A/N: Thank you to all who reviewed the last chapter. I am so glad you guys enjoy the story so far. I do want to finish it (and I plan to). I typically wouldn't update as slowly as I have been. The main reason for that is that I've been very busy. So, again, I am very sorry for the slow updates. I have a lot of things going on in the upcoming months as well but I am going to try my hardest to update this story at least once every week or two, rather than once every month or two.


Shino's return home was less than exciting. His mother nearly tackled him to the floor, ranting about how much she had missed him all the while. Shino's father maintained his usual indifferent demeanor but welcomed his son home with a mutter.

Shino trudged up the stairs, feeling a strange emptiness that he had never before felt. He figured coming home might make him feel better, make him forget. It only made the hole in his heart ache more. Outside, the sun was shining and the birds chirping happily over their city suburb. It only set a cruel, mocking mood to the teen. He just sighed and laid across his bed, leaving his suitcases lying, discarded, on the floor.

Moments turned into hours. Hours eventually morphed into days. It was the first time in months he had been allowed to lounge about and not have to work. He found that his appetite had nearly vanquished completely. Surely, his entire life was pointless now. It was in this very room, only two months ago, that he was envisioning horrid, evil southerners who were intent to cause him harm. Now, all he could see when he closed his eyes was Kiba's smiling face. He could still clearly gaze upon the wind blown fields of corn and sorghum deep in his mind's eye. He could still smell Kiba's scent and the wonderful aroma of the roast and hash that Kiba had cooked the night Shino arrived.

Like they had been for days, fresh tears made their way down Shino's cheeks. He had been brought up to not cry. Crying was showing emotion. Emotions were weakness. But Shino wasn't showing his weakness, not to anyone of consequence anyway. He had successfully resisted the urge to cry when he was torn away from Kiba. Now he was alone. He couldn't hold it back anymore.

School was starting in two weeks. It was going to be his senior year of high school. Then it was off to college. Shino had been excited about his career before, but now he couldn't be less enthused. Why should he be? Kiba had taught him things that he had never before even thought existed. Many things that his father never bothered to teach. Things that really mattered. Unlike all of the unimportant things he thought mattered to him before this life changing summer.

His mother eventually coaxed him into coming to breakfast one happy autumn morning. He appeared visibly more gaunt than she remembered. He ate slowly, his eyes fixed on the table.

"Shino, how are feeling today?" She asked, not expecting much of an answer.

"Fine," he mumbled. She sighed. Shino finished last, excusing himself and shuffling back up to his room. He turned on the radio, which he never even thought of using before, and flipped through the stations until he happened upon some familiar songs. He recalled hearing most of these country songs on Kiba's little portable radio he listened to occasionally while they worked on the farm. Kiba would sometimes sing along with them, much too loudly and slightly off key.

The song flowing quietly from the speakers, Shino recalled, Kiba had sung in a whisper when it came on the radio one particularly hot afternoon. As the chorus line hit his ears, yet another stream of tears ran down Shino's pale cheeks. Still, instead of turning it, he allowed the song to consume him.

"One more day. One more time.

One more sunset, maybe I'd be satisfied.

But then again, I know what it would do.

Leave me wishin' still for one more day with you."

The song kept playing, but Shino's mind was focused on Kiba. Missing him was all he could do these days. It wasn't like him to behave this way. Nor was it like him to be so dominated by his feelings. Shibi, his father, had seen to that. Yet, here he was, being devoured by heartache; something Shino never thought he'd fall victim to.

As the days passed, the emptiness within Shino remained but he found himself able to move around a bit. He frequently assisted his mother with household chores, something he never would have done prior to this summer. Working on the farm had done exactly what his mother had hoped it would, taught Shino about being responsible and helpful.

It was in the early morning hours of the coming day when Shino was roused from his slumber by a vigorous knocking on his bedroom door. With a groan, he shuffled out of bed and opened it, only to be greeted by his mother's madly grinning face.

"Yes mother?" he asked, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

"Come with me," she beckoned, curling her finger towards herself as she practically ran down the hallway. Shino reluctantly followed, feeling quite uneasy. Once they reached the bottom landing of the staircase, headlights began to dance across the walls. Someone had pulled into their driveway.

Despite having barely had any sleep that night, Shino found himself wide awake. This was all so very odd. He watched the lifeless door intently for a few minutes, until, finally, it swung open. Through it, came his father, carrying a couple torn up duffel bags.

For a moment, Shino thought he was imagining this whole scenario, as Kiba came trotting in behind Shibi; his mouth agape with amazement. But once Kiba tackled Shino with a death hug and Shino could smell his breathtaking scent, he knew it wasn't just his wishful thinking. Shino hugged Kiba back with such force that he could hear Kiba's breath hitch.

"Howdy, city boy! Good ta see ya again!" Kiba hollered once he could breathe again. Shino smiled.

"What are you doing here, Kiba?"

"Huh? You mean yer Ma didn't tell ya?" Shino raised a fine brow and glared in his mother's direction, though she missed it.

"No. She told me nothing."

"Well, I wanted it to be a surprise. Tsume gave me updates over the phone while you were staying with her," his mother chimed in, "We tossed around the idea of you or Kiba spending your senior year of High School together. We decided against it initially, but after you came home, she told me how depressed Kiba was. And you were so upset. I called her back and we made plans for Kiba to spend the school year here in New York."

It took a minute or two for Shino to fully process that he'd be spending another ten months with Kiba. Once the realization hit, Shino may have just as well been in the angry tundra, his body was shaking so much. Only for a few moments though, before Kiba engulfed him in another warm hug. Shino embraced him as if his very life hung in the balance.

"H-how was your trip?" was all Shino could think to ask, as they parted. Kiba grinned wildly.

"Perty nice. Slept most 'a the way."

"It's great to finally get to meet you, Kiba," Shino's mother said, as she took Kiba's hand and shook it gently.

"Pleasure meetin' you too, ma'am," Kiba said, his voice cutting through her like butter. Shino recalled, Kiba did have the ability to be surprisingly charming when he wanted to be, especially when women were involved.

"Shino, why don't you help Kiba get his bags to his room and show him around a bit," his mother added. Shino nodded and took the bags from his father. Kiba followed him down the hall.

"You don't gotta carry my bags fer me, I can. . ."

"It's alright," Shino interjected, "You're our guest, Kiba." Once they reached the end of the hall, Shino opened the door farthest to the left. Kiba was quite impressed by the fancy decorations the accented the entire house. Even the bedroom door was solid white with an ornate glass knob.

"This is our guest bedroom. I suppose this is where my mother intends for you to. . ." Before he could get the final word out, the door was slammed shut and he found himself lying on his back, Kiba straddling his hips.

"Damn, I missed you," Kiba growled low close to Shino's ear.

"I missed you too," Shino whispered. Kiba nuzzled his nose into Shino's neck, feeling his friend's heart beating rapidly as he did so. He kissed the exposed flesh gently, gradually working his way up to Shino's lips. They had only been apart for a week, yet it felt as though it had been a lifetime. Being this close was something neither of them had expected to ever feel again.

There was a faint knock on the door that made the boys spring up and separate in one motion. Shino's mother poked her head through the door.

"So, how's the room? The sheets are clean, I just changed them this morning," she informed.

"It's great. Better than my room back at home," Kiba said, slightly out of breath.

"Well, just let me know if you need anything while you're here."

"Will do, ma'am." Shino glanced nervously to the other side of the room, not able to quench the feeling that she knew somehow.

She left, clicking the door closed quietly on her way out. Shino looked back at Kiba, who just chuckled at the close call.

"Well, if your not too tired from your trip, maybe I can give you a glimpse of the city," Shino muttered. Kiba's expression perked.

"Yeah, I've been wonderin' what you city folk do fer fun! Let's go!" Kiba shouted, running out the door and down the hall. Shino, with significantly less enthusiasm than his southern companion, followed at his own pace.


A/N: Sorry it's so short. Such a long wait for such a short chapter. . . *sigh* Like I said, I will try my hardest to update once every week or two. I will not make promises. But I will try my damnedest. Thanks again guys, for being so patient with me.