All Naruto characters belongs to Masashi Kishimoto, the respectful owner of Naruto Shippuden. I only own Rei Miharu.

So here is the next installment to the story!

The Beast

For an odd amount of time, after they had departed and days passed, Rei felt oddly relieved to know she knew someone even if she didn't necessarily remember until he jotted her memory. She had remembered how happy she would get at the letter, how amused she would be with just the chicken scratch of his writing, but his words always lit a small spark. But at the same time she hadn't conversed with him ever since that small encounter days before.

~*u*~

"That is just… troublesome…"

"You're the troublesome one…" Kiba retorted, sticking his nose in the air.

"Kiba, you used to write to her?" Naruto stared dumbfounded, trying to wrap his head around the idea. "And now she's here?"

"What are we? In some sort of soap opera?"

"Oh shut up. It's just a damn coincidence"

"Is it, Kiba? Is it really?"

The blonde snickered from his spot as the three friends relaxed at the local ramen shop, it was sort of bizarre but Kiba didn't necessarily care, he was just as surprised as his friends. He had never assumed he would see her again. But now being able to confront her, it struck a chord. He had divulged some information; he had been personal in his letters and the prospect of believing that it would stay in the small village underneath the moon. Was the God's conspiring against the Inuzuka? Did they want to humiliate him and rub it in his face?

"Can you even trust her?"

"What are you talking about, Nara?"

"Never mind…" he rolled his eyes and looked down at the steaming bowl of noodles before him.

"Yeah…"

"Yeah what?" Naruto's eyes lifted from the ramen, thoroughly intrigued with the conversation.

"I do trust her."

~*u*~

Rei had been quite elusive, she had someone to converse with but at the same time she still was trying to retain her loyalty to her friends and family in Getsu, she almost believed that making new comrades would be a betrayal to them.

"Are you trying to avoid me?"

Her lips fell into a hard line, "No."

"It does appear you are…" Kiba sat on Akamaru, her eyes fell away from him to the dog. He was massive.

"This is Akamaru," he spoke. "You've met him before."

"But… he's so big."

"Is he? I haven't really taken notice." He paused for a moment looking up, "But I do spend most of my time with him."

His attention fell on her for a moment, letting his eyes study her form; medium length, chocolate brown hair tied over her shoulder and matching eyes, her skin was rather fair but one could easily deduce that the sun has had it's fair share of work on it.

"Still can't get over the fact you forgot who I was, my name is infamous!"

Rei seemed to blink in disbelief, his name? "Is it?"

"Of course it is! I'm Konoha's best!"

"I thought that was Uzumaki-san?"

Kiba flinched slightly, of course, Naruto would be the most legendary, the one who people pegged with Konoha. His anger seemed to boil, it was almost a constant occurrence, coming second or losing to the blonde.

The ambassador quickly seemed to regret her choice of words, "I m-mean… I've heard countless stories about the Konoha 9… And you're one of th-"

"Whatever. Forget it" his smile returned, concealing up his tracks with ease.

She nodded timidly, shuffling her weight onto one foot then the other.

"You busy?" Kiba's brows rose a bit.

"Not really…"

"Then let's go for a walk, I'll show you around Konoha!" He didn't give her a chance to answer before jumping off his faithful companion and grabbing her by the arm and dragging her away.

"Kiba!"

"Sheesh… Ino, don't yell" he reprimanded stroking his ear irritated at the blonde's boisterous scream.

"You don't treat a woman like that!"

"You're dragging the poor girl! What? Were you raised with wolves?" She pointed accusingly.

"Well, technically dogs," he narrowed his eyes, looking off to the side earning him an annoyed glare.

"So you're Miharu, Rei…" she inspected the brunette closely, walking around her and stopping once more in front of her before reaching out and cupping the girls face, then situating herself at her side as if measuring something, but she couldn't quite place what.

"You're cute… but I am still Konoha's number one beauty!"

Kiba pressed his hand to his face in disbelief, "… And the villages loudest nuisance."

"WHAT WAS THAT INUZUKA?"

"N-nothing."

"Um, hello" she extended her hand out looking at Ino with a small smile.

"Ino Yamanaka!"

"She didn't ask for your name," he pointed out.

"Want to lose your balls?"

Kiba cringed back into the shadows of Akamaru, "N-n-no."

"Ditch the dog, you should hang out with me and the other girls!" There was a pause as the Yamanaka looked to Kiba, "I can introduce you to real gentlemen" she winked playfully.

"I can so be a gentleman" Ino heard him but decided to ignore.

"It's alright. I'm not interested at the moment in finding anyone…" Rei concluded.

"I see, well. When you want to I'm here!"

"Let's get out of here."

"Bye, Rei-chan!"

"She's annoying… and loud" he grumbled.

"Is she your girlfriend?"

"WHAT? NO FUCKING WAY!"

The girl fell silent and he almost immediately regretted yelling at her, "I mean. No."

"I just thought… you two went at it" she whispered.

"Please. I'm too good for that."

"Right… then who are you good for?" Her eyes sparked a bit, she had recalled from some letters he had mentioned a single female but couldn't recall the name or if he even said her name. It had been a long time.

"Psh, no one." He murmured, he had lost the one person he did like, the one person he cared for the most but his feelings were never received. He gave a sigh, running a hand through his hair. Naruto again had one upped him.

"I see," Rei wasn't going to call him out; it was still rather awkward talking to him even if he didn't seem to think so.

~*u*~

"Hitting on her already? Wow, you work quick" Naruto appeared at Kiba's side with a large grin playing his sun kissed cheeks.

"I know, I'm that smooth."

"I doubt that," he teased, shoving his hands in his pockets. "You're too beastly for any girl."

"I'd have you know that some girls like my wild façade."

"Who? The prisoners and the violent wannabe's?"

Kiba's brow twitched, "At least I can get girls!"

"I think both of you are clueless."

"I wouldn't be talking, Shikamaru. The only girls you can interest are the foreigners and the blonde's of the village."

"And that in itself proves I at least interest the opposite sex" The genius chuckled.

"Hey! I can interest girls too!" Naruto crossed his arms, pouting childishly.

"Oh yes, the heiress whom you blindly passed? Smooth Naruto, smooth."

"Psh, I wasn't blind… just busy."

"You had no idea moron…" Kiba interjected, "Everyone knew… everyone but you. I still don't understand how she likes you and I'm one of her closer friends."

"Jealous?" The blonde wiggled his brows. He wasn't trying to get Kiba mad just riled up; there was a form of companionship in their small clashes. "Besides… I wasn't completely blind –"

"You were until she told you."

"Come on, give me a break I'm trying!"

"What?"

"I asked her out" he admitted, blushing slightly.

"You did what?" Kiba stepped back in disbelief, shaken, hurt, and mad.

"She said yes…" he again felt his cheeks darken.

It was about all the Inuzuka could take before turning on his heel and leaving, only to pause in mid walk to speak, "If you hurt her I will not spare you."

"I wouldn't have it any other way."

The Beast

I kind of rushed through this considering school starts again this week and I haven't been able to really work on this at all… I really do apologize.

R and R.