Kiba growled lightly in the background as I started to set up my travel bed. I had to concentrate solely on my actions to keep my impatience to myself; I was more than ready for the warmth of my blankets. There wasn't even any snow in the cave, but I could still hear the frozen whistle of the wind. Sleep would be a nice respite from my own inner whining.
I fumbled one of the things that happened to be packed on top of my pillow.
"…what's up with you Shino?" My teammate beat me to picking it up. "You seem really, I don't know, uncomfortable or something."
He looked me as straight in the eye as one could with my glasses and dropped the bauble in my outstretched hand. Offense was the best defense, "Uncomfortable or something? Really, Kiba, that's really helpful. I'll be sure to work on that." And I went back to unpacking, hoping that was enough to turn Kiba away from that thought process.
He gave me a full, long look. "I hope you do." If I'm not mistaken when he turned away to unfold his own blanket he felt the need to add a whispered "'Cause it's creeping me out."
That brought an unwanted smile to my face. I wonder if he even had an inkling of knowledge as to how out of character he's been lately. My affliction with the cold didn't hold a candle to his bizarre silence. Kiba's not silent, ever.
Only then did I realize just how strange Kiba's behavior was—considering everything seemed to bring me back to it—and that I was beyond tired of thinking about it. Kiba's so annoying and tiring; I'm surprised no ones died from over exposure.
I stripped off my coat so I could change my shirt. For the first time this trip I couldn't suppress the shiver as it forced the hairs on my arms upright. It was colder than I thought, even in the tent.
I forced my muscles to lock before the shiver took over. If I was lucky Kiba wasn't still trying to catch a clue to my bad mood. Another wave of cold came instead, sending an all too visible shiver up my spine before I could stop it. I rolled my shoulders in an attempt to hide the spastic jerking followed by the rush of goose bumps that plagued me.
A blanket wound itself around my shoulders. For a second I was just grateful for the warmth it brought with it and kept in. then, once the buzzing of my Kikai had subsided some, I realized what should have been the first thing to come to mind. There were arms that came with the blanket and were clasped around my neck.
Kiba was hugging me.
"Kiba?" I couldn't seem to bring myself to turn and look at him. That would seem to intimate, especially should anyone come looking for us. Not to mention then he might catch the relief stuck on my face. It was so nice to share his warmth.
Even with him completely hidden from my view, if the heat that burned into my shoulder was any indicator, I could tell Kiba had an unmanly blush decorating his face. "…yeah?"
"What are you doing?"
"I'm…I'm sorry. I'm cold." He answered quietly.
He's cold? Yeah, right. There was something about him, whether it was a subtle tremble in his voice or a little push to far into my personal bubble (a place he knows not to go) that made it far too obvious he was lying. He'd noticed my shiver and for whatever reason he'd taken it upon himself to…help?
I searched my soul, yet I couldn't sense awkwardness in the contact. Instead I found I had to almost fight the urge to lean back into the warm, firm chest of the boy holding me from behind. I wanted to turn around and wrap my arms around his waist, I wanted to fully indulge in the body heat he was offering. That would involve skin to skin contact; that would involve hugging him back.
"…Alright." I gave into some unspoken will and allowed Kiba to continue with this strange idea.
"Thanks." He relaxed his grip. His relieved sigh came as a hot wind that tickled my shoulder and I instinctively relaxed.
Kiba is so tiring to think about. I'd been contemplating him all day no, now I just didn't have the strength. Though it was very out of character for Kiba to leave behind his masculinity and pride I didn't question it. Tomorrow I'd wonder about it; it would give me something to take my mind off the cold and feudal lords many pointless demands.
Right now I just lost myself in the radiating warmth that was Kiba and a blanket.
The small rustling of a lost servant outside the tent brought form of sense crashing back. Kiba was my teammate, my friend and we're in a flimsy tent, in some cave in the middle of the frigid Snow Country with fifteen other peoples. Anyone could come knocking for some reason or another. Anyone could easily misunderstand the situation. I wasn't even sure I understood the situation myself.
I shrugged my shoulders to disengage Kiba's hold. His arms fell easily and disappeared along with his warmth. Kiba took the message and stepped back across the tent to his side. By the time I collected myself to turn and face my comrade he had his back to me, the blanket he'd shared wrapped firmly around himself. As he had all day, Kiba kept strangely silent, whatever he was thinking he kept to himself. Akamaru gave his master a long look, a low woof and pushed comfortingly against his leg.
Seeing that Kiba had nothing to say on what he'd just done, I saw no reason to bring it up either. I let the silence hang in the air. In response Kiba tightened the blanket around his shoulders. I went back to changing, wanting nothing more than to sleep. Tomorrow would be another day of trudging through snow; both boring and annoying to the extremes of each case. The sooner I face that day, the sooner it would finish. Sooner I get to sleep, the more energy I'd have to see it through.
A small, unidentified sound caught the edge of my attentions. I turned, curious, as it sounded again. Kiba hadn't budged from where he stood, still wrapped in the blanket. He shivered, despite the covering, an uncontrolled trembling that coursed periodically from head to toe. He made the sound again, something between a gasp and a throaty cough.
"Kiba? Are you alright? You sound like you're coming down with something." I asked; he sounded terrible.
His trembling slowed, and he stopped with the strange coughing noise. "No," His voice sounded thick and forced, "I mean, yes. I'm fine. Just cold is all. I need to get to sleep."
Kiba snaked a hand from his cocoon and gently patted Akamaru and following up on his word and slipping into his sleeping bag. He rigidly kept his back to me. Once Akamaru seemed satisfied his master wouldn't be moving the dog took up home at his feet. It looked, for as much as appearances are worth, that Kiba had fallen asleep.
I went on with my own sleep preparations. In the back of my mind I made sure to keep an eye on Kiba. In such a barren country there was little anyone could do if someone got sick. If Kiba had even the slightest cold it had to be treated quickly, otherwise it could easily escalate into something worse.
The very thought of having to deal with the demanding feudal lord without Kiba and his peoples skills made my blood run colder that the ice outside out cave. I would definitely keep an eye on Kiba's health for the next few days to keep him in good condition.
My eyes slid over Kiba's immobile form a last time before settling into the warmth of my blankets.
I don't want to get out of bed. A simple wish; a stupid one. I know how cold it is outside. I know leaving my encasing will make me miserable and I know I'll take it out on everyone. Being isolated with a couple of the most aggravating peoples in the world in the cold barren snow country made keeping my irritation in check…difficult.
And I know I have to get up, face the day and whatever it may bring. I counted slowly down from three, trying to prolong the moment when I'd have to face the cold, yet still trying to motivate myself into moving.
Kiba was already up and gone, Akamaru as well. His bed was made, nearly ready to put back in his pack and take away. He must have been up awhile to be so ready to leave.
The camp was fairly bustling when I exited my tent. Already the lords' servants were working on various things: stocking the fire for warmth, taking down tents they won't need anymore, shuffling through the food supply for appropriate breakfast material.
The winds have stopped howling outside the caves entrance, meaning they would be able to continue on their journey today. When I went to examine outside the sky was a bright shade of grey and the snow just reflected the light a hundred fold. I suppose, to the snow country this was probably considered perfect weather.
It was absolutely disgusting. Not only were our tracks from yesterday completely washed away, there was at least a foot and a half of new snow. Added to yesterday's foot it was evident we'd be dragging the caravan through waist deep white gunk.
"Mr. Shino?" I turned to see one of the servants who insisted on addressing me like I was of a higher status. "Breakfast has been prepared and the Master wishes to see you and your partner afterwards."
I nodded and followed him to the fire to accept a bowl of spiced oatmeal and some bread. He tried to give me some of the fruits that had been cleaned for the feudal lord. Accepting those would be like accepting that I was a higher status with the right to give him orders.
"Where is my partner?" I asked before he left to feed his master, "I haven't seen him today."
"I believe he's been exploring the rear of the cavern." He replied dutifully.
The servants left me alone before I'd even nodded my thanks. In my mind I was planning my approach to the meeting. I'd have to go find Kiba before seeing the feudal lord. Maybe I'd wait for someone to search me out instead of approaching the feudal lord on my own. That would save me the trouble of guessing when would be a good time to interrupt him.
Kiba ruined that plan by appearing even as I prepared to go in search of him. Akamaru came and faithfully sat his bulk down near to me in preparation of Kiba joining us.
I raised my eyebrow as he detoured around me to raid the food stock. "Anything interesting in the rear of the cave?" I asked.
"Just a bunch of rocks and stuff." He barely glanced my way.
His indifference was starting to get on my nerves; it was just so out of character for him.
"The feudal lord is expecting us for a meeting before we set out." I informed him.
"Let's go then." He didn't even wait for any approval of the idea before making his way to the oversized tent that housed our employer.
It was probably the worst possible time to step into that tent. I think I would have rather have stepped out into the two and a half feet of snow outside our current rocky refuge. The feudal lord had finished his breakfast and had moved on with his morning schedule. He was changing. With help.
The feudal lord's overly large gut was bared to the world as he labored to remove his night clothes. All five of his maids stood around waiting for orders. I noticed the crude lord was completely comfortable stripping in front of theses five unfortunate ladies. Such a plush feudal lord no doubt refused to dress himself.
I bowed my head and pretended to bask in his magnificence as an excuse to look away. "I'm sorry for the intrusion, my lord. We were told you wanted to speak with us before we set out. We can come back later if need be.
He turned to face as full on, totally unabashed that the movement did nothing to raise my already low thoughts of his figure. He really was a disgusting man.
Regrettably Kiba wasn't as adept at hiding his distaste.
The feudal lord took no notice; just spread his arms so the maids could drape the first of the many layers of his outfit. "No need. This just means we can get going that much faster."
And we'd be that much closer to ending this agonizing mission, I thought to myself. Out loud I gave a polite of course and left him continue.
"How far do we have to go you think? I'd like to get there soon."
"Last nights storm blew itself out, so we'll be able to leave. But all the new snow's going slow us down." Kiba told him.
I nodded and added on, "If we manage to keep up a pace similar to yesterday, despite the new snow, I'd imagine we'd arrive by midday tomorrow. As it is, tomorrow evening or even the day after is more likely."
The feudal lord frowned, "The day after isn't good enough. We'll get there tomorrow."
"Have you seen all the snow out there?" Kiba spat.
"That may not be possible." I rushed to cover Kiba's outburst. "Why not? The amount of snow will no doubt slow us down. We will do what we can to keep schedule though."
"You better," He grunted as one of the maids tightened a belt around his middle. "I won't accept being embarrassed because my guards couldn't get me there on time."
I ignored the obvious rudeness and politely dragged my teammate from the tent.
"Prick." Kiba seethed. He seemed just short of mimicking the rude lord in a mocking falsetto.
Before he could insult our employer further a score of butlers—along with the occasional maid not on duty—appeared. They looked to us for news of the lord's mood, for orders to follow. I had a tendency of fully enjoying the feeling of being important and giving orders. Having people listen to my every word was gratifying. I am well aware that I don't demand attention, and that attentions tended to drift elsewhere id my ideas weren't totally captivating. Even so, the blank faces of the servants ready to follow even the most lewd order set my nerves on edge and my kikaichu shifting nervously.
"It's best if we pack up quickly. Why? So we'll be ready to move when the feudal lord is prepared. We'll distribute the weight of the cargo accordingly." I told them. AS one they nodded to us. When I looked to Kiba to see if he had anything to add, he just mumbled something about the consequences of this new snow, then let everyone get to work.
