Kiba woke up with a start and immediately regretted opening his eyes. Sun was pouring in through the window, burning into his cornea and causing the pain in his head to escalate. He jerked his face out of the sunlight and grumbled to himself. As he rolled onto his side, he was surprised when he got a face full of hair. "The hell is this…?"

He pried open his eyes once more and felt the blood in his veins freeze and his breathing dropped. A long, blond mane was draped across his bed, and his eyes followed the trail down a pale back. It was only when his eyes took in the sight of her bare bottom that Kiba realized the girl lying before him was nude.

It couldn't be…I didn't…she's married!

Ino was married to Shikamaru. He knew this fact, he knew it and he resented it. Still, even though he knew it was wrong, he couldn't help but get his hopes up that he had somehow, in his drunken state, convinced Ino to cheat on her husband and come home with him.

"Ino, I-"

He reached out and touched the slim shoulder as gently as possible, treating her as though she was a figment of his imagination for fear that his hand would slip right through her. When he was certain that he was indeed making skin-on-skin contact, he pulled her towards him, turning her onto her back. Straightaway, he knew this girl was not who he had hoped she was. Her stomach was not as thin as Ino's, and there was a smiley face beaming up at him from the piercing on her navel. He also noted that her chest was too small and, when he finally looked at her face, he saw that she wasn't nearly as pretty as Ino either. He growled and it rumbled deep in his chest. He gnashed his teeth together. Of course she hadn't come home with him.

He sat up and rubbed his temples, digging into them with his knuckles to ease the dull ache in his head. He glanced over and saw another girl lying next to the girl he had mistaken for Ino. He recognized them as the girls from the party.

Goal achieved, he thought bitterly.

Akamaru strolled up to his side of the bed, his tail wagging lightly and a water bottle gripped tightly in his mouth. Kiba gave him a weak smile and patted his head. "Thanks, Akamaru."

He downed some water and tried to remember what had happened last night. He couldn't understand what had possessed him to take the girls to his house. Now he would have to sit through the painful awkwardness of waiting for them to leave. After getting his hopes up thinking he had scored with Ino last night, all he wanted them to do was leave as soon as humanly possible.

The girl beside him began to stir. He gave her a brief look over his shoulder and saw she was smirking at him, her smile mimicking the piercing she had. Now that Kiba was more awake, he inhaled her scent and cringed. She didn't even smell like Ino. He felt like a fool.

"You sure are wild."

For some reason, that compliment didn't sit well with him. Not from her, anyway.

"Glad you enjoyed yourself." Geez…what have I done?

The girl turned and shook her friend awake. She, too, was naked. Kiba shook his head and sighed. What kind of man could be unhappy when he had two women in his bed at the same time?

Both girls were soon sitting up in the bed and smiling at him widely. The blond crawled over and snaked her arms around his waist and he felt her chest flatten against his back.

"How about another go?" she purred in his ear. Silky, golden strands of hair tickled his shoulder as she held him. He lifted his hand and stroked the yellow curtain, enjoying how it slid through his fingers.

Ino…

He couldn't decide which hurt more: torturing himself with thoughts of her, or living alone for the rest of his life with no random hook ups to numb the pain. Over-dramatic, maybe. But he was an Inuzuka, and when he found a mate, he had found the person he wanted to spend the rest of his life with, even if the feeling wasn't mutual. The sense of loyalty his heart felt towards her was overwhelming and borderline pathetic. Like a lost puppy begging for scraps, any attention from her could feed him for days.

Akamaru whimpered and growled a bit, trying to snap his owner out of the funk he was in. Kiba blinked at his canine companion. He really didn't want Akamaru to see this. "Akamaru, go lay down."

The dog growled, snorted, and then galloped out of the room, frustrated. Kiba watched him go. The seductress behind him was now massaging his shoulders and pulling him down slowly until he was laying down on the bed. Somehow her friend had managed to sneak her way over to Kiba's hips and the shinobi gasped as he felt a mouth envelope his member.

Ino…

He thought of her hair, the swing of her hips, the first time she had smiled directly at him, the sweet scent that followed her around and made him drool like the dog he was…He clamped his eyes shut and growled. Ultimately, he gave in to his carnal instincts, shoving his emotions aside and releasing the beast that dwelled deep within him. Thoughts of the kunoichi began to wither and fade and he began to feel the weight being lifted from his chest. The loneliness he felt so often began to escape his body with every breath he took, which was now increasing with every thrust he took into one of the girls. He beamed with ecstasy.

Freedom.

Akamaru's tail was wagging vigorously and he barked at Kiba, a little doggy grin on his furry muzzle. Kiba scratched behind his ears and chuckled with delight when Akamaru's hind leg beat against the ground.

"That hits the spot, huh?" he laughed, scratching harder.

After the two girls had left, Kiba had decided to take Akamaru out for a walk. He felt as though he owed it to him, especially after ignoring him and ordering him to go away when the girls had been over. Despite this, it seemed as though all was forgiven as Akamaru panted excitedly and ran from tree to tree, determined to mark his territory on each one. Kiba doubled up with laughter when it was apparent that Akamaru's tank was completely dry, and yet the dog continued to lift his leg on every bush, tree, and post on their path. It was going to be a good day.

Once the two had ventured deeper into the leaf village, Kiba recognized an old friend near the crowded market. "Hinata!"

Pale eyes turned to him, wide with surprise before closing as she greeted him with a smile and a wave of her hand. "Kiba."

Her airy voice was like music to his ears and he felt all of his worries begin to trickle away. His heart melted and he instantly remembered why he had practically adopted her as his little sister. Akamaru loved her too. Without hesitation, he broke out into a run and didn't stop until he reached her. He planted himself firmly in front of her and began sniffing and licking whatever parts of her he could reach. She giggled and stroked him softly.

"What brings you to the market today, Madame Hyuuga?" Kiba's voice got really deep and proper as he walked up to her casually, his hands in his pockets.

"I was actually on my way to visit Naruto," she answered, glancing down at her feet and blushing. Kiba snickered.

"Oh, really? Naruto, huh?"

Hinata's face reddened. "Y-yes."

Kiba loved teasing her about her incessant crush on Naruto. "And why's that?"

She shrugged and knelt down to scratch at Akamaru's stomach. Kiba stared at her in silence for a moment. "You know he's trying to get with Sakura, right?"

Her hand froze for a moment at his blunt words and she began petting Akamaru once more. "I am aware of that, yes."

He kind of regretted saying anything to her about it. Sure, he was only wanting to make sure she didn't do anything embarrassing, but still, he really needed to think before he spoke.

Suddenly, Hinata stood up and her eyes met his. He saw something in them, a fiery determination the likes of which he hadn't seen in her since the chunin exams. "But I have to try."

Kiba raised his eyebrows. "Try?"

She nodded. "Naruto…I have admired him for so long. I have believed in him since the beginning. He…inspires something in me. I don't want to lose that."

Kiba understood, and his heart went out to her. "What's the plan then?"

Hinata sighed, her shoulders slumped a little. "I have to tell him how I feel. Even if he chooses Sakura over me, at least I'll know I did all I could."

He nodded solemnly. Funny how this was turning out. He remembered back to when Hinata was so timid and weak. Back when she couldn't stand up for herself and followed Naruto around like a shadow, wishing she could be like him. Wishing she could be with him. As far as Kiba was concerned, someone like Hinata, who had so much love to give, deserved Naruto-or anyone for that matter-even if she didn't think so. He smiled and pulled her into a hug.

"If he doesn't pick you, he's a bigger moron than I thought." Just for emphasis he grinned and added, "Believe it."

Hinata's laugh came out like a song and Kiba's heart melted all over again. He waved at her as she walked away and continued to watch her until she disappeared into a hoard of people.

How funny, he thought. When I met that girl she could barely look at Naruto, let alone speak to him. And now…here I am wishing I had even the half the balls she's got.