Hello everyone

It's been two weeks since I entered college. It's all fun and all, living in dormitories and hanging out with friends. Just started my law classes, a little boring, but it'll get better. (I hope so!!)

anyway, here's the next chapter. hope you guys will enjoy it!

now i must get back to my assignments... sigh...

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Cat and Dog

Chapter 9

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Tsubasa sat down on the tatami mat in her room and let out a sigh of relief.

The ceremony had just ended and it was a success. She looked over to her left where Yue was curled up, sleeping soundly, tired.

Tsubasa smiled as she ran her fingers through Yue's fur. She felt glad that her cat's evolution went normally.

And now Yue can go out again…

There was a knock on the door and Tsubasa looked at it, curious.

"Yes?"

The door was pulled open and she saw Arai-sama looking at her. "Your brother wishes to see you."

Tsubasa took a quick glance at the clock. It'smidnight. What does Niisama has to say?

She nodded her head and stood up. Tsubasa followed the head advisor walking towards her brother's study room.

They arrived at the room and after knocking it, stepped into the room, and Tsubasa looked at her brother, wondering.

He was at his study desk, looking at a map, eyebrows furrowed seriously.

"Niisama, you wish to see me?"

Maneki Tsuno looked up. His black hair was tied neatly into a low ponytail and he had the same pale skin and golden eyes like Tsubasa's. The trademarks of a Maneki.

Tsuno nodded his head and looked at Tsubasa. "I am going away for a few days." His voice was chilly, but it wasn't something Tsubasa wasn't used to.

"Where are you going?" Tsubasa asked, eyebrows furrowed. Her brother doesn't normally travel a lot, now that he is the head of clan.

"There is trouble with the clan in Sand." Arai told her. Tsuno nodded his head.

"Arai will be looking after you while I'm away." Tsubo said.

Tsubasa nodded her head. "Have a safe trip Niisama." She said and bowed.

"Tsubasa," Tsuno called out. Tsubasa looked up and her eyes met her brother's.

"Is the rumor true?"

Tsubasa blinked. "What rumor?"

Arai stepped in. "About you and Inuzuka Kiba,"

Tsubasa's eyes widened a little and she saw her brother raised an eyebrow curiously. "Oh that."

She took a deep breath and cleared her throat. There's no way to escape now…

Xxx

When Tsubasa arrived at the training ground the next day, Yue was following her like before.

Hinata saw them arrived and smiled as she greeted them good morning.

"Good morning," Yue, spoke and Hinata's eyes widened slightly upon hearing the cat's voice.

"She spoke." Shino pointed out. Tsubasa nodded her head.

Hinata looked surprised. "I-I know ninja cats can talk but Yue-chan haven't talk before…"

"Maneki cats can only speak after they completed transformation." Tsubasa explained. Yue nodded her head.

Kurenai approached them. "So I assume the ritual went smoothly?" she asked. Tsubasa nodded her head.

"Any other special ability other than talking?" Kurenai asked.

"Em." Tsubasa nodded her head, smiling. "We have our elements now." She said. Yue nodded. "I am water,"

Tsubasa added, "Wind." She pointed to herself.

"Ice," Shino concluded. Tsubasa nodded happily. She was glad that she is now able to work with her own element.

"Morning," Another voice spoke and all of them turned around to see Kiba and Akamaru arrived.

Tsubasa looked at Kiba. He looked like he had just woken up on the wrong side of bed. His hair was messier than usual, had a deep scowl and his eyes were narrowed angrily, like a wolf watching its meal.

And strangely, there was a red mark on his left cheek, like he had hit into something.

Fell out of bed, perhaps?

"What's eating you?" Kurenai asked.

"Nothing," Kiba quickly replied. His eyes caught Tsubasa's for a second before he turned away, crossing his arms on his chest defensively.

Kurenai ignored Kiba, as if it was normal for one of her students to arrive in a bad mood, and clapped her hands.

"Okay…let's start today's training…"

xxx

"So you are actually my grandmother" Tsubasa spoke. Yue nodded her head.

Tsubasa smiled. "Then, Tsuno-niisama's Juuno is your brother?"

"Older brother," Yue corrected.

"We're the same then," Tsubasa said. The two of them were walking back home together, talking to each other.

Besides, how normally are you able to talk to your own cat?

"I know that the ancestors of the clan will become the Maneki cats in their future lives and are only awaken after the ritual…" Tsubasa started and looked at Yue.

"But I never expected that you'd be my grandmother,"

Yue smiled. "You were hoping for someone older?"

Tsubasa shook her head. "No, I'm just honored that your second life is with me."

She looked at Yue, "Then what should I call you?" she asked. "Niisama told me when I was small that your name is Kirara, should I call you that?"

Yue shook her head. "That's my human name. I had fire element back then. But now I'm water." Yue smiled. "You can still call me Yue."

"Thanks." Tsubasa said. "I'm looking forward to—" she paused when they were walking towards the memorial and saw a figure standing there.

Tsubasa's eyes narrowed. What is he doing here?

Kiba was standing in front of the memorial stone, staring at the names of deceased ninjas carved on it.

But he was actually staring at one name.

His head was clouded with thoughts and emotions that he didn't realize Tsubasa was watching him until she stood beside him.

Kiba didn't glare at her, merely narrowing his eyes at her presence.

"What?" he asked. He wasn't in the mood to talk or argue or get stuck with her at the moment.

From the corner of his eyes, he saw Tsubasa shrugged.

"Saa…I'm just visiting them," she said, looking at the carved names.

"Hmph." Kiba replied, hands in his pocket. It was then he realized her cat wasn't with her.

"Yue-chan wanted to go home early," Tsubasa answered his unasked question.

Kiba frowned. "I didn't ask."

Tsubasa turned to face him. "You wanted to."

Kiba furrowed his eyebrows. The girl was getting on his nerves. "What do you want?"

Tsubasa shrugged. "World peace?"

"That can be accomplish when we catch that bastard Sasuke,"

Tsubasa narrowed her eyes. "What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing," Kiba answered. The same answer he had been giving his teammates. Except, unlike Tsubasa, they knew what was going on, because they didn't press on the matter.

"What's bothering you?" Tsubasa asked again.

"Why do you care?"

"Well," Tsubasa started. "I'm a cat, so I'm naturally curious. And Sho said before that when someone is grumpy, you should try and make them happy." She said and frowned when she realized how lame it sounded.

Tsubasa shook her head. "In any way, even if that person is the least person you like," she said and glanced at him. "We should cheer them up."

Kiba eyed her. Why was she so worked up to know what was bothering him? "You're not a good counselor,"

Tsubasa shrugged. "I don't need to be. I'm a girl. We're talented."

"Oh, you're a girl?" Kiba raised an eyebrow. He watched her face contorted from angry into calm and then turned to annoyance.

Her frown made him smirked.

They were silent for a while. Just standing beside each other, looking at the memorial stone.

It was after a few minutes, Kiba took a deep breath and spoke. "Today is a death anniversary in my family."

Tsubasa didn't turn to look at him. Instead she nodded. "Your father?"

Kiba nodded his head. Then his eyes widened. "How did you know?"

Tsubasa pointed to the memorial, at one name that was carved there.

"Inuzuka Shita," Tsubasa said. "He passed away a few months after you were born, from the fight against the Kyuubi."

"Yeah…" Kiba said, surprised that she knew so much.

Tsubasa smiled. "A few names down from your father's name is my father's." Tsubasa answered. "So I guessed it was for the same reason."

Kiba looked at the memorial stone, his eyes scrolled down the names after his father's and he did find the name Tsubasa said.

Maneki Ootori.

Kiba blinked, how come he didn't realize that?

"My mother was pregnant when that incident happened." Thsubasa said. "I was born without knowing my father too." She said and shrugged.

"Death happened a lot in this village that everyone began to accept it at a faster rate than normal people world." Tsubasa said and turned to Kiba.

"So why are you so hang up about it, even when you have never seen or know your father?"

Her words seem a little harsh, to be speaking about a late parent like it was nothing.

But to them ninjas, it made sense.

"I said the same thing to my sister." Kiba spoke. But for Inuzuka Hana who was 3 years old when her father passed away, she felt his lost greater than Kiba did.

"She didn't take my words well." Kiba added. "I was slapped."

Tsubasa turned and examined Kiba's face. There was still red mark on his cheek and now she knew why it was there.

"I'm fine," he told her when he saw her eyebrows furrowed worriedly.

Tsubasa looked away, embarrassed at being caught staring. She frowned. "I wasn't worrying."

Kiba had to smirked, watching her actions.

"Hey, what happened to your mother?" Kiba asked, out of curiosity. All he knew about the Maneki clan is that it's leader was Tsubasa's brother.

There was no mentioning about their mother.

Tsubasa turned to face him, eyebrows furrowed. "I have a name, you know and it's not 'hey'." She frowned.

Kiba blinked, wondering what she was talking about, and then smirked. "I have a name too."

"Dog breath," Tsubasa said, smirking.

"Stinky cat," Kiba added.

"Inuzuka," Tsubasa's eyes narrowed, warning him.

"Maneki," Kiba replied, challenging her.

"Kiba," Tsubasa said, sort, simple and soft.

Kiba opened his mouth to answer and then paused. "What did you call me?"

"Kiba. Duh." Tsubasa rolled her eyes. "That is your name right? Or is it dog breath?"

"You called me Kiba," he stated, surprised. Aren't they supposed to be enemies? Are enemies allowed to call each other by their first names?

"Well, do you want me to call you dog breath?" Tsubasa rolled her eyes. Why was he so surprised? It was just a name.

"No." Kiba said quickly. "What am I supposed to call you then?"

"My name, obviously."

"Maneki?" Kiba tried.

Tsubasa narrowed her eyes. Kiba nodded his head. "All right, stinky cat." He smirked.

Tsubasa rolled her eyes. Guys "Whatever," she said, giving up.

"Hey," Kiba called out after a few seconds. Tsubasa turned.

Their eyes were locked on each other and Tsubasa noticed the intense look in his eyes. She couldn't look away and for some strange reason, her heart beat faster when he parted his lips to speak.

"Tsu—"

Kiba was cut off short when he heard a whistling sound coming from Tsubasa. He watched her taking out the necklace with the metal cylinder that was now vibrating rapidly, producing a whistling sound.

"It's Kenji," Tsuabasa said suddenly, eyebrows furrowed. What does he want?

Before Tsubasa could answer her own question, she heard someone calling her name.

"Tsubasa!!" Sho ran towards her. He saw Kiba standing beside Tsubasa and nodded his head. "Oh good, you guys are separated." He said between pants.

Tsubasa shook her head, "We didn't get—"

"Did you get a call from Kenji?" Sho asked, pulling out an identical necklace like Tsubasa's from under his t-shirt.

Tsubasa nodded her head, looking at her own pendant curiously. "He said he's at the hospital." She furrowed her eyebrows. "Did he get punch again, for double-dating?"

Sho shook his head. "Better than that," he grinned. "I heard that Fumie-sensei is back."

Reviews please! Please and thank you!

I will try to update as soon as I can! Just hope and pray the classes aren't difficult and the lecturers won't give too many assignments!

Have a nice Sunday ya'll!