Kira and Kiba as well as the two dogs where now outside, walking to the training grounds. It had gotten considerably hotter since they left the Hokage's office.
"So, what was that whole Lord thing about just now?" asked Kiba taking off his jacket. Exposing a dark grey ribbed tank top, he hoped that Kiba's well-defined arms would attract Kira.
"It's western tradition for a Knight or Guardian to bow and swear loyalty to their Lord or Lady." Clarified Kira, she didn't notice Kiba's arms.
"But
I'm not a lord."
He stretched his arms to flex his muscles.
"Lord and Lady are just honorific terms we use for our clients, that's all.
As I said, it's just a tradition that Knights and Guardians carried over from the dark ages; If I where to really swear my loyalty to you, the oath I spoke before would be much longer. Including information about my lineage and all my titles, it would then end with a contract spell like the one I did before, but it would need to be done by an official priest and be witnessed by an audience of three or more people." Explained Kira.
"Oh, really? It seems like a lot of trouble." Said Kiba.
"Actually, it's a bigger deal than you'd think. The bond between Lords and protectors is incredibly intimate. You are always with that person, for better or worse, thick or thin. It's sort of like getting married to them. Actually it's become quite popular these days among us Guardians as opposed to actually getting married." Said Kira.
"So it's usually a boy/girl sort of thing." Said Kiba,
"Well… There is the occasional odd pairing of boy/boy or girl/girl." Said Kira, she scratched her head.
'I wonder what it would be like...' thought Kiba.
He imagined what it would be like…
The two of them together on the beach, under the moonlit summer sky, starlight filling Kira's face, him embracing her tenderly as the sound of waves rolled off into the distance…
"HAH! Stupid kid, your 100 years too early to even include Kira in one of your messed up fantasies…"
'What?' thought Kiba, he was forced to leave his day dream.
"You heard me…I'm only gunna say it once ya' damn brat, if you lay one hormone filled finger on her. I will fix you with a rusty spoon!"
Kiba looked down to Akuma. He knew that he could talk (telepathically) so it didn't surprise him. But Kiba had never heard Akuma speak like this. Usually the dog was so polite and agreeable.
"GAH! Don't go reading my mind without my permission!" Whispered Kiba. He took care not to let Kira hear him.
"Then stop undressing my partner with your eyes!"
"I WAS NOT!!!" shouted Kiba
Akuma glared at Kiba, who glared back.
"Hey you two, what are you getting all heated about?" said Kira.
Akuma turned and jumped into her arms, cutely licking her face.
"Who gets to pee on the next fire hydrant." Said Akuma nuzzling her face.
"…Oh… Ok…"Kira stared at Kiba in an odd way.
"WE WERE NOT!" fumed Kiba.
"Well then what was it?" asked Kira confusedly
"yeah, what were we talking about, I forget…" Akuma sneered at the boy.
"We- we were t-talking about……" Kiba made the mistake of looking into Kira's pure and innocent eyes. He froze then. Turning bright red
"…about……………………ahhhh
J-JUST FORGET IT!" He turned away from the girl and the pup,
shaking in embarrassment growing even redder still; he looked sky
ward, hoping for some holy courage,
but Kira with Akuma in tow,
walked up behind the boy placing her hand on his shoulder.
"Are you ok? You're as red as a cherry, is the heat bothering you?" she asked.
Kiba turned his head slowly to the girl. There faces where close. Too close. Kiba found that Kira was just way too cute when she was all confused and innocent like that. He was going to lose it, he was sure of that. He felt like he was going to pass out. Which is exactly what he did, the last thing Kiba heard before he completely blacked out was,
"PFFFFFT HA-Ha-ha!! The boy has no immunities!"
"What do you mean, Kuma? Like he is Anemic or something?"
"He-he, yeah, or something…"
Kiba awoke in a soft bed in a dimly lit room. Diffused light filtered in from the blinds behind him.
"Oh hey! You woke up."
Kiba sat up to see the voice. It was Kira leaning in the doorway.
"I was starting to get worried. That was some nasty heat stroke you had back there."
Kira smiled. She was carrying a large bottle of water in one hand and a washcloth in the other.
"Here, this should help."
Kira sat on the edge of his bed and poured water on the cloth, pressing it to his face. It was ice cold waking him up completely.
"Are you feeling any better Kiba?" she asked letting him take the cloth from her.
He said yes very quietly with his face still covered, hiding his still red face.
'She's way too kawaii! There is no way I can look at her right now with out getting a nose bleed!'
"PFFFT! Lightweight…"
Kiba noticed a weight on his legs. Akuma sat there, his icy blue eyes showed mischief.
"Kuma was really worried about you too Kiba. He hasn't left your side since we came here." Said Kira taking back the washcloth, Kiba prayed that he wasn't red anymore.
'Probably waiting to bite my throat out while I slept….' Kiba thought at Akuma
"Nah… I was going to wait until Kira went to sleep to do that…" said Akuma snidely.
Kiba glared at Akuma.
"Hey you two stop fighting; we all have to live together for a while so play nice." Said Kira.
She placed her hands on their heads patting them.
"I ran out and picked up lunch for us all. Kiba are you hungry?" asked Kira.
"Oh…yes." Said Kiba
He swung his legs out of bed, standing up. The room spun so he had to sit down again.
"Woah, easy does it. I'll just bring up the food then." Said Kira
Kira
got up to leave the room.
"Kuma, stay here and keep an eye on
him. Akamaru you can help me bring up the food."
The door shut behind them and Kiba was left alone with Akuma.
"Why am I always stuck with babysitting the runt?!"
"RUNT?! Ok, that's it, I've had enough of you!"
Kiba lunged at Akuma
Akuma dodged
"Is that all you got, runt?"
"Stop calling me RUNT!"
Kiba lunged and missed again
"I'll call you a RUNT as much as I want!"
"What's your deal, Why do you hate me so much?!" shouted Kiba
"Just stay away from Kira, Ya got it?" said Akuma
'Well that's kind of hard since we are LIVING TOGETHER!!!!!!"
"Stupid brat, you just don't get it do you?"
Akuma pounced on Kiba's chest.
"No. I don't you crazy fur ball! You won't tell me anything!" shouted Kiba.
"Let me put in terms you can understand then. She has enough to worry about with out you mixing her up in your little fifteen minute crush!"
"What?"
"she's been hurt by guys like you before. Smooth talking skirt chasing punks! The girl who is so strong, she endures everything and never complains, but because she fell in love with someone like you, she wound up hurt and crying alone for a long time! I don't ever want to see her in that much pain ever again. So unless you are drop dead serious about Kira; stay the Hell away from her!"
Akuma bared his fangs.
"What if I am serious? Did you ever think of that? What if I am truly in love with her?"
Kiba said calmly.
Akuma sat back.
"How do you know you love her?"
Kiba was about to answer.
"Save it. I guarantee that you don't know the right answer. You are still a boy. What do you know of love at this point?"
The door opened again,
"We got the food." Kira entered the room with Akamaru, they both set up the food.
"If you can correctly answer my question, then I won't interfere anymore and you can try to win her. But only once you can answer correctly."
"Hey Kuma, C'mere ya goof ball." Kira scooped up Akuma
Placing him in her lap.
They all sat down to eat around Kiba's bed. Neither Kiba nor Akuma spoke to each other the rest of the day.
~That Night~
"OK, good night everyone." Said Kira, she shut the door.
"Good night Kira."
Kiba stared up at the ceiling remembering everything Akuma had told him.
'He's right. I don't know. How could I possibly know? Its not like the answer is in a text book somewhere…'
