A/N: 15/12/2011 updated

He really didn't want to bother Kiba with news that his one night stand was asking after him. 'But what if Kiba likes the red head?' Neji thought to himself moodily.

Neji shook his head, 'I don't care if Kiba likes the red head,' Neji thought trying to shake off the disappointment he felt at the thought.

Chapter 10

Kiba opened the bottle and started to drink the liquid. It burnt his mouth but numbed his head. He sighed and put his hand though his curly hair before going for another sip.

"Care to share?" a voice said from the door way.

Kiba looked up in the direction where the glorious smell was assaulting him. His heart almost jumped out of his chest. Neji was back and the white eye was smiling beautifully. A large part of Kiba wanted to bound up to the white eye and hug him and thank him for coming back. But instead he looked down at the marked table.

"How about we eat first?"

Kiba looked up in awe as the white eye came around the side of the table and sat down putting an irresistible package in front of him. Kiba looked at him as if asking for permission before opening. The contents were mouth-watering.

Kiba reached in and grabbed a rice ball, he was about to eat the entire thing whole before he stopped himself and held it out, wordlessly to Neji.

Neji looked at Kiba surprised. They were in the same position as they were when Kiba had held the rice ball out to him that day beside the pond. The only thing missing was Kiba's smile. Neji took the rice ball and grinned at Kiba, in hopes the Dog-nin would smile back, but he didn't.

Kiba sat in silence eating rice ball after rice ball. They were so good, but the way Neji had smiled at him, had made it even better. He wanted to talk to Neji, but he didn't know what to say. Usually it would have been hard to shut him up, but Kiba felt awkward. He wanted to know how Neji felt about everything happened. He didn't want to say something stupid and risk upsetting him. 'What if Neji defends his grandfather..?' Kiba thought miserably.

When he, Neji and Akamaru had finished the packet, Kiba sighed and returned his eyes to the table. His thought were churning him up inside.

"Well." Neji said, making Kiba look up, "what do you want to do now?"

Kiba looked back down, 'what did he want to do now… did Neji mean with him? What did he want to do now with him..?' Kiba gulped and looked at Neji, hoping the white eye would suggest something first.

"Maybe we can finish that bottle together." Neji suggested pointing to the vodka, "If that's what you feel like doing I understand, we can drink together outside... in the sun, if you want."

Kiba thought for a moment, he did want to get drunk and forget everything. Maybe with a bit of alcohol he would even be able to talk to Neji.

Kiba nodded and followed Neji outside. His eyes were fixed to the gorgeous thing in front of him. Neji's body moved so gracefully, even though an alien place.

The outside of Kiba's house was thick in overgrown grass, which sloped slowly downwards and eventually came to a chicken coop and a shed. Kiba allowed Neji to lead him to a small hole in the side of the slope that would shelter them both from the small yet icy wind. It made Kiba feel giddy with nervous excitement as they sat next to each other. Neither of them said anything for a moment, Kiba watched the wind move down the slope, making the dried out grass ripple and dance like water.

"Are you going to have any then?" Neji said interrupting Kiba's thoughts. When Kiba said nothing he said, "Give it here then chicken." Neji said grinning and holding his hand out for the vodka.

The corners of Kiba's lips twitched in amusement as he handed the vodka over. He watched Neji drink deeply and cringe from the taste.

"Your turn." Neji said holding it out.

Kiba looked at the bottle, and then the beautiful boy holding it. He took it and drank deeply from it, without removing his eyes from Neji's.

"Steady on." Neji said grabbing the bottle out of his hand once he had finished drinking. Kiba had sculled quite a bit and leaned back into the grass, letting the sun warm his face.

After another drink Neji lay back as well. He put his arm up and moved his hand around in the air. They stayed like this for a while, neither talking just drinking in the sunshine.

After a while Neji propped himself up on his side.

"Are you alright?" He said seriously.

Kiba sighed; he knew of course what he was talking about.

"Please talk to me Kiba. It's killing me." Neji whispered.

Kiba stretched his arm behind his head and sighed. "Yes, no, I don't know." He said hoarsely. He paused and breathed out shakily, before closing his eyes and saying, "having you here helps... a lot."

Kiba felt Neji sit up. When he opened his eyes Neji was looking at him seriously. Kiba sat up slowly trying not to look into Neji amazing eyes.

"Kiba." Neji whispered, "I'm not going anywhere."

The bottle was somehow empty.

"But I'm still thirsty." Neji said looking in it again. "Yep it's definitely empty."

Kiba's lips twitched and he stood up swaying.

"Neji." He said sounding more sober than he felt, "Come with me."

Kiba pulled Neji up and they marched back into the house in search of more drinks.

Neji became aware of Kiba's hand holding his, as they walked back inside. Kiba had helped Neji up, but hadn't yet let go. Apart of Neji wanted to rip his hand away from Kiba's, another part knew that, that would hurt Kiba, and another part didn't want Kiba to let go.

Before Neji had decided what he would like better, Kiba let go to reach under Hana's bed.

Neji's looked at his hand, it was buzzing from Kiba's touch.

Kiba felt around under Hana's bed. There was something sharp, a box? Then something slimy. Kiba shuddered to think what that might have been, then something smother and cold – a bottle. Kiba clasped his hands around it and brought it out. Rum.

"Rum?" He said looking up at Neji who was watching his hand curiously.

"Yes. Sounds good." Neji said sitting down crosses legged, opposite from Kiba.

Kiba took the first sip and cringed then gagged. The taste was so much stronger than the first bottle. He watched Neji make the same face as he tasted the liquid.

"Neji..." Kiba said feeling suddenly drunk enough to talk.

"Yes?" Neji prompted after Kiba didn't say anything further.

"Thank you... for... saving me..." Kiba sighed a shaky breath out and wiped a small tear that had appeared in the corner of his eye.

Neji sat there feeling awkward for a second, before mentally slapping himself. He moved around next to Kiba. Slowly he put his arm around him and pulled him close. 'Kiba smells good,' Neji thought numbly. He had never found the dog-nin's scent appealing - until now. He could smell the 'dog' but there was other smells on him, wood-chippings, grass, bark from the resin trees. It was intoxicating, or maybe that was the rum. Kiba's scent was making him dizzy or maybe that was the rum as well. Neji put his head on Kiba's hair and breathed in deeply, 'yes, sandalwood chips, and he smells like cinnamon, and lust and peace... wait how can someone smell like peace?' Neji thought questing himself, yet there it was, every time he breathed in the smell of Kiba, he could smell some kind of animalistic peace.

Kiba nuzzled into Neji shoulder, letting the other boys scent calm him down. He let the tears flow freely down his cheeks, until he realized Neji was smelling his hair. He became very still and waited, holding his breath in. He sat up slowly, when Neji had stopped smelling him, and looked at the white eye curiously.

"Um," Neji said grinning, "you smell really nice..."

Neji looked away embarrassed, 'great Neji. Freak him out like that,' he thought shaking his head. He looked back up trying to find words to explain himself, but found Kiba smiling from ear to ear. Neji smiled back and laughed. For some reason seeing Kiba smile was the best thing.

Kiba smiled, 'he likes my scent!' He yelled in his head, 'he likes my sceeeeennnnnnnnnt!' Kiba felt like dancing, he looked at Neji and lunged. Sending them both falling backwards. He felt Neji flailing under him but held on tight, hugging him with all his strength. Until a sound pieced his ears that was even more beautiful than Neji talking. Neji was laughing.

"Kiba you're chocking me!" Neji cried.

"Sorry." Kiba said sitting up and wiping the tears off his face.

Kiba looked down at the beautiful boy on the ground, when he dived for the hug he had knocked Neji's hair out of its pony tail, so now it was sprayed out on the floor. He watched Neji sit up and take his ninja head back off. Kiba gasped, he had never seen the seal on Neji's forehead.

Neji looked down and nodded, "This is what I get for being born a branch family member. It can be activated at any time by a main family member, when it is, it causes a lot of pain."

"Neji." Kiba whispered touching his hand, "I had no idea."

"Yeah. Seems my family hurts everyone."

Neji cringed; he hadn't meant to say that, he just blurted it out without thinking. He watched Kiba's smile fall, and then the dog-nin got up and swayed.

"I'm going to go have a shower." he said. And then he left.

Neji sat on the floor stunned. He couldn't believe he had been so blunt. Faintly he heard the shower up stairs go on and he shook his head.

"Fuck... This sucks." Neji said out loud. 'Guess I should make dinner. He has to eat...'

Neji went into the kitchen and looked in the fridge, 'what can I cook...' he thought. He had never cooked in his life except for fish on missions, but even then Tenten had done most of the work, other than that the cooks in his house made all his meals.

The fridge was empty, everything that could go off while the Inuzuka's were away had been removed. All that was left was a small jug of long life milk, a half-eaten block of chocolate and some eggs.

Neji turned and looked in the cupboard, cans of baked beans and dog food littered the shelves. Neji smiled to himself at the thought of serving Kiba some dog food. He moved the cans around and found some wholegrain pasta and stir though pasta sauce.

'Well its better than nothing.' He thought getting them down from the shelf. He put some water in the kettle and pressed the button. While waiting he put a pan on the stove and waited.

'How to get this thing going...' He thought. Turning he saw some knobs with little drawings. He played around with them for a while until one lit the element up.

He felt a small sense of achievement when in front of him was a successfully made bowl of pasta. He placed it on the table and looked up the stairs, the shower had gone off but Kiba still hadn't come down.

Neji sighed; he had set the table and in his boredom had lit a candle stick, put it out and re lit it again. 'I wonder if this sends the wrong message,' he thought numbly lighting it again and deciding he didn't care. He went upstairs; he was going to demand Kiba came down and ate with him. He came to Kiba's door and nudged it open slowly, it was dark inside. He switched on the light switch next to him and saw Kiba in the corner. He was huddled and wet with his head in his arms.

"Oh Kiba." Neji whispered sitting down next to him, "I'm so sorry." He said hugging him. The dog-nin was still in his towel, but sobbed into Neji's arms.

"I feel disgusting Neji," He sobbed, "He said, the most horrible things... He said... that I deserved it because I'm gay ...and that it's my punishment..."

"Kiba I am so sorry... I wish I had gotten their earlier." Neji said holding Kiba tightly. He let Kiba cry until the dog-nin stopped shaking.

"Will you come with me?" Neji said pulling Kiba up. He blushed and turned away when Kiba's towel fell off, and turned back when he had fastened it at his waste. Neji looked at Kiba's chest. It was toned; he had a six pack and a V shape that disappeared under the towel. Neji noticed some small black hairs on his chest and smiled at them lightly.

"Close your eyes Kiba." Neji said holding both of Kiba's hands.

He noticed Kiba look at him curiously and swallow before complying. He led him slowly down stairs telling him when to step, but he was pretty sure he could smell the layout of the house anyway. Neji left him for a moment to pull his chair out and sat him down, his hand brushing the front of Kiba's towel on the way.

"Okay, you can open your eyes."

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