Chapter Three: Born to Be Wild

Author's note: GOMENASAI! I took way too long to write this, after telling you I would try not to! Please forgive me and thanks for keeping watch so long.

Here is chapter three, "Born to Be Wild," which shall be Ino/Kiba, and shall contain... well, partial lemon. Let's say it's a lime. Also, this shall contain a reference to female processes, which in my opinion are not in the least bit disgusting, but I know some guys will flinch. So there's the warning for that.

I've waited long enough to add to this story, so here goes!

-oOo-

It didn't seem to have a beginning, but it did. If one were to ask Yamanaka Ino, she would tell you it started when Inuzuka Kiba watched her dance in that cage contest. Kiba knew better, though.

It started waaay before. Kiba had begun to notice it very slowly as they had grown older. They never really knew each other particularly well, though both knew of the other. She was the little Yamanaka princess, beautiful, of course, but able to switch to royal bitch mode in half an instant. Of course, part of that was always a turn-on for Kiba.

Kiba, he was the tough guy. Loud, of course, but not so much in an obnoxious-Naruto kind of way, but rough around the edges. They had tossed back insults once or twice when they were little, Kiba calling her a Priss and Ino saying he needed a flea bath. But the thing Kiba remembered the best was the fights. Not the fights he had with her, though of course those were memorable, but the fights he had with himself after the fights with her.

He tried to tell himself so many times not to fall for the blue eyes, long legs, and confident poses. Still, every so often, she would walk by him after her morning shower and he could smell.... her. God, she smelled good! Kiba knew she picked the perfumes and lotions she used because they smelled good and had meanings for her, but she didn't know what those scent combinations, including her consistently-changing scent, could do to someone with a nose like his.

For instance, Ino probably didn't realize that she always wore sweet-pea scented perfume exactly two days after her period ended. The soft-petaled scent coalesced smoothly with the clarity of her cleansed femininity.

When she was mad, she would light a jasmine incense before bed, and use a vanilla musk lotion before that. After resting in her bed, the sheets lightly reminiscent of her gardenia-scented shampoo and the slightest hint of sweat from uncomfortable summer, her combined scent when passing by him nearly drove Kiba into a frenzy. Even if he was the one who had angered her the night before.

On her happiest days, usually unpredictably when she should have been cramping, bloated, and angry, she would take a bath with rose salts and strawberry candles burning nearby. The warmth of her cheerful glow could sink into Kiba's pores through the touch of a wind carrying her scent to him.

When she was sad, her tears would stain not only her pillow, but her aura. The simple smell of that particular salt overlapped with her own simplicity; for when Ino was sad, she would skip lotions and perfumes. That smell was enough to rip Kiba's heart out. He would fight himself the most then, trying to stay away and trying to not want to make her smile return.

Nonetheless, Ino saying it started later wasn't too far off.

When Ino had signed up for the contest, she really did think she would win. And why shouldn't she? She was Yamanaka Ino! She always won... sorta. Anyway, she would win the little contest, and Subaku no Temari was a good looking woman with whom Ino got along surprisingly well.

Neither Kiba nor Ino was ready to have to share a bed with so many others. By some luck of the draw, or perhaps some strange pre-destined event, Ino's first night to sleep in the giant bed came on an evening when she had stayed up late. Everyone else was in bed when she finally decided to get some shut-eye.

The blond Konoha Kunoichi ran her eyes over the bed, using what little bit of light came through from the moonlit window.

Only one spot was really open to fitting a person, so she slid into it. Matsuri was on one side; no big deal. Kiba was on the other side. As she slid under the covers she realized the flaw in this position. She tended to face east when she slept, and that would have to lead to facing Kiba. Hopefully he wouldn't cause her any problems. Or give her fleas.

So the Kunoichi faced Kiba, who was sleeping soundly. Surprisingly, he wasn't snoring, either. Just breathing deeply. The light landed well on his face. Ino allowed her mind to think about the fact that he had gotten to be rather good looking, in a rugged sort of way.

Though she jumped when his canine eyes flashed open.

"Huh..." he mumbled into the pillow, eyes not seeming to focus well. "What... ?"

"I was taking a shower," she whispered back, not wanting to wake anyone else up. "...not that it should matter to you."

The "Fang" of the Inuzuka Clan scoffed. "You... woke me up."

Ino couldn't help but smile at the way he had said it so softly, though it was probably because of him being drowsy. "Gomen," she whispered, closing her eyes.

There was the sound of some rustling, and then Ino felt warmer. She slightly opened her eyes, thereafter looking into his. "You got a staring problem?" she mumbled, nervous at the sudden proximity. She never realized how hypnotic his eyes were before... the slightest feminine curve yet with that intense predatory look to them as well.

"Nah.... Just..." Kiba visibly sniffed at her. Lucky she had gotten used to that habit enough not to be offended. "You smell... different."

"Oh. Well, excuuuse me," she snapped back quietly.

"No, I didn't mean it that way," Kiba muttered quickly. "I mean, you had to use what they left us for soaps and stuff, huh? So I guess your smell is sort of more... .generic? Not in a bad way..."

Ino raised an eyebrow. "Kiba-kun, maybe no one let you in on this, but I don't really hang around you enough to know how to react to that."

Kiba smiled halfway, and Ino felt a tug at her chest. His left canine tooth had gleamed ominously, but the tug definitely wasn't fear. "It's a good thing. I smell more of your natural scent this way." Ino blinked, so Kiba had to continue. "Well, it's kind of hard to explain. See, everybody has a natural scent. That's how I can tell who someone is even if I can't see them, unless some kind of stronger scent or Genjutsu interferes."

"I understand that..." Ino interjected. "What I think I was wondering is.... you think my scent is good?"

Kiba just answered with that grin of his again.

As the night continued, Ino was pleasantly surprised at the direction of the conversation. Who would have guessed that they could get along on so many things? And most surprising of all was when she found herself snuggling up to Kiba to fall asleep in his arms.

-oOo-

How it had happened, Kiba still wasn't sure. But at least he knew what was going on. Dammit, after telling himself not to, he was falling for Ino.

It was only a couple days, but so far, they really seemed to connect when they slept so close to each other. And each night they would get closer, until they held each other (almost) nonchalantly. And then... Well, the conversation would always be clear in his memory, even if he had issues remembering the pre-occurring one.

"Kiba...?" The blonde's voice (the soft tones of which Kiba heard even when that Code Bitch was activated) floated up to him as he ran a hand through her soft blond hair.

"Hmm...?" He sighed in response. She felt warm, and the moment was calm and quiet, and... well, Kiba considered himself to be a tough guy, but he didn't mind feeling like a pampered poodle if Ino was doing the pampering.

"This contest..." she sighed, a tinge of sadness echoing in her vowels. "...why are you in it?"

"Because it's a contest. I want to win it."

"Oh." There was a slight pause and the air was heavy with it. "Yeah, me, too."

Again, the pause dragged on.

"But I don't think that means I couldn't.... well..." Kiba stuttered.

"Hmmm?" Ino muttered.

Kiba pulled in a deep breath. "I still like winning..."

"I do, too..."

"...but I don't think..... I mean.... If I found someone else?" Oh, God, what am I saying?

Ino looked up at him. Her eyes shone reflective white from the moon, making them literally look like water. "Kiba..."

Before he knew what he was doing, Kiba leaned in to kiss her. He had to taste her lips, to put a taste to the scent that was taunting him constantly.

...And she kissed back. Ino couldn't think as her mind felt like it was spinning. Kiba's strong musk scent was actually a serious turn-on, and the heat from his arms around her somehow made her shiver. Yet all too quickly it was over.

She looked back at him, neither wanting to react just yet. "Kiba..." she finally sighed, but soon he was kissing her again, this time much more passionately.

The passion was bottled, deeply held in as neither had been expecting it and both didn't want to wake the others around them, but that only seemed to make it more combustible. Then Ino surprised Kiba by running a hand to between his legs. It was something Kiba had been dreaming and fantasizing of, wondering if he should make a move in that direction, so when she beat him to it he was helpless to her touch.

Their eyes connected as the touching continued, a light-hearted giggle escaping her soft lips as a repressed moan escaped his. Kiba's skin sizzled with electricity as they froze when Shikamaru stirred behind him. The fact they might get caught, while potentially terrifyingly embarrassing, was thrilling in a way. "Shhhh..." the Inuzuka muttered. His partner in the touching giggled in reply. "...I think he's still asleep."

"Of course, it's Shikamaru; all he does is sleep." She stretched her gaze over Kiba's shoulder before planting a light kiss on his nose. "...Okay, it should be fine, now."

"...So where were we?" Kiba quietly growled, furthering his attempts at driving her wild. Her moans were stifled only slightly, and the excitement she withheld to be quiet made her quiver in his arms, which in turn made Kiba even more aroused, if that were possible with the way her hands stroked him.

The motion of rustling blankets yet again forced the two to separate. Shikamaru sat up in the bed and stretched. "Man, that was a nice nap..." he muttered. Kiba just barely held back an angry growl as he felt the Nara rustling around.

Ino trailed her lips softly, purposely pretending it was a natural movement, against Kiba's ear. "Oh, sure," she whispered angrily, "NOW he wants to stay awake..."

-oOo-

So what am I to him? Ino kept wondering about it through the elimination. When she had beat Kiba at Mancala through her dirty tactic, the thought had crossed her mind that it was her body alone, and now she was arguing with herself over it. He probably just wanted her body.. but they were talking... but he was just going to use her... but she had started the sexual part...

Ugh! Ino just wished she knew what to do. Or that she could stop thinking about him.

And then Temari kept both of them. Ino was dazing out a bit, acting on reflex, but once again, as everyone else was busy watching Temari, Ino's eyes drifted to the Inuzuka. She was nearly put into shock to find his eyes glancing back. He blushed back in response, and discreetly slid a hand around hers.

And she knew, as she just as shyly blushed and pulled her hand away. She had to ask him.

"Kiba..." she said softly as the rest dispersed from the elimination room. "I want to talk to you..."

"And... I want to talk to you, too," he smiled softly back.

"What's going on here?!" Temari suddenly snapped, running and pulling the two angrily towards her. Confused, the two normally loud Shinobi were silent. Apparently, this just further irritated Temari. "I know elimination is over, but I want you both to leave!"

"Wh-what?!"

"Temari-chan--"

"Look, I know you two are involved!"

The revelation caused both of them to stare blankly at the woman who they were supposed to be trying to impress. Oops.

"Just give me back my keys and get the f--- out of my house!"

Ino and Kiba simultaneously slid the keys from their place on their necks. They both knew from her tone that they had no choice, but secretly Ino's heart fluttered.

When they left the room, Ino ran.

"Kiba!" she called out, and he stopped his walking, which had been slowed to begin with. Now was her chance; they were both alone. "Kiba.... what.... what am I to you?"

Kiba didn't turn around when he spoke. "Ino..." There was another of those odd silent moments before he spoke again, and Ino heard her heart pound in her ears during the pause. "...What am I to you?"

"I... I asked you first..." she muttered with a soft smile.

"Ino, I think you already know what you mean to me. But..." Ever so slightly he turned his face towards her, still not enough to read his expression. "I don't want to be a joke to you, Ino--"

"You're not!"

"--And I don't want you to be ashamed to be near me--"

"Kiba!" She closed the rest of the distance between them and wrapped her arms under his to clasp around on his chest. "...I'm falling for you." Kiba let out a soft gasp, and Ino's voice was muffled as she spoke into his shirt. "Can we give this a shot? ...Please?"

Kiba smiled to himself. He turned around, taking Ino smoothly into his arms.

"I'd even be willing to give it a double, Ino."

-oOo-

Author's note: YAY! I did another one! Cheer for me!

Till next time, where we shall see Gaara/Matsuri!