Kemono no Shi: The Death of a Monster
By: Abhorson
Chapter: #9
Rated: M; for strong language and sexual themes (Maybe one day)
Summary: Kiba and Shino endure the daily tribulations of Konoha Chuunin. Unbeknownst to them, their relationship is slowly, but surely, progressing into something more than friendship. Set in time gap. ShinoKiba; Shounen-Ai; Yaoi; Strong Language.
Nihongo: Dialogue and references in Japanese will hold no meaning relevant to the understanding of the story. Said dialogue with only represent common expressions that aren't entirely vital to comprehension, and will only contribute to Japanese authenticity.
BYBN:
I'm afraid, after reading reviews, that you all might be sorely dissatisfied with this chapter. It makes me sad to think… Anyway, I apologize for the lack of an update. I experienced three whole vacations in the last three weeks. Yosemite, Mammoth, and Lake Havasu, and was therefore far too high on bug spray to possibly write.
Warning: Sorry, but I don't believe strongly in fluff, nor instant gratification. If you have any comments or complaints, contact the nearest cataleptic who cares, or visit your nearest homo-erotic retail store.
Kyuusatsu: Butsukeru
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The Mission Makes You Look Pretty Ugly
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The sky had started to brighten by the time Shino and Kiba stopped their progression and set up camp. They had walked in silence ever since exiting Konoha's monumental gates, both silent for the simple reason that neither of the two boys could think of something relevant to say.
Kiba felt the sudden onrush of an emotion he could hardly recognize as guilt. Was it his entire fault that Shino was being forced from his own village, just because he had overreacted to a simple slash to the arm? The frustrated Inuzuka tried to rationalize it within his own mind, but he couldn't quite convince himself. Surely 5 lives was a little too much compensation for Shino's mere wound?
'I would have done the same thing even if 20 men were against me.' Kiba clenched his fists. 'Shino still would have been left to clean up my mess. He does that a lot doesn't he?' Kiba sneered at the ground, reopening his hands. He grazed his claws across the bark of an unsuspecting tree as he walked passed, leaving deep gouges in the thick outer skin. His attention leaving his current surroundings, Kiba nearly walked into Shino, who he had been following obediently since leaving Konoha's border. The taller nin had stopped abruptly at the edge of a sizeable gap in between trees.
"What's up?" Kiba asked in a mellow tone.
"We will stop here." Shino replied, stepping into the vacant area, he set down his weighty pack. Kiba watched him as he began to unroll their tent, and then the subsequent process in which one undergoes in order to properly set up said tent. Kiba would lend Shino help whenever the other boy needed it, but otherwise, neither spoke.
-
-
It was only the second day into their trip, and already the weather had turned to disaster. It had started pouring as soon as Shino and Kiba had reached the three quarters mark between Konohagakure and the border between Konoha no Kuni and Kiri no Kuni. It had only gotten worse on the night of that second day, when lightning permeated the sky, thunder subsequently leering downward without fail. Shino and Kiba sat huddled against the cold, the blankets from their two futon haphazardly splayed across their laps.
Due to his acute hearing and dog-like weaknesses, Kiba could be found by any passerby clutching to Shino frantically, jumping five feet into the air with every clap of thunder. The Aburame did not seem to be bothered by his friend's actions until Kiba managed to rip the fourth hole in the seam of his jacket.
"Perhaps you should consider getting used to it?" Shino insisted, examining his shredded sleeve with disdain. If it hadn't been a good minute since the last bout of thunder had sounded, Kiba would have not consented. However, he nodded slowly towards his frustrated friend, scooting away until he was not flush up against the boy. Kiba gave Shino an unsure smile as he managed to subdue the shivering of his body that had began with the storm.
In spite of his efforts, a bright flash of lightning soon lit up the small tent, quickly accompanied by a resounding clap of thunder that lasted a painful 10 seconds. In no time at all, Kiba was back, whimpering into Shino's shoulder like a beaten puppy. Shino accepted defeat and scooted forward where he sat, moving to lie back on the ground. Kiba clung to him like a child all the while, his face thoroughly buried in Shino's chest so that he could not view the tent walls that would light up brilliantly every few seconds.
"I was under the impression that you were being truthful when you told me that you trusted me." Shino stated monotonously.
Kiba gathered enough courage to look up. "I was telling the truth!" He scowled, all else forgotten as he looked down at his companion.
"Then why do you cower in such a way? Do you not believe me when I say that I will let no harm befall you? There is no need to be afraid."
Surprise would be an understatement when it came to the conflicting thoughts within Kiba's mind.
"Shino…" Was all he could manage in response. The smallest hint of a smile graced the Aburame's features, and Kiba's stomach only seemed to constrict further. He moved to lean over Shino, his palms planted on either side of his head.
"Thanks…a lot." He murmured, and without a second thought, leaned forward, pressing his lips into Shino's exposed cheek. If the Aburame was disturbed by the sudden display of affection, or had any opinion on it at all, he did not comment. Kiba went back into his prior position of looming over Shino. He supported himself with his left arm and used the other to lift the goggles from the bridge of Shino's nose. The look in Shino's exposed eyes sent a thrill down Kiba's spine, simultaneously rupturing any self-restraint he had attempted to build over the years of his life.
'Maybe it isn't wrong.'
'Perhaps it is acceptable.'
'Shikamaru and Chouji.'
'Iruka and Kakashi.'
'Maybe.'
'Just maybe.'
'It's okay.'
Kiba leant forward once again, only this time; he diverted slightly, Shino coming up to meet him as they crushed their lips together with long suppressed fervor.
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Both boys feared that if they dared to surface for air, either's intuitive senses might actually emerge, which would certainly not be a good thing at this point in time.
Hands probed fervently, exploring every depression and inclination of the other's body in the desperate attempt for friction; or perhaps searching for some semblance of reality in order to remind themselves that yes, this was indeed real. The two boy's minds intermixed, both set in the same prevailing goal.
Neither was quite sure who broke away first, but it was certain that the pause in motion was accompanied by sounds of shallow breathing and hot gasps of air. Kiba laid his forehead on the cool ground, the tips of Shino's hair grazing his cheek as he awaited the subsidence of his panting. Shino's movements were diffident, his hands slowly traveling up the recovering Inuzuka.
The chilled earth somehow managed to somewhat clear Kiba's thoughts, and he suddenly questioned his current situation. He sat upright, his knees positioned on their side of Shino's hips.
Kiba supposed that if Shino's expression was that of a blatant lack of rationale, then his own outward appearance must be a sardonic mirror of that. Kiba merely gazed down at his friend, seemingly deep in thought; While in fact his mind was entirely devoid of any comprehendible notion.
He met no objections as he rolled silently off of Shino, nor when he got up to leave the stuffy tent and it's addictive inhabitant. However, he did not get too far, as he was soon reminded of what lay outside. In a seconds time he was back under the both figuratively and tangibly protective arms of Shino.
The Aburame stared upward at the tent's low ceiling, not daring to blink as Kiba watched him diligently. The Inuzuka begged inwardly that Shino would show some sort of reaction. Anything that could help pacify the ruptured equilibrium of sense within his mind. However, he knew his friend far too well to set his hopes high. Kiba gripped the fabric of Shino's jacket and pulled himself forward.
"Aburame-san?" He initiated, knowing that Shino would be forced to respond in some manner, as Kiba inferred by using the other boy's surname. Shino's eyes flickered, and a low "Hmm?" vibrated from his throat, almost inaudibly. Instead of continuing, Kiba brushed his lips over the flushed surface of Shino's extremely warm cheek. The other turned his head, examining Kiba derisively.
Shino's mental stability had been played with far too much for Kiba to be trusted without any further analyzation. Shino rolled over, switching positions so that he loomed over Kiba menacingly.
"Kiba, you-"
"Shut up." The bemused Inuzuka cut him off, snaking his hands upward in order to grip the front of the Aburame's collar. He pulled forcibly, grinning wickedly at the other's brief moment of surprise.
As they engaged in yet another zealous kiss, the internal arguments of Shino's mind were promptly driven to the back of his cranium, all prior reservations disappearing with the flick of Kiba's tongue across his bottom lip.
He was subconsciously disheartened by his lack of sagacity so much that it caused him to jerk away suddenly, only realizing why he had done so after a short pause. He could see his breath ghosting across Kiba's features, something that procreated a sudden chill. To have caused something that was so magnificent in its own simplistic way…
"It's cold." The Aburame stated in an excuse for the lack of his prior ardor. Kiba blinked in a second of comprehension, before finally moving. He pulled a nearby blanket up across Shino's back, the Aburame moving to the side so that he could lie on the smooth earth. Once Shino was situated, Kiba spoke.
"I feel weird." He huffed, raising his fists into the air, clenching and unclenching them slowly.
"In what way?" His friend inquired.
"Dunno." Was all Kiba could murmur. He moved toward Shino, resting his head on the other's stomach.
He was not so sure that he could find any words to correctly describe how he felt at that moment. For the first instant in his entire literate life, Inuzuka Kiba cold not think of something to say that could possibly change the situation he was currently in. Hell, he didn't even know what situation he was in, in the first place. There was nothing that he could do in order to properly display to Shino the enormity of emotions that permeated his mind and body. Nothing he could say to properly explain in diction how in awe he was that he had only just realized that all this newfound confusion and elation involved the male laying next to him.
Kiba breathed hoarsely, newly reached conclusions distracting him from his surroundings, so much that he didn't notice Shino slowly moving him to lie at the pillow beside the other brunette. By the time he had seemingly reentered reality, Shino was already asleep, laying on his side and facing the opposite direction. Kiba reached out hesitantly, aiming to wake the Aburame. However, as soon as his hand drew near, he retracted it quickly. He stared at Shino's turned back for a moment before turning also.
He was glad to see that the storm had died down. Kiba doubted that Shino would appreciate being clung to throughout the night.
He was still in quite a shock, after what had occurred. It seemed to have happened all too fast. It was not as if Shino and Kiba hadn't been best friends, and somewhat of rivals for years. But to have actually kissed…
'After all...we are…'
He supposed that it wouldn't do much to think on it. He couldn't change it now. Not that he had much desire to do so anyway.
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Kiba awoke the next morning to an empty tent. The futon that formerly lie next to his own had been folded and rolled, indicating that it's prior occupant had been awake for quite some time.
Kiba fumbled for the tent opening, staggering slightly as he stood. The sky was bright, so much that Kiba raised a hand to his forehead, blinking several times in order to dissipate the sudden ache in his head. Shino sat unmoving on a fallen tree a few yards away, examining the extremely sodden ground and other residual effects left by the colossal storm. As soon as he noticed the newly appeared Inuzuka, he slipped off of the side of the long trunk, heading back towards their tent.
Kiba silently expected Shino to stop in front of where he stood. However, the Aburame bypassed him without a glance, stepping around the boy and entering the tent. As soon as he was inside, Shino began to pilfer through his things. Kiba followed soon after, standing back in observation.
The Aburame found what he was looking for, a cleated attachment to his sandaru. He stood up once again, aiming to leave the tent, Kiba standing idly by, itching to stop Shino and incline as to why the boy was ignoring him.
"Shino." Kiba ground. The addressee stopped in his tracks but did not turn to face Kiba. Instead, he waited for the other to continue. Sure, Kiba could ask why the fuck he was acting the way he was…but most likely, all he would receive would be some incomprehensible answer encrypted in Aburame logic.
When Kiba had not spoken for quite some time, Shino left without a word.
Kiba growled audibly as Shino disappeared, clenching his fists in a type of rage he was sure that he could have never experienced before. He sank to his knees before his futon and began to fold it haphazardly, not minding the bed's messiness as he threw it together angrily. For some time he sulked, glaring at inanimate objects he pictured to be Shino's head.
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It seemed as if they had only been in this position the day before. Trudging through the meek forests of outer Konohagakure; Kiba in the center, Akamaru trotting behind, Shino taking the front, his mind set on nothing besides the mission. However, in this case, the space between the two shinobi was considerably larger than it had been prior, Shino's mind set on everything except for the mission, which included the ninja seething 15 feet behind him in its hole.
It was fruitless, as usual, to keep Kiba's presence to the outer reaches of his mind. All that Shino could currently reflect upon was the reason why Kiba currently held him in high disdain for reasons he was unsure of.
"What is on your mind?" Shino tried, pausing in step to make sure that Kiba could hear him.
"What the fuck do you think?" Kiba bit back. If Shino had been equipped with any other human's personality, he would have flinched at the harsh retort. Fortunately, and unfortunately for him, he didn't. The Aburame was slightly distracted by the fact that they had finally reached the Konoha-Kiri border, where land met sea. The same village that they had ventured through before was visible only a little ways away, sitting modestly against the thundering ocean.
Shino missed the rude gesticulation that Kiba made from behind.
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It looked as if the similarities to Shino and Kiba's last visit would never end. The same welcoming party stood waiting for the duo to arrive at the docks of Kirigakure, greeting the disconnected pair as soon as they stepped onto wooden planks.
"Konbanwa." The red-haired Kagen greeted good-evening, helping Shino heft his load onto the steadily bobbing docks.
"Konbanwa, Kagen-sama." Shino replied politely, inclining into a short bow. The Mist ninja's smile only increased as he realized that his name had been remembered, and he quickly returned the bow.
Shino was ushered forward, walking beside Kagen as they set off. The other two Kiri-nin, Kanako and Kozuka, fell beside Kiba like two over-protective bodyguards.
"Mizukage-sama has asked that I show you two where you are to stay." Kagen stated after a few moments of silent walking, his tone officiary. "It is in an old dormitory where Tokubetsu Jounin working directly for the Kage would stay. However, it is completely desolate except for me and my team."
"…his team…" Kozuka, the other male mist-ninja, remarked darkly from behind.
Shino nodded for Kagen to continue.
"You two will stay together, no?" Kagen continued innocently. Shino looked back at the livid Inuzuka over his shoulder. He was not sure what compelled him to agree, but it startled both himself and his teammate. Kagen smiled and nodded, continuing ahead of Shino. "We're almost there."
The size of the dormitory was surprising in itself. It was indeed large, for only housing a singular unit of ninja. However, the size of the rooms within did not compare. Each separate room was about the size of a regular two-person apartment. Inside of Shino and Kiba's predestined room, in its sole bedroom, a single bed was crammed.
"Sorry about that." Kagen apologized embarrassedly. "We ere not sure of whether or not the two of you would be sharing a room. And to be frank, we do not have any other rooms prepared."
"I got the couch." Kiba breathed, falling onto the small piece of furniture in the main area of the dorm. He supposed it could be called a living room. Kagen blinked, somewhat surprised by Kiba, but then continued. "My team and I are a floor down. Kozuka and I are in 2-14, and Kanako in 2-15. If you need anything." The nin with freakishly spiky red hair bowed himself out of the room, the door closing behind him with a click.
"We're being watched."
"I am aware."
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Three hours earlier, back in Konoha…a messenger bird deftly swept through the air, setting out from the Hokage's tower, it's flight path illuminated by the countless explosions erupting around the cities border.
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It didn't take much time for Shino and Kiba to become…situated…in their new, temporary residence. All extra food which had not been eaten was sorted into the small kitchen area; the rest of their stuff clumped around in extra space due to the fact that neither boy knew where to place anything.
Kiba lay moodily on the couch, listening as Shino moved through the bedroom, doing who knew what. After many minutes of the Inuzuka sulking, Shino walked out into the main 'living area,' standing over Kiba in his casual clothes, a simple grey, sleeveless jacket and black pants. He kneeled down beside Kiba, the seething Inuzuka turning his back to the Aburame, meanwhile watching the other in his peripheral vision.
"Why is it that you are upset?" Shino's deep voice nearly masked his exasperation.
"Not like you care." Kiba barked back childishly, as if his answer had been prepared beforehand. Shino set his hand on the other boy's arm, in order to procure his attention. This simple gestured caused Kiba's abdomen to tighten, and he resented it. Shino was about to continue, but was cut off when the apartment's front door burst open, revealing two mizu-nin, scrambling over themselves in order to enter through the small space.
"Aburame-sama!" They yelled in unison, saluting simultaneously. "Message from the Hokage!" One rushed forward, handing Shino a small folded piece of paper. The note was written in rushed characters, making the message difficult to comprehend. Shino frowned darkly, about to read it out loud, but Kiba pulled it from his hand before he could begin.
"Either Konoha has run out of hand soap, or Tsunade wants you…" Kiba looked up at Shino incredulously. "Back to…Konoha?" Shino took the paper back from Kiba. Characters printed officially on the back read, 'Fight for Your Country."
Kiba stood quickly, pushing passed Shino, he stalked into the bedroom, slamming the door behind him.
"Aburame-sama, we must go immediately!" One of the messengers insisted as Shino took a step towards the bedroom, as if he intended to enter it.
"In a moment…" Shino argued, taking another step.
"The Mizukage insists that you come immediately! Your village is currently in battle!" Shino's frown deepened and he nodded despite his own feelings. He grabbed a jacket from where it hung on the back of a chair and fallowed the men outside, closing the door with a barely audible click.
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Butsukeru: Crash
Konbanwa: Good-Evening
Tokubetsu: Special
Instant gratification is bad for your health.
Noteworthy: Kiba's birthday was on July seventh. I wish I could have submitted something on his birthday…but alas. Kiba-sama, if I could give you Shino naked, tied up with a big red ribbon and a mouth full of beef jerky, I really would.
I'm sorry that this chapter is shorter than the last. I plan to post the next chapter earlier than usual.
Reviews: I know! Kiba is so out of character…it pains me so. Didn't want him to be too much like Naruto, but then I wanted him to be hot tempered..and..ugh. I try, I really do. I'm young and I haven't quite mastered the art of writing in proper literary form. Thanks to all of you guys who take the time to leave such awesome comments. I get so excited reading them, I raise my fists with fervor and manage to giggle while simultaneously yelling 'SUGOI!' at the top of my lungs. It's quite scary actually. Of course, I only do it while no one is around.
Oh and thanks for the critiques also. I have not received any consequential complaints, as they are usually only small things. However, if you could, be as specific as possible while commenting.
