DISCLAIMER: As if it isn't obvious, I do not own the actual characters, setting, or any media attached to the series.
Chapters 3
Kiba was thoroughly confused not only by why Shikamaru would hide such a novelty feature from him but also why his family was so dead-set against Shika finding happiness with such a hidden aspect that most couples, and even parents, would be ecstatic to have if they, or their children in the parents' case, did indeed like the same gender. However, his questions would have to wait to be answered because his best friend, or at least he thought Shikamaru was, was knocked out cold after the power struggle and acceptance. He'd wondered if Neji had to go through the process or if this instance was only because of Shikamaru being in the state of mind that he was in when Kiba found him.
A groan came from the body lying across Akamaru's back as they traveled back to the once shared apartment of Shikamaru and Neji. A hand came up to the owner's head in pain and again another groan was emitted from Shika. Slightly concerned but knowing, more or less, that his friend was fine Kiba asked him anyway if he was alright. This caused Shikamaru to startle and fall off Akamaru's back despite his cat-like reflexes that were engrained into all ninja. Landing in a rather ungraceful heap, Shika rolled to his feet his eyes on the snickering boy and his doggy companion.
Standing up straight and dusting himself off, Shikamaru asked snippily, "What pray tell is so funny?" This only caused Kiba to laugh outright, clutching his sides in effort to lessen the pressure of his ribs.
Shikamaru's eyes narrowed and, shooting one last glare at the snickering companions, took to the trees to get home faster. It was while he was escaping the laughing duo that Shikamaru realized he had come out of his cursed form and felt much more relaxed than he had in a long time, possibly his whole life; there was some sort of peace within him and it took him only a moment to realize it came from the side that seemed to be against him his whole life, or at least was the cause of all his troubles. He heard the foot steps and crunching of tree bark under heavy paws before he seen the massive body of Akamaru and the fit physique of his friend. He sighed in annoyance and resignation, knowing that they, or at least Kiba, would not leave until there was a firm reassurance that he was alright.
Landing gracefully on his doorstep, Shikamaru pulled out his key and unlocked the door before entering quickly to relock and set the traps that any ninja of a hidden village would set, or least one that did not want to be disturbed. Kiba did not take well to this as he could barely sense the chakra being used to rig the whole system of traps that Shikamaru was setting up, knowing all too well that none of them were pleasant as he had the unfortunate opportunity to experience. Pounding on the door he called out to Shikamaru nearly begging him to let Kiba in. As the minutes slowly ticked by the vein of annoyance ticked on the side of Kiba's head and again he repeatedly pounded on the door.
In a last ditch effort he called out loudly in a voice that all could hear: "So Shika what was up with that thing in the forest? I didn't know you could tu—" He was cut off by a sudden yank that had him stumbling non-too-gracefully through Shikamaru's doorway and into his rented out house.
Cold eyes were turned upon him that made him almost shiver in feared expectance of an explosion and it did come but quietly as was Shikamaru's way.
"What do you think you're doing shouting that for the world to hear? You think I'm keeping this all a secret because I am ashamed? Well you would be wrong but I am in no way going to explain myself to the likes of you. Not even Chouji, or better yet Ino, would stoop so low as to reveal a secret I've been keeping my whole life to the world like that. And you call yourself my friend." With that, Shikamaru escaped to his room leaving Kiba somewhat stupefied because that rather calm, despite the glare, reaction was not exactly what he had been expecting.
Approaching the door slowly with caution, as if it might explode if he so much as touched it, he called out softly his voice low with apology. "Shikamaru? Come on, I just want you to talk to me alright… I apologize for doing that and it was low of me to nearly reveal your hard kept secret, but when you let me in that day and told me that your family had one of the best kept secrets lying in your genes… well damn, I never thought it would be something like this, now will you please come out and talk to me please? I'm only concerned about you. With this whole Neji thing…well I haven't seen you this torn up since Asuma died…" There was a flicker of light coming from underneath the door before it completely extinguished at the mention of all of Shikamaru's trouble and he could hear Shika cursing him to Hell and back.
For the second time within the span of ten minutes the door was wrenched open and Kiba was pulled inside.
"Are you happy now? Look what you've done…" Shikamaru was once more in his cursed state, his once tight fitting mesh shirt even tighter around the well-formed chest Shika had been endowed with, them being only fully covered thanks to the now tightly constricting chuunin vest, and his pants sagged on the shapely hips dipping teasingly. Kiba could only look admiringly at Shikamaru and tossed him a smirk before saying: "I don't think you could get me to look away if you tried…" Color rose lightly to Shikamaru's cheeks, the he turned she turned away in embarrassment giving Kiba the perfect views of the tight muscles that shaped his backside well.
At the stiffness now between his legs, Kiba shifted uncomfortably before adjusting himself to make his erection less noticeable. When Shikamaru turned back around the redness in his cheeks were gone, that is until his eyes traveled down Kiba's lithe frame after noticing to brief hunger in his friend's eyes, and his eyes landed on the noticeable mass under his friend's pants causing his eyes to shoot back up to Kiba's face in askance and confusion. Kiba only shrugged as if it was no big deal and walked over to the once shared bed of Shikamaru and his old partner and sat down, patting the spot next to him. Hesitantly, Shikamaru shifted from his spot by the door to the spot Kiba had chosen and sat stiffly beside his friend.
"Shikamaru?" At his name, brown eyes met equally brown eyes in question. "I want you to know that even though I know about your secret, I don't see you any differently than before." Shikamaru's eyes widened in surprise; he had not been expecting such outright acceptance, even Chouji needed sometime to come to terms with the fact that his best friend was a novelty act that was for sure. "And there's another thing…" Kiba hesitated at the enraptured look Shikamaru had on him; he closed his eyes and drew a deep breath before continuing.
"I want you to know that I have strong feelings for you… strong romantic feelings that is, and these do not change with the knowledge that you can transform into something that may not be readily accepted in society but is accepted by myself… These feelings are perhaps extended further knowing that I can have my cake and eat it too…" Kiba shot Shikamaru a smile at this and once more those endearing cheeks colored. "I realize though that making any advances on you would not be acceptable by either you or me because I will not be a rebound and I just want you to know… I just want you to know that I will be here for you no matter how long it takes to convince you that I will not be leaving you alone to fight your demons by yourself." Having finished his little monologue, Kiba nodded in confirmation accepting his own speech as proper and covering everything he had wanted to tell his longtime love.
Shikamaru sat there dumbfounded; what could he possibly say to that? His only response was a stiff nod that Kiba noticed but just brushed it off and stood up.
"Well I'm going to go home now as it is rather late considering I have a mission later today. Good night Shikamaru." And with that he placed a light kiss on top of his beloved's head and quickly exited the room and then the house taking off with Akamaru, whom had waited patiently outside the whole time so Kiba could talk to Shikamaru, back to the Inuzuka compound.
Shikamaru slowly came out of his stupor, shaking his head slowly to clear his thoughts. Looking down at himself as a herself he decided he needed a shower and quickly did so, however the heat where Kiba's lips had laid upon his scalp could not be erased no matter how hot the water got and Shika found he rather liked it, a thought he was not quite expecting but thoroughly enjoyed and figured that maybe he wasn't as in love with Neji as he had thought he was; he would get over that cheating bastard easily he thought optimistically, a rather unusual occurrence for a strategist of his caliber who tended to be more realistic when it came to outcomes. He could not help but to think that his would now be a happy one; this of course encouraged by the power coursing through him; he would know for sure how he would feel later in the day when he was rested from the stress he'd had in the last twenty-four hours. And with that, he set about reactivating all safety measures before collapsing on his noteworthy bed, the most comfortable of its make and model; he was out within minutes of his head hitting the pillow.
As unconsciousness consumed him, shadows engulfed his body before dispersing as the lamp was once more lit and he had his male body once again.
When Kiba arrived at his family's compound with Akamaru, he slumped against the side wall of the house in exhaustion; having just come out right and told his no longer secret love how it was, he was thoroughly exhausted having depleted himself of all emotional energy. With a sigh he teleported into his bedroom shedding all clothes and hitting the shower for a quick rinse down before falling into bed with a light bounce. Thinking back onto the events of the day, Kiba let out a long suffering sigh feeling only slightly frustrated but then the face of his beloved friend would enter his mind and his thoughts calmed making it easy for him to slip precariously into unconsciousness, his last thoughts were of the stunned look on Shikamaru's face when he had simply kissed the crown of his friend's skull.
The next morning, Kiba set about the task of collecting the items he thought he would need for the mission he was about to go on. Making sure he had everything down to even the basic necessities and toiletries that he could afford to carry, Kiba slung his pack over his shoulder and took off out of his family's compound towards the western gate of the hidden village. He stopped short when he seen the love of his life leaning lazily against the post to the giant doors. Obviously sensing his chakra approach, Shikamaru shifted his full weight back onto his feet and approached his motionless friend.
Shikamaru greeted him with a small smile, which could have been a smirk for all Kiba knew, but he returned it with a charming smile. Shikamaru's eyes dropped to the ground before once more connecting with Kiba's and it was in that instance that he felt a shift in his world changing everything as he once knew it. But that was just his imagination getting carried away and in reality, it was simply that Shikamaru approached him with slow methodical steps until he was standing well within Kiba's personal bubble. He did a simple act and whispered simple words that had him in a daze as he passed through the open gate and made his way in the general direction of where he was headed.
Shikamaru had returned the kiss Kiba had placed in his head earlier the morning when the sun was still set, and he whispered words that had Kiba's heart soaring with acceptance and love making him eager to complete the mission quickly even though it was supposed to take at the bare minimum of 3 weeks.
"You could never be a rebound. Return to me safely, Kiba"