Kiba was soaring as he left Kakashi sensei's house. Now that he knew that Shikamaru truly liked him, it was his turn to express his feelings. But how? He asked himself. I can't just show up at his window. Kiba meandered through the streets on his way home trying to think. Shikamaru… Just thinking of him made Kiba blush. He was determined to find the best way to express his feelings. "That's it!" Kiba exclaimed. "I just have to talk to Chouji, he'll have good ideas." Kiba went to find Chouji, and had a pretty good handle on where he could be found.
"Irashaimase!" The hostess shouted from behind the counter as Kiba walked into the barbecue shop.
"Thanks!" Kiba yelled back. "Hey, would you be able to tell me where Chouji is?" Kiba scratched the back of his head.
"Oh, he's back at his usual table" the old lady smiled. "Let me know if you need anything dear."
"Thank you" Kiba replied as he walked to the back of the restaurant. From the left, he heard Chouji shout.
"MORE RICE!" Kiba turned the corner just in time to see Chouji inhale the last piece of meat. "Hey Kiba!" he shouted, his mouth full of rice and meat. "Come, sit, eat!"
"Okay," Kiba sat and smiled. "Actually, I have a question. About Shikamaru." Kiba shifted in the seat.
"Oh? Is he okay?" Chouji paused a moment, his face contorting slightly in concern for his friend.
"Oh yeah, he's okay. He uh, he helped me out with something a while back and I uh, I wanted to get him something to uh, thank him." Kiba was never good at thinking on his feet.
"Hm." Chouji stared at the table in thought. "Well, he's really lazy." Kiba almost smacked his face on the table. Jeez, I could have told you that he thought. "He likes clouds. And shougi. And sleeping." Chouji continued eating.
"Thanks Chouji." Kiba stood to leave.
"Sure thing" Chouji said. Kiba waved at the women behind the counter as he left. I know exactly what to get him, he thought. I just need to find it…Kiba wandered through Konoha to find the closest jewelry store.
His earrings…Kiba thought. He always wears the same hoop earrings… Kiba found himself inside the store before he knew it. "Excuse me," he said to the sales clerk. "Do you happen to have any…uh…cloud earrings?" He kicked at the floor.
"Right this way sir" the woman smiled. She guided him to the left side of the store with a display full of stud earrings. "Uhm, I'm really sorry I don't know exactly where they are…" she said scanning the display, "but I'm sure they're here" She smiled and left Kiba to find them. Of course…why would they be easy to find? Kiba looked up and down the display several times before he spotted them. "Perfect!" he exclaimed. He grabbed the black clouds and examined them carefully. The cloud was solid black and embellished with ivory lines. Kiba took them to the clerk and she boxed them.
"Would you like a bow?" she smiled.
"Uh yeah, that's a good idea" Kiba replied.
"Present for your girlfriend?" the clerk blushed.
"Kind of…" he said, taking the box from her. "Thanks"
"Have a good day" she called after him as he left.
Kiba stopped by the Yamanaka's flower shop on his way home. "Oi, Ino!" he shouted as he entered their shop. "I need some flowers."
"Sure sure, another sunflower?" Ino smiled mysteriously. "For Shikamaru?" she giggled.
"Knock it off" he said blushing intensely. "Yes. No. I mean they are for Shikamaru…but I want something other than a sunflowers. What would you recommend?" Kiba hated asking for Ino's advice, but she was the expert in this field.
"Hm…" She wandered from vase to vase pausing at each one. "Aha!" She pulled a bouquet from the dozens of flowers on the counter. "Take this, I think he'll really like it" she smiled as she passed Kiba the flowers.
"Thanks. I ah…I have to go…" Kiba paused before leaving. "I really appreciate it…"
"Any time" Ino smiled and waved Kiba out. On his way to surprise Shikamaru he examined the bouquet; the white roses stood out against the blue baby's breath, making them look like clouds against a clear sky. Kiba put the box in one and and the bouquet in the other and rang the door bell.
Shikamaru opened the door not knowing what to expect. "K-Kiba" he said, taken aback by his sudden appearance.
"These are uh, for you" Kiba said, smiling and handing him the items.
"You shouldn't have" Shikamaru replied. "Come in, please" he smiled. He ushered Kiba in and put the flowers in water. "A gift?" he smirked. Kiba smiled in response.
"Open it" he urged. Shikamaru removed the bow and undid the paper.
"Oh Kiba…" Shikamaru looked at the earrings sitting in the box. "Kiba…these are beautiful…"
"Just like you are" Kiba replied, pulling Shikamaru close.
"Come" Shikamaru gestured, taking Kiba by the hand.