Chapter: Slice of Kiba

A/N: I have no idea where this came from... But it amuses me so I hope you enjoy it as well.

"How did I get stuck with baby shower duties?" Kiba growled while gently stacking boxes of diapers in a corner for a game. "They even roped you into it."

"It can't be helped the ladies are all on missions and Hinata can't do it alone. Come on it isn't like you weren't her maid of honor." Shino supplied very unhelpfully as he finished icing the cake in the kitchen. "They should be home soon enough that you won't have to run the show."

"That was another story entirely I was her MAN of honor because Hanabi wasn't old enough to do it. A baby shower is different, it's a women only event. And even setting up for it makes me feel like a woman."

"Maybe it's because they think your my bitch?" Shino was once again adding unhelpful insight from the kitchen, where Kiba wasn't allowed because he'd mess up the icing. It was common knowledge among the rookie nine that Shino was a better baker than anyone expect maybe Choji. Even then Shino could out decorate Choji with a much more skilled eye. Choji of course had made the cakes and left on the mission with Ino leaving Shino to decorate.

"Who would think that? It would obviously be the other way around." The growl along with that sentence was neither convincing nor truly angry. "You know it would be the other way around." He said again as he sent a feral grin through the doorway into the kitchen.

"That's wishful thinking don't you think?" Shino shot back a small smile on his lips and amusement dancing in his uncovered eyes. After the last time Kiba had 'accidentally' broken his sunglasses he'd stopped wearing them around the other male.

"..." The dog trainer sighed getting back to work counting his loss. He couldn't argue that he was easily whipped by the other man at least not while they were alone, he'd be damned if he let anyone other than Shino know that. He hadn't meant for the bug user to know either but it wasn't easily hidden after Shino took command of their team all those years ago. Deciding it was in his better interests he turned the topic of discussion on to the other male. "You know if you walked around like you are right now you'd have every bitch in the village banging on your door right? Hell probably even give Sasuke a run for his money as the sexiest man in Konoha." He commented taking a sidelong glance at his friend through the doorway, he was fairly certain he'd seen all the girls in town eying the other male lately after Hinata's photo shoot. Which was also the reason for Shino's current clothing choices.

It had been infinitely more expensive and time consuming to acquire a new coat for the bug user than the dog trainer would have thought. But it explained why even with his nose Kiba could never smell the bugs nor much of Shino from a distance. Which meant the normally shy man had resorted to turtle necks and undershirts neither of which were very comfortable together. That left him in his current state of undress wearing a dark forest green tank with a black short sleeved mesh over it. Even the straightest man in Konoha couldn't deny how good Shino looked.

"I'm not looking for anyone weaker than I am." The bug user shot the other a pointed look. "Besides unlike you I have standards that go beyond big and busty." He rolled his eyes cleaning up after himself quickly and efficiently so he could help the brunette set up in the next room. There wasn't much to do and Hanabi was due to arrive shortly. To be fair Kiba had a point but beyond his looks the women were not interested. It was a fact that matter how beautiful his skin looked beneath it ran millions of bugs. That was enough to scare most women and even the few men away even the ones whose attention he'd gained through more than his looks.

"That's a low blow." Kiba pouted for a split second his eyes lingering a little longer than usual on the green orbs peering at him from the kitchen. "I have other standards your just the only one that fits them." He grinned victoriously seeing the light dusting of pale pink on the others cheeks.

"..." It took a moment for the quieter of the pair to think of anything to say. This wasn't the first time Kiba had taken him off guard like that and as a trained shinobi it always left him disoriented. "You know that's not the first time you've said that." He finally replied putting his turtle neck back on. He was not about to be seen in any state of undress by the ladies if he could help it.

"Maybe because I mean it?" Kiba smirked playfully unable to bring himself to confirm or deny it outright. It was a step he refused to take and Shino was too oblivious to notice either way. "When is Hanabi supposed to be here anyway?"

"..." Instead of pressing for the answers he really wanted Shino looked at the clock as he left the kitchen. "She should be here in about fifteen minutes. What's left?"

"Just getting the seating arranged. If it's hard to fit seven women in here I can't imagine how the Hyuuga baby shower can fit ten to twenty. How did she even end up with that many guests?" Kiba began griping again feeling oh so put upon when in honesty he was concerned for his friend. Hinata's family had barely shown up at her wedding for anything but obligation and only a few even supported her choice in husband. But this was different this was a baby if they showed up out of obligation Hinata would stress over her child's acceptance into the clan and always worry.

"Your worrying again." Shino shook his head setting up a few extra chairs. "The Hyuuga like every clan celebrate a child no matter who the parents are. That child will carry the bloodline and they will love them. Even though they barely show it Hinata is loved by her clan. And when it comes time she will inherit everything and they will follow her."

"You say that but you have seen how they are." Kiba shot back defensively this was not their first time disagreeing on the Hyuuga clan's treatment of Hinata.

"Yes but I know they care. Our clans are similar in that aspect." Shino glared at him daring him to say more. It wasn't that he didn't understand his friend's feelings but things in a clan were different. And Kiba should know that.

"I can't help but worry." The dog trainer sighed in defeat he had never won this argument and he didn't expect to now. He couldn't help but worry over their much too mousy teammate even after she had grown a backbone.

"I understand, but trust me she's going to be fine." Shino assured him. "If your not your not convinced ask her how it went when she arrives." He looked around to make sure everything was in order once more before looking over t Kiba and the boxes he had been arranging.

"I just might." Kiba frowned. "By the way are you sure that the game is supposed to look like that?"

"That's what Sakura said..." Shino looked at the towering pile of boxes and wondered if they pinkette had truly lost her mind. "Well maybe it's supposed to be a stacking game?"

"Maybe..."