A couple of weeks had gone by and I'd mastered my hearing, taste, and touch. For the touch portion of the training, Kiba had taken a move that he'd learned from Kakashi-sensei and pretty much buried me from the neck up many, many times before I'd finally been able to dodge him completely.

After the night that I'd figured out my feelings for Kiba, I'd been feeling restless. It took ever longer for me to learn touch because of it, and now it was taking longer for the sight portion as well, considering all I could focus on was Kiba and wasn't paying attention to Akamaru-turned-Kiba-twin. I know that they looked alike, but I still watched the real one.

"Ai! Focus!" He yelled as he and Akamaru finished their spinning. I sighed, looking away from his slightly sweaty form. Before, I would've found this gross, but since my new discovery, I haven't exactly been myself. "This is the whole reason that we're doing this! So, you'll learn to protect yourself from more than one person at a time. Ai, you've got to focus!"

"I…I know! I'm trying, Kiba! I really am! It's just…" He sighed and walked over.

"Come on, let's take a break." He pulled me over to a tree and we sat down, both sighing in relief. Well, his was in relief. Mine was more of a hopeless/irritated one.

"So, what's up with you? You're usually good at focusing. You've been spaced the last two sessions." I blushed heavily and looked at Akamaru as he laid his head on my lap and I started to pet him.

"Nothing…just tired, I guess." He sighed and leaned his head back on the tree behind us.

"I hate it when you lie to me, Ai. It makes me feel like you don't trust me." I winced and shook my head wildly.

"No! No, I do trust you, Kiba! It's just…I really need to figure some things out on my own first before I worry you with it…" I felt a weight on my shoulder and looked to see him leaning his head there.

"Ai, what you're doing now is worrying me…" I frowned, feeling hopeless. What was I going to do if I told him and he didn't care that way for me? I'd grown so accustomed to being with him over the years. I don't know what I'd do without him.

"I'll…I'll tell you soon, okay? Let's just get back to training." I got up after gently nudging him off of my shoulder. He sighed and followed suit. We continued our training until about two in the morning when I'd finally gotten it.

I panted, lying in the grass beside an equally tired Kiba. "I…I did it…I've got them all down…"

"Not…not yet, you haven't. We've still got…smell." I sighed, curling over and laying my face on his arm.

"What silly, yet somehow awesome training are we gonna be doing this time?" I felt him chuckle, before I felt lips on my forehead. I breathed out a content sigh. If I could be like this with him forever, I'd be fine. He doesn't have to love me romantically, as long as he's here with me.

"You'll see, Ai. We'll meet tomorrow at noon at the academy, okay? Now, come on. Let's get you home." I was contently falling asleep so he picked me up and sat me on Akamaru before climbing up behind me and letting me lean on his chest holding me to keep me from falling. We began to head to my house.

I clutched his shirt, nuzzling into his chest and smiled happily. I fell asleep to Kiba's quickening heartbeat.

I woke the next morning in my bed, having no recollection of getting in it. Slowly, it all came back and I smiled, remembering that Kiba had told me not to worry about wearing my training clothes, just to wear something comfortable.

So, being the girl I am, I put on a red, pleated skirt and a baby blue, thin-strapped tank top. I wore a long sleeved, off the shoulder net shirt under that, as well. I left my shoulder length hair down. I slid on my zoro shoes, deciding that they were the most comfortable shoes that I owned. I looked over myself in the mirror one last time before I was pleased with myself.

I walked down the stairs, only to get splashed with confetti. I blinked, blowing a piece of the shiny paper off of my nose. "Umm…Mom? What's this all about? Did-Did you make HONEY BUICUITS?" She giggled childishly, loving that I noticed that she had made my favorite breakfast.

"Of course I did! It is such a special day after all! Oh, I can't believe you're already sixteen! It's so exciting! Your father would be so proud of you! Just like I am!"

"Wait…oh my God! I forgot that today was my birthday! How could I do that?"

I gasped. How could I forget my own birthday? Then again, I was a little preoccupied with other things.

"Well, you have been spending more time than usual with Kiba. I'm just surprised that you haven't told him how you feel yet!" I blushed heavily. Typical Mom, knowing how I feel before I even really know it.

"Oh! Maybe you should do it today! As a gift to yourself!" I frowned at the thought, fear welling up in my heart.

"Mom…I can't do that. Kiba doesn't like me like that. We're…just friends, Mom." She smirked, causing me to get suspicious. My mother NEVER smirks. She just smiles like an idiot.

She dropped it immediately, knowing that I catch on to things quickly, and put up her usual grin. "Well, anyways. Take a few and go meet up with Kiba. It's almost noon. He told me to remind you to wear something comfortable, but what you're wearing is absolutely adorable."

With that, she handed me a lunch box with enough food for Kiba and I both and pushed me out of the door, making sure to lock it so I wouldn't chicken out.

I sighed and smiled at the thought of her giggling girlishly. She always was the more romantic of us both. I started my trek to the Academy and began to wonder why Kiba would pick such a place for us to meet. What would a school have to do with me learning how to use my nose better? Maybe something about chalk? I shrugged it off and saw that Kiba wasn't here yet, so I took a seat on the swing hanging on the tree across from the school.

I smiled, feeling nostalgic. This is where I'd met all of my friends; where I'd met Kiba. I remember when Kiba, Naruto, Shikamaru, Chouji, and I used to get in trouble as children. We used to drive Iruka-sensei crazy. It's hard to believe that it's been that many years since I'd been a friend to Kiba.

I suddenly felt hands gently placed on my back and the person started to push me slowly. I smiled, loving the feeling of the wind caressing my skin. He took the ropes of the swings and pulled me back against his chest. I looked up at Kiba and smiled.

He smiled back, almost surprising me, as it wasn't his usually cocky grin. He helped me up after picking up the lunch box. He was wearing a white button up, long sleeved shirt that was rolled up to the elbows and some black jeans. "Your mom made us lunch, I'm guessing?"

I nodded, blushing as he took my hand in his and led me into the building. Why it was unlocked on a weekend, I'd never know.

He pulled me into a door and I immediately recognized it. I grinned happily. "It's our old classroom! But why did you bring my here, Kiba? How is this gonna help with my smell?" He started to fidget nervously.

"You'll…see. Umm…stand there okay? And close your eyes. I'll…show you how I'm going to help you with your smelling…" I did as told and heard a lot of shuffling around as he went into the room, making sure to close the door so I wouldn't peek.

I must have been standing there for half an hour, my legs growing increasingly tired, before I heard the door open and felt his hands guiding me into the room. "Can I open my eyes yet, Kiba? I might go blind if I don't." I joked, feeling him let me go and shuffle somewhere.

"Okay…open your eyes." I opened them, still wondering why he was being so secretive. My jaw dropped at the chalk line picture that was now drawn elegantly on the board. I was a picture of me, along with Kiba, and a couple of children. On all of our faces were the traditional Inuzuka marks. I gaped, stepping closer.

That's when I noticed it. The only shining part of the board was my left ring finger. I ran my finger over it and a small, dainty, silver ring dropped onto the eraser under it. My hands shook slightly as I reached for it, but another hand beat me there.

When I looked at him, he was on the ground on one knee. "Oh my God…Kiba…? What are you?"

"You told me to be with someone more sane next time. You're the sanest person that I know, Ai. I should've seen the way I felt about you before, back when all of my ex's fought with me about you. I didn't realize it until recently, and I'm sorry that I didn't. But, I want to make up for it now. Inuzukas' have some of the best noses in the ninja world. And there is no one on this earth that I would want to be an Inuzuka more than you, Ai. I…I love you. Please, Ai? Please marry me…?"

I think my heart stopped. I stared between him and the ring I think a dozen times before my knees gave out and I found myself staring up at him from my shaken perch on the ground. "Kiba…you…love me?" I felt tears fill my eyes and, with trembling hands, I took the ring from him. I looked into his eyes, hoping that he saw the answer in them as I wept.

He grinned softly and hugged me to him. I thought I even felt him crying, too, but I was crying too hard myself. He pulled back and slid the ring onto my finger, kissing the tip of all of my fingers before knotting our fingers together.

"Ai, I'll be there to protect you for as long as I'm breathing." I laughed out, so happy to know that I wasn't losing him in any sense.

"Well, you need to stop breathing for a few minutes and kiss me, you idiot!" He grinned and dipped down to capture my lips in his. I truly felt beautiful; a beautiful Inuzuka.

SOME YEARS LATER

I stood on the back porch of my home, watching my son play with his new puppy, Hiroshi. Akamaru sat beside me, watching his son play with mine, his mate lying right beside him. I smiled as Hiroshi urinated right on Kimaru's face.

Arms wrapped themselves around my ever growing belly. "Like father, like son, huh?" I giggled, leaning back on my husband, our matching face tattoos contrasting against our olive skin.

"Definitely. Oh, and Honey?" He nuzzled into the side of my neck, managing a small grunt to let me know that he was listening. I patted his hand and grinned, turning my head to whisper into his ear. "You might want to check your shoes next time you come into the house."

I walked to go play with Kimaru and Hiroshi, while Kiba blinked, confused, and started to inspect his shoes. "UGH! Akamaru! I told you to stick to the woods!" I laughed as my husband and dog began to wrestle, Akamaru defending himself against the accusation. I love my life.