Author's Note: Sorry for the long wait. I really just couldn't think of a good way for this chapter to go. As always, the story takes time for me to get the kinks out of it. I decided to go for a lighter note at the end for this chapter, with Kiba struggling to understand what is going on. Hope you like it! Forever the writer, ILK13!

Furthermore: oddly, when I finished this chapter I was listening to Carrie Underwood's album Play On, more specifically the song "What Can I Say" for the majority of the writing. When I read through the last bit of the chapter, I can kind of see the influence. Usually the music I am listening to at the time generally doesn't influence what comes out on paper. I guess even I am not beyond that either. I am not beyond a lot of things, though.

Disclaimer: Here is the ending of Naruto: Sasuke is killed, Naruto wins the war, and he marries Hinata. Oh, and I married a frog. True story to the end, as ET2 would say.

Except this one isn't. What does a frog even feel like?

Chapter Eleven

Ino grumbled as a hand shook her shoulder. It shook her again and she mumbled something incoherently. "Ino!" Ino mumbled, this time semi coherently.

"Go…way…ka...ru…" When the hand shook her again, she groaned.

"Ino! It is time for you and Takumi to take watch!" Blinking, she turned and glared at Shikamaru. It wasn't Shikamaru waking her up. She looked around blearily. She saw Ayame swat at Shikamaru, though she was finally roused by some comment the male made. Whatever was said, it made Ayame storm over to the still dead to the world Takumi, who jerked up as Ayame slammed her foot into his side while stripping him of his blanket and pillow. He stood to fight, but froze at the sight of his still pretty sister. Ino glared half-heartedly at the girl who obviously wasn't aware of the unfair advantage she had.

Ino grumbled as she got up, running a brush through her ponytail. She glanced at Takumi, who donned his coat as he watched his sister pull her blanket back over her, heading back to dream land instantly, blissfully unaware of Ino observing the interaction. Shikamaru, happening to be standing in the same state of shock as Ino by Ayame's sleeping spot, chose that moment to look at her. Ino blushed, suddenly embarrassed by her obvious gawking.

Shikamaru came out of his slight fog and moved to his sleeping bag, slipping into the sleep he so wanted for the four hour watch. Takumi was a slight hitch in his plans, but Ayame seemed more than capable of waking the boy up. Personally, he was curious about the boy's ability, but he knew Ino, and knew she would be bursting with anticipation to chatter about it once they reached the Leaf. He would be shocked if she didn't gush about it as soon as the boy was halfway across the village. He left it behind him for now, deciding to sleep instead of think, an impossible feat he hoped to achieve.

Takumi glanced at the tall blonde. He admired her earlier, but he never thought he would actually talk to her. Not that he had yet. Running into his sister deterred his thoughts of flirting with the girl. And while he wanted to watch her as he woke up, he was too busy trying to not be attacked by his sister again. More than anyone else, he feared his sister as though she were the devil. Anyone with a brain would fear her. He was her brother and knew she hated hurting people and animals. Heck, she hated her job! She tried to fail on purpose! Yet she was the most terrifying ninja he would ever know, and not just because she was a girl who was more hormonal than a pregnant dog. She knew how to kill. Not all ninjas were able to set aside, yet at the same time keep in their emotions and feelings about death. You did not anger Shiinume Ayame, Princess of the Shiinume clan. Not if you planned to live into the next day. And Takumi rather valued his life.

As he assumed his station, he looked over at Ino, a few feet from him. She perched on a branch the next tree over. She didn't know that she sat just like Kima-san did, ankles crossed and forearms facing the scene in front of her. Nor did she realize that the shadow guy who just got off watch woke up three times and ended up staring at her before falling asleep. Takumi hopped to sit on the branch next to her.

"Not a sneaky one, are you?" she asked. She kept looking into the trees, not appearing to pay any mind. Takumi wondered if this girl was as airheaded as her hair suggested. He flicked his eyes to the trees surrounding them. I hope those will be enough to keep the Animal at bay. I am just lucky none of them know my ninjutsu… A rustle in the leaves made him clench a fist near his gear pouch. "Only the wind."

Takumi looked at Ino. She smiled quietly. She didn't think it wise for them to be in the same spot, and was about to say so when Shikamaru jumped up. As did the rest of the camp. Takumi leapt from their branch, running full speed towards a corner none of them thought to watch. The ringing noise that alerted all of them – and had Ayame in tears at its pitch – to alertness cut off just moments later. Ayame, however, took off after Takumi, yelling his name. This made the rest run. Ino noted that Shikamaru stayed behind as well.

"Someone has to keep watch here, you know," he said, hiding his face from view. She just looked away and sat down near the fire in the middle of the clearing. Shikamaru lay down on his mat, his bag a pillow.

Ayame ran after Takumi. He was going to get hurt. He didn't know how to be a ninja – outcasts were never taught anything. They were lucky if they went to civilian school. She ignored the heavy footsteps of the group coming after her. She just had to protect Mi-chi. Like she always did. He was Mi-chi. No one messed with her Mi-chi.

"Mi-chi!" Her voice echoed as she skidded into the clearing. Three men, all Animal ninja, lay scatter on the ground around him, unconscious. Another lay dead at the entrance on the opposite side. Ayame looked at her brother, confused.

"Takumi-kun," she breathed. The trees around her looked brushed by chakra, and she didn't want to think about what the bodies of the ninja had been through.

"It looks like a chakra tornado hit." Ayame didn't turn to look at Chouji. She just looked at the markings on the trees before she started to shake, eyes changing. She spun and ran, not sure why she was angry or why she was crying or why she was transforming. All she knew was that she was mad. She needed to run and blow off some steam.

Kiba looked after Ayame and merely saw a blue and lavender tail flicker through the underbrush. He looked back at the boy before running after her. The scared, haunted look in the boy's eyes made Kiba wonder why he hid these skills – and why Ayame was so shocked. The boy obviously needed to defend himself. He couldn't rely on her forever. And she was gone. It was required. He ran until he found her, curled up in a ball, her kekkei genkai shivering. He slowly approached her, kneeling next to her side. She circled and stuffed her head into his shoulder. He felt the wetness through the jacket and pulled her closer, caressing the fur under his hand. The shivering slowed and eventually the dog shifted, the form changing back into the girl he recognized. Who he also never thought knew how to cry until he saw her crying right now.

"Ayame…" The girl buried her head deeper into his shoulder and sobbed silently. Just sobbed.

Kiba tried to ignore the obvious awkwardness that now existed between the two siblings. Even Ino and Shikamaru, who shared a kiss in what had to be the most embarrassing form possible, only topped by Kiba's silencing of Ayame back in the forest just the day previously – he felt that was natural, as it was still a fresh memory – were acting more civilized than these two, and they, too, avoided each other's face like Naruto sought out Sakura. But they had been surpassed by Ayame's unforeseeable anger at the small boy traveling on the exact opposite side of the group. Moving forward, he stayed next to the angry girl, trying to figure out why she was crying so hard. They stayed in that alcove for close to an hour and all that came of it was an eventually dry face, albeit puffed and reddened eyes, and a stony expression for the three hours since. Almost to Konoha, announced by Chouji, who also made an exclamation about Korean Bar-Be-Q, Takumi stopped, causing Emi, who was on Chouji's back, who was right behind the smaller boy, to shriek as the larger one stopped just in time to not crush the boy. Ayame, who Kiba knew was a reason away from snapping at her brother before this, broke.

"Make up your forsaken mind!" Her scream, just outside the gates, barely in sight, attracted every ninja close enough – which made roughly a quarter of the village. Kiba cringed alongside Shikamaru and Ino as he heard the forest go silent at the sound of her voice. The Inuzuka knew instinctively that the screaming girl knew this, only choosing to ignore the signs that maybe she should calm down.

"Ayame…"

"No, he needs to make up his mind. Do you, or do you not, want to go to Konoha? Because we won't stop them from questioning you. Maybe you have some secrets. Like some crazy ninja skills you obviously didn't tell our home village, or else they would have locked you up years ago." Ayame stopped talking, breathing hard as she tried to calm herself, struggling to get out of Kiba's arms.

As he held her, his hands refusing to let her loose to charge up to her brother, she felt herself breaking down. Her baby brother was deadly. The squealing pup that came crying to her every time a bug climbed up the rubber on his shoe managed to take out four of the Anbu in her village. She slumped against Kiba, who in turn maneuvered her to ride on his back as he decided to take her ahead. At the gate, the jonin glanced at her before greeting him.

"Nothing is out there. She just decided to scream her lungs out at the worse possible spot." The ninja relaxed slightly, clearly trusting his word. Kiba shook his head and Ayame wrapped her arms around firmly around his neck. Unable to handle the stress on her brain anymore, she fell into a stupor.

Kiba piddled around in his room as Ayame slept, wishing he was grateful she wasn't awake to drag him around the town. But he wasn't. And he was madder at himself over this little fact than of anything else. Finally having had enough of the sitting around, he stood, spooking the three dogs lazing next to him with his abrupt action, determined to do something with the day. Leaving a note, he slipped out the door, his canine companion not batting even an eyelash at his owner's somewhat erratic behavior.

Running around the park, and down an old path, he concentrated on keeping Ayame out of his mind for more than three seconds at a time. It came to his attention during this mission, when they were trapped by the Animal Ninja, and when he let instinct take over in the forest two days before, that his focus was coming undone. Normal behavior seemed to take a giant leap into missing nin territory, probably kicking back with Uchiha right about now. Not realizing the time, he kept up his pace, determined to not slow down. His feet led him to the trail that made a snake just inside the village, and he stopped, looking around him.

Long time since I took this trail… Starting up again, he imagined taking Ayame around this trail, around spring time, when everything was in bloom and pretty. Kiba ran a little bit faster, scolding himself on the fact that he yet again had Ayame in his mind. When he made it back to the family compound, he poured sweat and succeeded in only kicking the girl out of his mind for less time than he had the first time around. Breathing hard and wiping his forehead, Kiba looked at the house and saw Ayame standing on the small porch behind his room. She was staring at him, emotional state clouded by the shade that hid her face, making him all the more curious to her thoughts, Kiba climbed up the steps and sat down on the porch, feet on the middle step. Almost cautiously, she seemed to decide to sit next to him, half a foot away, scooting a little further away. Kiba laughed.

"What? Do I smell?" Ayame looked at him with confused eyes. Then sniffed. Kiba moved closer, almost touching her before she scooted farther away, a smile struggling to slip to her lips. She fought to keep it down.

"Eww! You're gross!" When she couldn't move farther, she stood and ran into the small yard. Kiba stood just as quickly and chased her, a little boy with a frog chasing his crush. He caught her, hugging her, sweat and all. She squirmed, shouting about unhealthy and disgusting contact. Eventually she gave up, slumping. He hugged her closer, and she whined, but stopped when he nuzzled her neck.

Boldly, she turned around, Kiba still trapping her in his arms of sweat, and kissed him on his confused face. Stiff at first, it didn't take long for the boy to respond, tentatively kissing her back, almost shy. Slipping her arms around his neck, she tilted her head slightly, deepening the kiss, testing out the limits he had. Hands slipping down to her hips, Kiba pulled her closer, slowly moving them from the center of the yard. Still moving, he pulled away for a second to breath before kissing her again as they reached the porch. Leaning against the porch, he pulled her as close as he could, their mouths dancing in a dance she was all too willing to participate. The dance their lips were creating would have lasted longer had they not been interrupted by a loud shout from someone behind her. Instantly jerking apart, both looked and saw Naruto and Ino, staring in shock.

"Kiba! You have a girlfriend?" Naruto questioned, as if this were not possible.

"Is that all you have been doing since we got back from this mission?" Ino exclaimed, as if they were nothing but hormonal and didn't think sleep was important. Both teenagers bristled.

"Why would it be so weird for him to have a girlfriend?" Ayame questioned the blond. Kiba, however, glared at Ino.

"What do you think I am? A hormonal idiot? I have better things to do with my morning, too, you know!" Both ignored the insinuations made by both comments.

"So you two are dating?" Ino asked, not ignoring the insinuation.

"So kissing her is not something you want to do?" Naruto asked.

"N-n-no. Why would you think we are dating?" Ayame stuttered.

"I didn't say – I mean, I enjoy – Naruto!" Kiba flustered.

Suddenly realizing that the sweat was starting to cake on him, Kiba turned to the house, bolting to the shower before anyone can stop him. This left her alone to fight the fire he created. Suddenly bright red, she mumbled something about being hungry.

"Oh! You can come with us to Ichiraku then! We came by to invite both of you. But then we found you eating face, sort of like Shikamaru was with Ino when I went to invite both of them." Ayame looked to Ino, eyes glittering with blackmail. The girl sent unseen death glares to her blond companion.

"Thank you. I might just do that." Ayame giggled as she went inside to freshen up before putting on sandals and change into shorts, her gear on her hip.

Once in the room she was in the night previously, she strangled a scream and turned to walk into the wall.

"What the!" She heard behind her. Peeking behind her, she covered her eyes.

"Tell me when you're decent!" A few minutes later, she heard his okay and turned to see him shirtless, wearing dirt-worn jeans and converse. A towel on his head, he vigorously rubbed his hair dry before dropping the towel on the footboard and grabbing the shirt. She changed her clothes quickly as he turned to fetch a different shirt from his drawers. When he turned, he almost started as she tugged down the tank and headed out the door pulling his sweatshirt on – which he didn't bother correcting as her as he was just happy that she was pulling on more cloth protection than the normal spaghetti strap shirt that barely covered her torso.

"Where are you going?" he asked, making her pause in the hall just outside his door.

"Ichiraku with Ino and Naruto. He invited me to join them. I think Shikamaru is going as well."

"I'll come, too," he said, following her as she continued down the hall.

She stepped out into the yard and Naruto, who had been busy chatting with the platinum blond that accompanied him, turned and stared, open mouthed. Kiba, who followed her outside still tugging on his shirt, glared at the blond, but didn't say anything.

Stepping down the steps, he walked past her, puzzling at their issue of happening to walk in on each other in less than decent stages of dress. He was not expecting her to come into the room as he was about to pull on boxers. Ino watched him with a smirk.

"Don't trust us?" she questioned. Kiba sent a foul look at her.

"No, just thought ramen sounded good when I asked where she was going." He continued down the walk the path that lead to the street, leaving the other three to run to catch up to him.

Ayame, the quickest, caught up to him, admiring from just behind him his shirt and wondering why he changed his mind three times. The midnight blue sweater over a white t-shirt made him look like he had his sister buying his closet. Wondering why he seemed to be able to do anything, she sped to walk next to him.

"Kiba!" she bugged, poking him in the arm every few seconds. He looked down at her, curious and annoyed at the same time. Grinning, she poked his arm even faster. Getting tired of it, he shoved her gently, grinning as she stumbled.

"Hey!"

"Hey!" he responded mockingly. Ayame pouted as she poked him in the arm again. Grabbing her hand, Kiba refused to let go of either one of the hands he trapped, walking backwards to keep from tripping.

Neither noticed Ino or Naruto watching them, sending glances at each other as they tried to figure out just what the heck was happening between the two dog clanned ninja. I guess even Kiba can flirt with girls…I am comparing him to Shika and Naruto, though, so it doesn't say much. Neither has shown much more promise with the female variety.