Pein was waiting in front of the chemistry classroom, two mops and buckets beside him, a smirk of sadistic satisfaction on his face.

"You'll be cleaning the hallway floors today, they seem rather messy after just one week. You can start at the East end working your way into the cafeteria, and I will send that lazy bastard to meet you when he finally shows up." Taking a bucket and mop I walked to the darkest side of the school, sighing I began, watching the soapy water gleam on the cold dirty tiles. An hour into my work footsteps alerted me to the presence of my cleaning partner, ignoring the other boy I continued to work my way down the corridor, the slosh of water and slap of the mop tendrils against the tiles the only sounds as we worked. Turning I checked the spaces I'd gone over, making sure that no area hadn't been missed, only to come across a space that was pilling with grime.

'clank'

The two mops hit together as both Kiba and I attempted to clean the same spot at the same time. Without looking the dog boy in the eye I knocked against his mop again.

"Move the mop Inuzuka." I growled, there was a sharp whine and the mop was ripped from my hands and a warm hug was given to my waist.

"I know you're angry at me, and I'm not going to ask you to forgive me. But can we still be friends, I don't like having you angry with me. On Saturday we're all going down to the park, everyone, even Moonshadow and Solana, I just want you to come. I don't care if you don't talk to me or anything but just come, please." tears trickled down the cheeks of the dog as he clung to the back of my knees.

"Fine I'll come, but only because my friends are going. I won't be speaking to you, and I'm still angry with you." There was a soft whine from the floor, looking down Kiba was still clinging to me, his eyes downcast to the ground - it was like I'd kicked a dog or something.

"Why are you so angry with me?" He whined blinking up at me through tear stained eyes, using leverage I pushed him off me and slid down the locker bay, pulling him so his toes touched mine.

"Well what do you expect, you where bloody checking Sakura's tonsils on my locker. I don't care if you like her or anything but I'm not a fan on public displays of affection on my stuff. Now if you'll excuse me I want to get out of this detention." Standing up I grabbed the mop again, finishing off the section before moving off down the hall.

"I still don't get it, why are you angry with me?"

"Because... Just because..." 'because I (might) love you...' I left the rest unsaid, turning my back on the boy who'd caught my eye in less than two hours. Which is how long it took for us to finish cleaning the floors, exhausted and practically unable to remain standing I stumbled outside, heading towards my car. The sun was so close to setting, a few more minutes and it would be dark. Amazing how long it takes to clean floors, especially that front hallway.

"Hey Kankuro." There it was a tiny little voice calling out to me, looking over my shoulder I saw Kiba standing there looking at his shoes, he seemed rather afraid of saying anything to me... This isn't what I wanted, why isn't he laughing and grinning that infectious grin, I'll have to make this right, this has gone too far and in the wrong direction - I just wanted some space from him for a little while, not to completely scare him away from me.

"Yeah Kiba."

"Could you please give me a lift... It's just it's getting dark and I'm not up to walking through this neighbourhood this late." Reaching out a hand I took his, guiding him to the car with a quick pace. "Thank you." He muttered once we where both seated in the front, the engine rumbling to life like a beast.

"It's fine." And that was the last thing said the entire drive, the silence becoming so thick you could separate it with a knife the closer we got to Kiba's house; the boy even seemed to be hyperventilating. Pulling into the his street, a big red truck sat outside his house, Kiba gasped and seemed to sink deeper into the seat, like he was trying to hide. Taking in his fear, I pulled the car off the road on the opposite side of the street, just letting the engine hum around us like an electric blanket. "Tell me what's wrong Kiba."

"It doesn't concern you, thanks for the lift." He muttered trying to get out of the car, only to be stopped by my hand on his arm.

"Kiba... You just tried to vanish into my upholstery, tell me what's the matter." There was a small whine and then I had a lap full of Kiba, tears seeking location in my shirt, his arms locking around my neck, his knees sticking into my arm pits.

"It's my dad... He only shows up once every year so mum took back her maiden name, but he hates us kids. My sisters left home so she doesn't have to worry about him, but he really hates me. I'm... I'm gay Kankuro, and he just hates that."

"But wait you where making out with Sakura earlier."

"Yeah because I need to fake being straight when he's around, when you caught us my dad had just stopped by to check on my grades. I'm so sorry if you assumed I was going out with her. Dad hates homosexuals, and one year he found... found some ah~ stuff, under my bed. He's got a mean streak and a wicked back hand. He bea-" I squeezed the life out of him then, finishing off his sentence with a high pitched squeak.

"I know, I know puppy, it's okay. I've got you, he can't hurt you. Let's get you out of here, okay. You'll stay at my house until he leaves, and tomorrow after the day at the park we'll come back and grab you some stuff. Alright?"

"Okay." He whispered sliding back into his seat as I revved the engine and sped off down the street. The street lights flickered on as I rolled into the drive-way, Kiba looked drained as he pulled himself out of the car, taking his hand gently in mine I guided him into the house.

"Temari I'm home!"

"FOR THE LOVE OF GOD KANKURO WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BE- Oh hello there." Temari calmed down relatively quickly as she saw the other boy hiding behind me, pulling Kiba closer to me I sent my best apologetic look to Temari, Kiba helped in his own little way by shuffling further behind me and tangling his fingers in the cloth of my jacket, his warm body pressing closer to mine - I could almost see his scared bulging eyes from the corner of my own.

"Tem, this is Kiba, he's a friend from school. And at the moment he needs a place to chill for a while. Is it okay if he stays here for a few days...?" Temari sent me her 'I'll-yell-at-you-later.' look before pulling Kiba out from behind me, ignoring the whine the boy gave as he was dragged from behind his protective blanket, I had to resist the urge to reach forward and snatch him back to his previous position, protecting the boy from my sisters... wrath?

"Awe poor boy, I'll cook lasagne tonight in your honour. You can bunk with Kankuro - you! fetch him some toiletries from the spare bathroom, a towel, and get some extra pillows and spread your bed out so you can all fit. Kiba come help me in the kitchen." Temari ordered, dragging him off towards the kitchen while I tried to save him, a futile attempt against my older sister.

TBC...

A/N: Foreshadowing my readers, foreshadowing.