed by Akamaru.
"Good night!" Kankuro said as he followed Kiba and Akamaru.
both boys walked to Kiba's bedroom and closed the door behind them. Akamaru laid on the floor, he was exausted. everytime familly was here, he was always the one playing with the kids.
"So... do you mind if I sleep in my bed tonight?" Kiba asked as he sat down on his bed.
"Not at all, I'll sleep on the floor..."
"No, I mean I'll sleep in my bed with you, is that ok?" Kiba said again with a light blush across is face.
"Y-yeah, fine with me... I mean it's your place after all..."
"Hmph! Cut me the bullshit, I know you wanted it..." Kiba said as took off his pants and shirt only keeping on his boxer shorts as pijama and laid down under the blankets.
Kankuro turned off the light, took his pants off as well and joined Kiba in the bed. His heart beat was racing like crazy as Kiba snaked between Kankuro's arm and body, resting his head on the elder's shoulder. He let his hand run down Kankuro's cheast, lifting his shirt a little bit to rest his hand on his lower abdomen.
"Good night Akamaru... Good night Kanky..." Kiba wispered as he closed his eyes to sleep.
"Good night..." Kankuro answered as he wraped his arm around Kiba's body.
'It will definatly be a looong night...' Kankuro thought to himself.