Kemono no Shi: The Death of a Monster

By: Abhorson
Chapter #11
Rating: M; For Harsh Language and Sexual Themes

Disclaimer: Naruto © Kishimoto Masashi and Shueisha 1999

Summary: Kiba and Shino endure the daily tribulations of Konoha Chuunin. Unbeknownst to them, their relationship is slowly, but surely, progressing into something more than friendship. Set in time gap. ShinoKiba; Shounen-Ai; Yaoi; Strong Language.

BYBN: Since my ending notes are getting so long, I figured I would crop off the top a little.

Juuissatsu: Ikaga desu ka? Sore ga Itami.

----

A Murder of One

----

Kiba yawned, turning into yet another circular path around the newly crowded streets of Kirigakure, checking the time every so often with the position of the sun.

"Time goes by slow when you don't want it to, eh, Akamaru?"

When Kiba did not receive a reply, his feet ceased their movement and he turned around slowly, looking back to where Akamaru had been trailing prior.

"Akamaru!" He called, cupping his hands to his mouth, and backtracked propagandawillbrainwashusall at a sprint. As he turned back around the street corner from which he had came, he was jerked back suddenly, something catching his arm in mid-run.

"What do you want?" Kiba asked dryly, after recovering from his initial surprise, noticing how quickly his tone turned sour. …And he had been in such a good mood.

"Hello to you too, Kiba."

"Did I say that you could address me so casually, Madarame?"

"Oh. So you remember my surname?"

"Unfortunately."

Madarame Kozuka smiled malignantly.

"I'm sorry if I caught you at a bad time, I was hoping that you would have a drink with me. You've only just arrived, and have yet to see Kirigakure's…hospitality."

Kiba's eyebrows rose.

"Not a chance."

Kiba pulled his arm from Kozuka's grip roughly, starting back down the street, hoping to find Akamaru so that he could get the hell out of dodge as soon as possible. However, he only treaded a few steps, before Kozuka spoke again.

"Are you certain? We've just received news from Konoha. I'm sure it's something you'd die to hear."

-

Kiba scowled, falling to a sitting position before a short table, a square of cloth cushioning his knees where they fell. Kozuka smiled smugly, resting his chin in his palm as soon as he had seated himself also, across from Kiba.

The Inuzuka immediately regretted accepting Kozuka's invitation to 'have a drink,' as the tables around the two almost instantaneously filled. Apparently, Kozuka was discernibly popular around this city. Not that Kiba gave a flying fuck as to the reason why. The only notion that currently grasped his attention was the possibility of wringing all of the information that he could from Kozuka.

Kiba waited somewhat patiently, his eyebrows furrowed as he sat, blatantly staring at Kozuka as the kiri-nin blinked, feigning innocence.

The teal-haired mist shinobi insisted that they order a large bottle of sake as soon as an unfortunate server crossed to their table. Kiba, minding the fact that he was far underage, disregarded the waiter completely, waiting for the confused man to leave before he uncrossing his arms.

"You're terribly uptight, aren't you?" Kozuka stated in a bored fashion, meeting Kiba's gaze unblinkingly. His question was disregarded.

"Are you gonna tell me, or what? I don't mind beating it out of you."

Something about the other's sardonic grin succeeded in setting Kiba off.

"That's what I mean. Perhaps I would be more willing to converse with you if only you acted more…agreeably."

Kiba scowled, lifting a hand in order to present his middle finger, but was interrupted as their server returned.

Kozuka grinned, ringing a bottle of sake around its neck with his fingers as it was set before him.

"Sake?" Kozuka asked slyly, knowing that Kiba would not adamantly refuse as he had done before. When the Inuzuka did not make any move to reply, Kozuka shrugged, pouring a bit of sake into two square, wooden cups, and set one in front of the other male. Kozuka sipped gingerly, his eyes never leaving the Leaf-nin who sat tensely.

"About Konoha…" Kiba initiated pointedly.

Taking yet another sip, Kozuka nodded. "Ahh yes…this Konoha business. Your little friend Shino was called out to battle, while you remain here. Isn't that right? Terribly unfortunate."

Kiba's eyes narrowed, gesticulating for the older nin to continue.

"It appears, that in fact, Konoha has been attacked by none other than Kusa no Kuni-"

"The Grass Country?" Kiba started, interrupting Kozuka mid-sentence.

"Indeed." Kozuka stated, frowning. "If you would let me finish…Most of the grass countries' forces are comprised of a bug-using clan, called the Yuuwaku. Perhaps it is one of the reasons Shino was called back, without you. Then again, I don't expect they would have brought you back even if it hadn't been a group of ninja with specialized abilities." Kozuka smiled darkly, intertwining his fingers as he laid his hands upon his lap.

Kiba soon registered the fact that nothing Kozuka said would in part bring merit to him in any way. So he resolved inwardly that he would attempt to remain undeterred, and try to simply disregard the other's comments.

"And…do you have any news that actually involves Shino?" He urged, turning his gaze to the small cup positioned before him. He gripped it decisively, downing the bit of sake in one go. Before responding, Kozuka leisurely refilled the Inuzuka's cup.

"As a matter of fact, I do."

Kiba downed his second cup, waiting for the other to continue.

"He's been fighting at the outer wall. I've heard, exclusively, that his clan plans to use him directly in order to stop the whole skirmish. The Grass, of course, hasn't actually made it into the city." He frowned.

"Oh no…nothing can tarnish the great Konoha…" Kozuka added as an afterthought, swirling the contents of his cup absentmindedly, before taking a sip.

-
-

Shino frowned wearily, retreating from the front line as another Konoha ninja came to take his position. Dropping from the tall outer wall, he stayed in a crouch for a brief moment, inspecting a contusion to his arm where he had constantly been blocking punches and kicks of all variety. Other wounds that he had accumulated were minimal, so he did not feel the need to seek out any medic ninja that happened to be floating passed.

To any other ninja, the turmoil within the Aburame Ichizoku might have seemed manic, or even chaotic, ninja scrambling in alarm; while in fact they traveled in an organized mass, hurrying to make preparations for both current and upcoming battles.

'Like a colony of ants.' Shino thought as soon as he stepped into that united mass, a hand lying to rest on his shoulder almost instantaneously.

"Shino." The young Aburame looked up to meet the solemn expression of his father. "It's almost time." Shibi stated, handing his son an antibiotic ointment for his smaller abrasions. Shino accepted the medicine, following his father deeper into the Aburame compound, and eventually into his own household.

Bypassing the rooms that were used on a regular basis, Shino was led into a back room of his large house, one that he did not deem fit to visit often. Hung upon the large back wall, an enlarged makimono was placed; the only other item occupying space being a brush and thin bottle of ink, laid upon a small ceremonial table. Shibi crossed the room, not minding formality as he swiftly pulled the scroll from the wall, laying it horizontally across the floor. Subsequent to a swift movement, the makimono lay partially unrolled, the older Aburame calling his son over to him without pause.

Shino complied, crouching beside his father.

"Here." Shibi dictated, gesturing to his son as to where he should sign. Shino nodded, pulling a kunai from his pouch deftly, he cut a slit across his index finger unflinchingly. Reaching forward, he started drawing out the kanji of his surname, and eventually the katakana of his given name. Shibi nodded.

"You remember what I have taught you?"

Shino nodded in affirmation.

"Good." Shibi attempted some awkward semblance of a smile, urging Shino to stand with a slight tap to the back.

Shino stood, only to sit back down a moment later at the small table centered within the room. Sitting beside his son, Shibi pulled a small bundle of tags from within his jacket. Separating a single slip from the rest, he laid it on the low ebony table. He then proceeded to lift the long-handled brush from its horizontal stand, dipped it into the ink which had been opened prior, and began to write quickly, his swift strokes procuring intricate characters. Once he had filled the entirety of the small sheet, he held it by a corner, turning to Shino.

"Your wrists." He stated plainly. Shino agreed silently, shifting in his position so that he was free to roll up the sleeves of his large jacket. Once his arms were substantially uncovered, he balled his fists, holding them out to his father.

Pinching each end of the note, Shibi fed a small amount of chakura into his fingertips, the characters written upon the tag glowing briefly. He proceeded to wrap it around Shino's right wrist as far as it could stretch, the paper sticking to Shino's pale skin without adhesive. Turning back to the table, the two Aburame repeated the process until both of Shino's wrists were substantially covered.

The two exited the large room before speaking.

"You must give the tags time to set. Rest well, and I will awaken you at the peak of activity in the morning, when you will be most needed." Shibi left his son quickly, most likely in order to tend to something regarding his frenzied clan.

Shino headed to his bedroom without a second thought. He yearned for a shower, anything that would cleanse the few exposed portions of his body of dirt and blood. However, he knew that his father would not advise it. He shouldn't risk tampering with the seals encircling his forearms. Instead, he carefully stripped himself of the clothes guarding his upper body, lying down flatly upon his bed, his arms spread wide.

Knowing evidently that sleep was futile, as adrenaline still pumped within his blood, Shino's thoughts left his own person, venturing outside the gates of Konoha, to where a mass of ninja were caught in a seemingly endless clash.

'They are fools to think they could possibly contest the Aburame.' Shino thought sourly, aiming his frustration at the weak group of supposed bug users launching attacks at Konoha without fruition.

Even further than the borders of Konohagakure, Shino pictured his singular male teammate, most likely outdoors, walking with Akamaru, or something of that sort. Smiling…

Shino turned onto his side restlessly. No matter how many times he had gone on solo missions, or jobs with his father, it still felt vaguely odd to encounter battle without either of his teammates at his side. He had so thoroughly gotten used to coexisting with Kiba after leaving the academy. It wasn't as if he would ever admit interdependence with anything besides his kikaichuu…however…

-

In the spite of Shino's implemented mental picture of a frivolous Inuzuka, Kiba growled, jerking his head back from where his forehead had decidedly stuck itself to his table's surface.

"What time is it?" Kiba asked, his voice slurring slightly. Kozuka seemingly snapped from the daze he had slouched into.

"Late." He said matter-of-factly, watching Kiba as the Inuzuka rubbed his shoulder absentmindedly.

"No shit?" Kiba stated noncommittally, reminded of the company in which he currently sat. He gazed around, noticing how only a few tables around them remained occupied. Rubbing his eye with the heel of his palm, Kiba stood up slowly. "This was a waste of time." He frowned, stepping forward experimentally. Finding that he could support himself well enough, Kiba started out of the restaurant, receiving no complaint from the mist ninja who still sat. Managing to exit the restaurant, Kiba was surprised to find Akamaru outside, the large dog curled next to the bar's entrance.

"Akamaru." Kiba called, his voice hoarse for some reason he was not sure of. Akamaru stood immediately, greeting his master with excitement. The Inuzuka mounted quickly, trusting himself to be able to hold onto the dog's fur until they reached his temporary residence.

Once inside, Kiba let himself collapse onto his bed, something that he had grown accustomed to, but usually was only the result of a long mission, or any strongly disproportionate emotion; which in his case would usually be anger or aggravation.

"Ikaga desu ka, Shino?"

'How are you feeling, Shino?'

"Sore itami."

He frowned into the sleeve of his jacket as he brought his arm up to lay across his head. He hated everything about his current situation. The setting, the circumstances…the people. Not a single familiar face in the whole country.

Kiba closed his eyes, falling into a sleep which he expected to be both restless and ineffective.

----

YAY! NOTHING HAPPENED!

A Murder of One: A large group of crows is called a murder. So, if one was to insinuate that there were a 'murder of one', it would be the same thing as saying 'a pack with one wolf.' I chose this title, because I was trying to infer how Kiba and Shino are separated, sort of, missing their other half, or…usual grouping. I dunno. It's weird.
Kusa no Kuni: I'm not sure that this is the proper name for the Grass Country. I can't recall how Kishimoto-dono has named it. Maybe there is a reason for that?
Ikaga desu ka? Sore ga Itami: How do you feel? It aches.

Noteworthy: Urghh…I apologize unreservedly for the overdose of OC. It's only while Shino is gone, I promise. I'm trying to purvey the length in which Shino is absent as smoothly as possible, instead of just skipping around in time to result in him coming back immediately. That would be quite boring. Well, at least I happen to think so. -snigger- Shibi is taller that Shikaku and Inoichi. (The Rin no Makimono data book is so awesome!)

Abhorson: Slow update due to rabid Bleach reading spree. 237 chapters in three days. (Plus Naruto recuperation time.). The first version of this chapter had so many errors (not that it doesn't still). I corrected the more noticeable ones.

I wonder how long this story is going to go on for…With nothing good happening…