A/N: Kishimoto owns all things Naruto. I love all things Naruto. We should be friends.
I've missed getting to write this story. Hope you enjoy, friends!
Double or Nothing
Chapter Twelve: Buying in
Part II
In poker and gaming "buying in" is the process of entering a tournament that requires an up-front payment.
Kiba pulled into the KPD off-site garage, per Morino's instructions. He glanced at the clock on the dash. Tenten shouldn't be done quite yet; he had time. He wasn't sure what he thought about Tenten being put on the day shift, but he was glad she'd have the day off today and partially tomorrow. Lee promised to make sure she got rest. Nara said Chōji would give her a ride home, especially since her car was "in need of repairs." Kiba smirked at that. That sounded like Ibiki.
"Speak of the devil," he mumbled. He climbed out of his SUV and found the bear of a Captain waiting for him.
Kiba smirked and jerked his head to a familiar and slightly pathetic looking vehicle. "What is Tenten's car doing in here?"
"Some unexpected repairs," Ibiki said dismissively, ignoring Kiba's knowing grin. He turned and looked at the inventory of cars and then back to Kiba's current mode of transportation.
"I think we can put you in something similar with better equipment," the older man said. "I don't want you seen in anything that can be traced back to you, specifically. First, that blows your cover. Second, that could jeopardize more officers as well as Hana and Tsume."
Kiba snorted. "There isn't a force alive that can jeopardize Tsume."
"True," Ibiki nodded. "That part is to avoid any legal action."
"She's retired," Kiba arched an eyebrow.
"You think that matters?"
"Point taken," Kiba allowed. "So how deep is this cover?" he asked, leaning back against his SUV. "Changing apartments?"
Ibiki gave a curt nod. "Most likely. I'm meeting with the other Captains and Kakashi later on today, and I will know more then. I'd suggest keeping a low profile. Avoid being seen in or around your apartment for the next 24 hours. We don't know enough about the players in the game to rule out you being followed or watched."
Kiba grimaced, knowing that an Ibiki 'suggestion' was pretty much an 'order,' but that it made sense. "I have been on night shifts since I moved in there," he rubbed the back of his neck. "Not many people in the building, and I'm on the first floor. I think I've seen my neighbors only a handful of times. They'd probably recognize Akamaru more than me. In fact," he half smirked, "I know that is true. The two or three times I've seen them out when he wasn't with me, they didn't recognize me at all."
"That is a good thing," Ibiki allowed. "Guy has offered us one of the apartments above the YOUTH center. He said there is also one more in the Dojo."
"Seems like a bad idea to put me closer to Lee and Tenten," Kiba frowned. "Aren't we trying to keep people away from them?"
"Yes. However, the underground garage is secured and there are other security measures in place. The apartments above the YOUTH center are more like hotel rooms. Guy has them for when he runs camps. Currently, there are no other residents, so no visibility issues. There are public entrance points to the center itself, so if you are seen entering or leaving it isn't as big of a deal. The security is also an added benefit. However," he scratched his chin. "There are times we will want you to be seen; to establish that you live elsewhere. For that, we will probably use Chinatown."
Kiba looked up, curious. "Chinatown?"
"Ah," Ibiki confirmed. "We have several safe-houses there. It is the best place to be seen by all of the wrong kinds of people, which, in this case are also the right kind of people."
Kiba laughed. "So I'm guessing not the quaint 'Little City' district."
"Right," Ibiki's mouth twitched ever so slightly in amusement. The 'Little City' district was fast becoming a high-end, revitalized area where the New Year's celebrations took place. The old Konoha Observatory had recently been restored, and the entire area was becoming more popular. The locals managed to keep enough of the feel of their town, though, pushing developers to revitalize extant buildings rather than to build new, as they kept trying to do. Even the seedier areas were under consideration for revitalization. It wasn't the roughest part of Konoha, but there were some very shady areas. Not to say there wasn't an underground element to the area – there certainly was; it was just that the main trade wasn't the usual extortion or drugs. It was information. If they wanted him seen, and his name circulated in the right circles, this was the place.
"So…go pack?" he asked.
"No," Ibiki shook his head. "If it comes to that, we'll get someone else on it. Don't go back before we send you."
"Alright," he pushed away from the SUV and stretched, before pounding his fist on his shoulder a couple of times. "If you're switching me out," he said, "then put Tenten in this," he jerked his head to the SUV. "She's taking Akamaru and Pakkun; she won't have room in her car. If by some chance they track the title back, at least it won't take them right to her door."
Ibiki thought about that. "Might make more sense," he agreed. "You think Karashi or Ami would recognize it?"
Kiba shook his head. "This model is pretty standard, so I doubt it. The modifications I made for Akamaru aren't obvious. I think they were just impressed by a big black vehicle."
"Nothing says gullible like taking rides from strangers," Ibiki scoffed. "Let's go with that plan. That spares us from having to upgrade her equipment. We'll switch the license plates."
"Fine," Kiba agreed, offering Ibiki the keys. "If she – no- when she fights – remind her that this vehicle was fitted to act as a backup K-9 unit, and while I'm gone, she's essentially just that. Also-"
"You have a lot of instructions, Inuzuka."
He froze.
Both men turned to see a very tired Tenten arching an eyebrow at them. Kiba was surprised to see her out of uniform, and unsurprised that she looked like she was one meal away from crashing. Akamaru trotted over to Kiba and sat by him, happily as she crossed her arms and sighed. "You taking me to breakfast, or what?"
Kiba crossed his arms. "Depends," he looked her up and down, coolly. "Are you going to cooperate with Ibiki?"
"I always cooperate with Ibiki," she snorted. "He's bigger than me."
Kiba held her gaze, Akamaru looked to her expectantly, Pakkun sat on her foot, and Ibiki's face was a blank slate.
"Fine," she muttered. "I'll do it for Akamaru." There was a nudge at her leg, and she looked down before adding. "And Pakkun. Happy?" she looked both to the men and the dog on her foot. She could swear that Pakkun gave a satisfied nod.
"Good," Kiba smiled.
"So where to?" she asked Ibiki.
"Home," he instructed her. "Rest up. You will be contacted with any relevant information. Get some sleep and stay in your apartment."
"Sure," she shrugged, and held her hands out for the keys. "I can do that."
"I know you can," Ibiki deadpanned. "But I doubt you will. Inuzuka," he looked back to Kiba who raised eyebrows in response. "You will accompany the officer home. Lee is to make sure that both of you stay put and get some rest." He held up one hand before any protest could be made. "This is a reciprocal assignment. Lee already opened the other apartment so you can stay there today," he said to Kiba. "We leave in ten."
"We?" Tenten asked.
"Yes," Ibiki folded his arms. "We. You look unfit to drive, and we don't want Inuzuka to be seen. The windows in back are dark enough. I just need ten minutes to switch the plates. One of my men can replace the title and insurance information."
"You're staying, too?" Tenten's expression was somewhere between pained and incredulous. "At what point was it decided I needed a babysitter?"
Ibiki put his hands up, in what should have been a surrender, but really looked more like he was blockading any further protest. "I'm doing a fast security sweep with another agent. We'll be gone within 20 minutes of arrival."
She narrowed her eyes and began to reply when her phone buzzed.
"Excuse me," she muttered, and moved away to take the call.
Kiba looked over at Ibiki warily. "You and another officer?" he asked in a tone that caught Ibiki's attention.
"Yes."
"Any chance it won't be Sai?" he muttered.
Ibiki arched an eyebrow. "Any reason it shouldn't be?"
Kiba flexed a muscle in his jaw. He wasn't sure that "I'd still like to put my fist through his face" was the best answer to give, even if it was the most honest.
"I was with Nara earlier." Ibiki said coolly "Sai came to us with some interesting information, and a request that you be assigned to any relevant assignments coming from that information." He raised his eyebrows to Kiba "Is that going to be a problem, Officer?"
Kiba met his look dead on. Their silent exchange lasted only a few seconds, but there was enough said. "No, Sir."
"Good," Ibiki grunted, looking past him and waving a hand to several officers that had just come down. Ibiki handed the keys over to one of the men in a mechanic's uniform. "I need to leave in ten," he said.
"Yes, sir," the man answered, and he drove it to a nearby auto bay where four or five men swarmed over the car, and several were under it, checking tires and the oil and everything else.
"Wow. When'd you get a pit crew, Inuzuka?"
Kiba smirked at Tenten. "I know, right? Who says being in the KPD doesn't have its perks?"
Tenten yawned widely. "Well, if we are going to be a minute, I'm headed to the little officer's room. Be right back."
"Here," he stepped forward and lifted her bags off of her shoulder, and after taking her big duffel, handed back her trusty backpack. "I'll hold this."
"Thanks," she tried not to yawn. "I knew I kept you around for a reason."
"I did wonder," half of his mouth hitched up into a smirky grin. "Get going."
"Fine, fine," she rolled her eyes at him and went back the way she came, with Pakkun trotting behind her.
Ibiki's face was unchanged when Kiba turned back to face him. "So did Nara fill her in last night?" he asked quietly.
"Uchiha did," Ibiki crossed his arms again – his normal stance.
Kiba swallowed an irrational reaction and answered coolly, "Sasuke did?"
"Itachi," Ibiki corrected. "He filled her in on the way to the hospital."
Kiba arched an eyebrow. "Why Itachi? I understand working with Nara to liaise with the military, but she is still KPD."
"He volunteered. We were all focused on last night's mission. Good job, by the way," he added. "You got their attention. They want to know more about you."
"That was the plan," Kiba said wryly. "What is the feedback from your all-knowing all-seeing Suna connection?"
"They are still analyzing all of the data. Nara expects to hear more before the meeting with Kakashi, and once a strategy is solidified, you will be given more information on your cover and where we will station you."
Kiba arched an eyebrow. "Will there be something in place by tonight?" he asked. "Or do I just sneak home?"
"Something will be in place," Ibiki allowed. "I'm not sure what, yet. Worst come to worst, there is always the military barracks or the academy dorm. Both Guy and Itachi can arrange for transportation and access, if it becomes an issue." When Kiba cringed, Ibiki continued, "Both Shikamaru and Sasuke affirmed that Ami wouldn't be opposed to housing you."
"No thanks," Kiba shuddered – even though he knew Ibiki wasn't serious. "I think I'd rather take my chances sleeping on a bus. Naked."
"Always an option," Ibiki shrugged his massive shoulders, "but hardly the way to keep your cover."
"Still a better option," Kiba grimaced.
"I did hear she was persistent," Ibiki said casually.
"I left when she was in the bathroom," Kiba said flatly. "Between deflecting her invitations, and keeping her from inviting herself to go with me, I had a busy night." He began to look at the barracks and dorms in a new light. "Maybe military grade protection isn't such a bad idea," he muttered to himself.
"Can't handle it?" Ibiki's tone was aloof, but his eyes snapped with amusement.
"I can handle it," Kiba pressed his lips into a hard line. "Just make sure I have a place to go, and a fast way to get there."
"Understood."
"Anything more about the families or their potential targets?" Kiba asked crossing his arms.
Ibiki glanced up and saw Tenten returning. "We'll discuss that later," he said vaguely.
Kiba wasn't sure he liked the sound of that.
Akamaru perked up and headed over to Tenten, and she ruffled his ears. She leaned a hip against him; she was getting tired. "Before I forget," she looked up at Ibiki. "I'm meeting Karashi at his restaurant tomorrow at 14:00. We're picking up the meeting that someone interrupted," she mock sighed at Kiba.
Kiba gave a grunt of dismissal, but felt nothing playful about it. Luckily, Tenten was watching Ibiki.
"And it is just me, and the restaurant is closed," she added. "Tell Nara he can keep his equipment out of my bra."
Ibiki arched an eyebrow and Kiba didn't know whether to sigh, grimace, or give her a high five.
"I'm serious," she narrowed her eyes. "My phone should be fine."
"We'll see," Ibiki said noncommittally. Kiba really liked the guy.
"Are we splitting up?" she asked, adjusting her bag on her shoulder and looking between Ibiki and Kiba.
Ibiki checked his watch, and then pulled out his phone.
"Yes," he said, scrolling through screens before pocketing the phone again. "We will take two vehicles to the dojo. Neither of you will drive."
As if on cue, one of Ibiki's agents trotted over. "Everything is done," he assured him. He handed Kiba a large ziplock bag with all of his documents and the few personal belongings he had in his vehicle, and checked something off on his clipboard. He continued to speak while leafing through the pages in his hand. "The paperwork is in the glove compartment. License plates and vin tags switched out. Registered to Inuzuka Tenten."
Kiba quirked an eyebrow, and Tenten blinked twice. "Come again?" she asked, keeping her voice even.
The man blinked, looked back at the paperwork in his hand and flushed. "Sorry, sorry- I was looking at the original title and the replacement one at the same time, and I sorta switched the names, and, er…" he looked up nervously and swallowed. "So, yeah," he quickly looked back at his clipboard, cheeks burning red. "Registration to Konoha Tenten instead of Inuzuka Kiba."
"Huh. Maybe Naruto was on to something, after all," a voice drawled behind them.
Kiba looked sharply over Tenten's head to the speaker, while she turned and put her hands on her hips. "Shut up, Genma. Or no senbon for you. Ever."
"Harsh," he grinned, clearly unrepentant. "Is that any thanks to give one of the four police officers that had to hang out at the pub last night watching over your roommate, and will probably be there again tonight?"
"Those poor other officers," she said flatly, and ignoring the jibe. "How did they get stuck with you?"
He smirked, the senbon in his mouth switching to the other side. "All hands on deck, when it comes to nailing who went after Kakashi. Could've used a better pool game, though," he sighed, putting his hands in his pockets. "Asuma is good but rusty, and Hayate has another one of his colds with the most annoying cough in the world."
"You'll go back tonight?" she asked.
"Beats sitting home and watching cable," he shrugged. He looked at Ibiki. "Ready to head out?"
"Yes," he plucked the paperwork out of the hands of the man that was trying to look as small as possible (and who beat a hasty retreat as soon as he could). "Take Officer Inuzuka and the K-9's," he handed Genma the keys. "Officer Tenten and I shall follow directly."
Genma jerked a head to Kiba. "Let's go."
"Ah." Kiba opened the door for the dogs. Akamaru bounded in, but Pakkun didn't budge. Kiba just barely managed not to groan.
Tenten looked down at the small dog. "Go on," she urged him. "I'll be alright." The dog seemed to consider this before trotting over and sitting in front of the passenger door of the car.
Kiba raised an eyebrow and muttered "Unbelievable," before opening the passenger door to allow Pakkun to hop up and sit primly in the front seat. Kiba shut the door and climbed in back with Akamaru, pausing only to give Ibiki and Tenten a nod before closing the door. Ibiki gave them a five minute head start before pulling his car out of the garage.
"You've done really well," he said, keeping his eyes on the road.
Tenten also looked ahead. "Oh?"
"I read the reports; I even spoke with Hana. You didn't break with Kakashi."
"No," she said, watching the snowy streets flick by. "I guess I didn't."
"Given the potential for triggers, that is telling."
"Hm."
Silence settled between them.
"You only have about a year left, Tenten." Ibiki said as they neared the dojo.
"Yeah," she nodded. "One year left."
"Uchiha is pleased with your progress. He filled you in on everything, I assume."
"He filled me in," she allowed. "But it is Uchiha we are talking about. Is it ever 'everything' with him?"
Ibiki's stony expression twitched into what might have passed for a hint of a smirk, if you squinted with one eye open.
"He always gives all of the needed relevant information."
"So… no," Tenten grumbled.
And so did her stomach.
This time Ibiki really did smirk, and she looked wryly down at herself. "You cheated me out of breakfast, you know," she said casually.
"I know better than to keep you from food," he said seriously. "It's been taken care of."
Tenten's stomach grumbled again. "I sure hope so," she muttered.
They pulled into the underground parking area through the YOUTH! Center entrance. The dojo was next to the youth center, but they shared the garage. Ibiki navigated to the far end of the lot reserved for drop-offs to the dojo. Tenten fished a remote out of her bag, and the gate separating the smaller, private area opened. Ibiki navigated the turn into the lot and parked next to Kiba's SUV. He appreciated that the vehicles in this area couldn't be seen from the main garage. There was a separate gated exit as well, but if they did need to send Inuzuka here in a pinch, it would appear as if he were simply going to the YOUTH! Center, and not to the dojo. He had to give credit to Guy. He had been very shrewd when designing the layout of the building.
Tenten yawned as she punched her code into the small elevator. There was a large service elevator to the dojo as well for transporting equipment and the like, but it was usually locked and she never used it. She was surprised to see a fretting Lee waiting for her when they stepped out.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"Kiba," he said, frowning. "I… I tried to get the apartment ready for him, but I seem to have gone overboard."
Tenten gave a knowing nod. "Bleach?"
"Yes," Lee grimaced. "I forgot how sensitive he is to smell. I invited him over to my apartment, but-"
"Curry?" Tenten sighed.
"….Yeah," Lee said sheepishly.
"So he is...?"
"In your apartment," Lee winced. "I am afraid that the other area won't, um, air out for a while."
Tenten had no doubt. Lee was a positive demon when it came to cleaning. The apartment was no doubt immaculate, but would reek of straight bleach for days. This is why she didn't have any in her apartment.
She looked over at Ibiki. "We'll have to open the windows to air those rooms out. Better let the other cops know Lee was cleaning and it isn't a meth lab," she said dryly. "Again." The large man nodded and pulled out his phone, stepping away to make the call.
Lee winced, but Tenten nudged him before crossing to unlock her door. "It's alright. He can crash at my place. It's not like I am going to be awake for long, anyway." As if to verify her statement, she was interrupted by a long yawn. "C'mon in," she jerked her head to the door. "I'll see what I can scrounge up for breakfast." When she opened the door, a wave of aroma washed over her, and she closed her eyes and inhaled deeply.
When she opened her eyes, she saw Kiba sitting at the breakfast bar with a knowing grin, and Chōji at her stove. The containers on her counters told her that he had gone to pick up food prepared at Akimichi's. Tenten looked back to Kiba.
"I did promise you breakfast," Kiba said easily.
"When…?" Tenten's eyes drifted over the food that she knew tasted as good at it smelled.
"Kiba got a hold of me last night," Chōji said over his shoulder and the sound of sizzling bacon. "Asked if he could pick up an order this morning. I told him I'd bring it by when I brought you home. Ibiki needed you, so I headed straight here." Chōji turned the bacon before adding "Dad had this all ready to go, but you have to have bacon fresh off of the griddle."
Tenten tossed her keys into the basket in her counter (wryly noting that her car keys were still with her, even if her car was not). "Looks like an awful lot of food," her eyes scoured the counters hungrily.
"Dad sent extra," Chōji shrugged. "He figured where there is one hungry Officer, there are probably 5 others," he joked, expertly transferring the bacon onto a plate and layering it between paper towels to sop up the grease. He took out the next set of bacon and set it on the griddle before turning to her. "Hope you don't mind…?"
"Mind?" she laughed. "As long as some of that bacon is mine, I don't care who joins in."
"Oh, good," a voice sighed happily. "Because I could smell this stuff in the elevator and I've never been so hungry for something that wasn't ramen!"
She turned and raised her eyebrows. "Naruto? What are you doing here?"
"I came to check in on you," he grinned, and she missed the glance he flicked to Kiba who barely nodded in turn.
"We'd better eat, Chōji," she said wryly. "Before Naruto beats us to it."
"Hey!"
She perched herself on one of the four tall, high-backed stools at the breakfast bar. Naruto scrambled up next to her, and Kiba was on the end. Lee and Chōji stood at the counters and even Genma and Ibiki filtered through. Genma took a heaping plate of food, Ibiki took an apple. At Tenten's insistence, he took a moderate plate. When everyone was full, and Tenten declared she was about to go into a food coma, they all dispersed.
"I'll send dinner," Chōji told her kindly. "I figured I'd bring some to 'Maru anyway."
"I'll try to go with you," she yawned, "but if they don't let me, let him know I'm not skipping out, okay?"
"Got it," Chōji grinned.
"Get rest," Naruto urged her giving her a large hug. "Real rest," he emphasized before holding her at arm's length. "Not 'I-sorta-slept-but-now-I'm-going-to-go-all-over-Konoha,' rest."
"Yeah, yeah," she rolled her eyes. "I get it." He pierced her with that bright blue gaze and in his uncharacteristically serious look, she still recognized the friend he has always been. "I get it," she said more quietly. "Really."
"Alright," he nodded before hugging her again. "We've got enough to worry about and it's hard enough to watch over Kiba's sorry ass," he smirked at the man over her head. "Don't give us any more trouble, alright?"
"I'll do my best," her voice was muffled in his shoulder.
Naruto let her go and gave her a fast kiss on the cheek. "I'll check in with you later," he promised, squeezing her shoulder.
By the time she locked the door behind the last person leaving, she almost forgot Inuzuka was still there.
"Want one?" he asked.
She snapped her gaze up to him, stupidly, noting his half-teasing smile. "Huh?"
"You were staring at my coffee," he raised one of her favorite oversized mugs. "Do you want one, or will it keep you awake."
"I don't think anything is going to keep me awake," she yawned. "But I'll make my tea instead."
"I got it," he said, pushing away from the counter. "Sit."
She hitched her bottom up onto the barstool before leveling out, and resting crossed arms on the surface of the breakfast bar. She rested her chin in her hand and watched him dump his mug, and wash both his and hers while the kettle came to a boil. He handed her the box of teas and she fished out the one she wanted. He took the packet. Lavender Chamomile? She must be tired.
"Honey?"
"Yeah."
He turned his back to her as he poured their mugs and got their spoons.
"Having tea?" she asked, eyes growing heavy.
"Figured I'd better save the caffeine for later," he leans back against her counter to face her. "I think I am still recovering from the hospital grade coffee."
"Me, too," she laughed, taking two of her stoneware coasters from the stack. "No wonder we haven't slept."
"I crashed pretty hard yesterday," he admitted, handing over the mug of tea. She put it on one coaster and covered it with the other to steep, before offering him two coasters. He took one.
"It's the mattress," she sighed happily. "It does that to everyone."
Kiba's eyebrow quirked involuntarily, and he turned to give all of the attention putting the coaster upside-down on his mug of tea suddenly demanded. "…Oh?"
"Mmyeah," she yawned, blinking heavily. "At least that's what they all told me. Guess that many people can't be wrong, right?"
The spoon clattered out of his fingers and onto the counter. He snatched it back up quickly and grimaced. She appeared to be waiting for an answer. "Guess not," he muttered, really hoping his face didn't look as warm as it felt.
It did. Tenten blinked a couple of times, confused before covering her mouth with her hands and gasping. "Oh, wow," her eyes were wide. "I didn't mean –It's not that, it's that -"
"It's okay – it's not my business –" Kiba started to halt her explanation.
"- Everyone that already owned that kind of mattress told me it was good. That is why I bought it."
They both stared at each other, sorting out what the other had said as they spoke over one another. His grin was slow and she leaned back into her seat with a light chuckle. "What the hell, Inuzuka," she jibed as he turned to get his tea. "Did you think I hand out some kind of exit survey?"
"Well you did seem rather confident," he smirked, managing not to look too relieved. "But I didn't want to ask."
"Yes you did," Tenten scoffed, reaching for her own tea. "You know you're nosey."
"Me?" Kiba raised his eyebrows over the rim of the mug. "Who has been snooping all over Konoha like J.B. Fletcher?"
"Wow. 80's TV reference," Tenten said appreciatively. "It really is the only thing on TV when we come off shift, isn't it?"
"Pretty much," he grumbled. "That and infomercials. But that doesn't make me nosey."
"No," she countered, "it doesn't make you someone who watches 'Murder, She Wrote' on purpose, but you are still nosey."
"And so are you."
"Never said I wasn't" she grinned.
"And you keep secrets," he added.
"Everyone has secrets," she shrugged. "You know the really important stuff."
"Oh yeah?" he asked, "So how has this Karashi guy been your friend for 'forever' and I've never heard about him before yesterday?"
"I told you about the curry shop," she deflected.
"You told me that Lee likes to eat there and that he was friends with the owner," he corrected. "I think I would have remembered if the story went 'I've known the owner and her son since I was six years old, making them the people, to the best of my knowledge, that I've known best/longest.'"
She looked down at her mug of tea.
"Big difference, Ten," he chided softly, sipping his tea and resting back against the counter.
"Yeah," she breathed. "I know." She took a long drink of her tea, and they were silent for a moment. "You know why I knew which mattress to buy?" she asked.
He raised his eyebrows, but did not reply.
"Because I know people that spend a lot of time on them," she answered dryly. "More to the point, they want the one that is for their-use-only to be excellent."
Picking up on her meaning, Kiba flushed slightly. She took another long sip of tea and closed her eyes as she inhaled the comforting aroma. When she opened her eyes, he was sure she wasn't seeing her apartment. She was seeing another time and place.
"I was at the old Rec center a lot as a kid," she started, and immediately had his undivided attention. "Pretty much constantly. If I wasn't in school, that is where I was. In the evenings, I'd run errands for locals. One of the bookies figured out I had a knack for predicting sports outcomes; I paid for my rent for an entire year that way. It sounds bad," she said, "but other kids my age had it much worse. The prostitutes I knew were trying to keep me out of their line of work. I learned hustling and gambling and pool and darts and cons and fortune telling and fighting and how to handle a knife so that I didn't have to learn, well…" she stopped herself. "Let's just go with I saw a lot of ugly as a kid."
Kiba watched her focus drift somewhere he could not follow as she absently set her tea down on the breakfast bar and wove her fingers around the thick still-warm ceramic of her favorite mug. He remained perfectly still, just as he would if approached by an unfamiliar, timid dog.
In all of the years he had known her, all the time they had spent together, all the hours where it was just him, her, and Akamaru, she had never initiated a conversation about her past like this.
Never.
He wasn't sure what had prompted this, but he wouldn't be the one to interrupt it.
"And then there was Karashi," she half laughed. "Don't get me wrong – he had it rough. But he didn't have it dangerous. Not really. He… he's never been brave or strong," she explained. "He is more kind natured than he wants to be, and was picked on all the time. But," she continued, "we were friends. We stuck together. It didn't take long for me to realize that my life was very, very different from his. Even as a young kid, I knew that what was 'normal' for me wasn't 'normal' for everyone."
She looked up at Kiba, her hazel eyes locking onto his. "But one day he got worried about me not having parents, and tried to follow me home. He wandered into the wrong neighborhood at the wrong time of day, and was damned lucky I had only stopped to run an errand for the bookie and found him before trouble really started. He still doesn't realize how much danger he was in." She shook her head.
"That day I realized something important," she said quietly, and Kiba found himself listening intently. "My world was very different from his. My world was dangerous. My world could hurt him. Badly. I…" she drifted in thought. "I wanted to protect him," she finally said. "I…I wanted to protect him from the kind of life that I knew. From then on, I kept that life separate from everyone – especially him. I knew that most of what I saw going on wasn't right, but it was how we all made a living. I did it to protect the good people in my world, too," she added. "I knew that we were all living outside of the law, but the laws would have kept some of them from surviving the only way they knew how."
She dropped her gaze as she took another long sip of her tea. "And now I'm with the KPD," she said, looking into her mug. "Now I do what I can to protect my comrades and my city. But that life," she shook her head, "I have to keep it even more separate now. I can't risk bringing harm to those that protected me in the past. Karashi would never understand what I do in the field, and it would worry him to no end. I guess," she met his eyes. "I guess the reality is I'm still protecting him, the only way I know how" she admitted. "He has always had to work so hard to just get by. I don't want to make it any harder on him."
Kiba held her gaze steadily for a few moments, digesting the information, and waiting to see if she was going to say more. When he gathered that she had said what she was going to say, he carefully asked the question that had seeped out of his subconscious to pool on the back of his tongue.
"Why are you only telling me this now, Tenten," he asked, maintaining eye contact. "And why didn't you tell me before – when he was first singled out as a contact?" He frowned slightly. "You could have trusted me."
"You know that I trust you," she said firmly. "But trust has nothing to do with this. You're my partner and a damned good cop, Inuzuka. My past is filled with people that should probably take frequent rides in the back of a cruiser. What would I tell you about? The bookie that is probably still running numbers? The hustler that taught me to play pool? The bartender that keeps a gun under the counter? What would that do other than put you in the position where you now know about illegal activity and are obligated to report it?"
"And you aren't?" He asked, eyebrow arched.
"Kakashi and I worked out an understanding a long time ago," she sighed. "I will never withhold information when it is needed, and he doesn't expect me to come in with a laundry list of petty crimes and criminals.
She shook her head slowly, and her tone grew gentler. "Knowledge comes with obligations, Inuzuka. I'd trust you with just about anything, but these aren't just my secrets. These are people from another life, that when I am in uniform I have to pretend never existed." She shrugged. "That is how I can protect them. Even Karashi."
"I'm not sure about him, Ten," Kiba said warily. "I think he's got the best of intentions, but I'm not really impressed by him, or his grasp on his situation."
"He's a good guy," she assured him. "Give him a chance."
He watched her drop her eyes back to her mug.
"Besides," she said, in an ever-so-slightly wistful tone, "he is one of my first friends. One of the good memories." She continued looking into her tea and he held his breath as she pulled the inside corner of her lip between her teeth like she did whenever she was deciding if or not to say something important. Her smile was small, her voice soft. "There are some, you know," she admitted, quietly, and the statement hung in the air between them. She flicked a glance up to him and then back to her mug. "Good memories, I mean."
He took the kettle off of the base and brought her the honey and another tea bag. She watched him pour her another cup of tea as he asked, "Like what?"
He poured a little more hot water into his own cup, but stayed put. The counter on his side was lower than the breakfast bar, but when he leaned in the corner, he was at a comfortable eye level with her. She stirred her tea absently. "Like swimming at the rec center for as long as I can remember. Teaching Karashi to swim. I've never met someone less buoyant in my life," she chuckled. "He sank like a rock."
"Dense?" Kiba asked innocently.
She smiled ruefully. "At times. But his heart was always in the right place," she said fondly. "The Winter Carnivals were always fun," she continued. "That first class here at the dojo."
"That was a fun class," Kiba smiled. Something she said struck him. "That carnival is next week, right?"
"Yeah," she nodded, threading her fingers around the warmth of her mug again. "I am meeting with Karashi tomorrow about it. That isn't part of the mission- that is legitimate. We still have to go over those plans. It will be nice to catch up," she admitted. "I haven't been a very present friend to him lately. He really has only ever had me and Lee."
"He said the same thing about you," Kiba said, watching her closely. "I think Naruto would disagree with that."
"But Naruto also had a time when he was alone," she added. "So he'd get it and forgive me after ramen." She met Kiba's gaze. "Karashi isn't wrong," she said. "For most of… well," she corrected herself "Even up until the KPD academy. I was alone a good deal. There wasn't anyone to go home to. No one to answer to. Just me."
"Where was home, exactly," he asked casually.
"Lots of questions, Inuzuka," she stirred her tea.
"You were answering them for a change," he shrugged unapologetically.
"Your turn," she said, sipping the beverage. "Tell me all about last night."
Kiba filled her in on his day, leaving Sai out of any explanation, and without elaborating on the new players on their team. He mentioned Captain Nara had shared some knowledgeable contacts, and didn't elaborate. He told her (most) of what Karashi said and (parts) of his conversation with him. She listened, and digested the information. She glanced at the clock. Was it really only 8:45 AM?
She smothered a yawn and caught Kiba doing the same thing.
"Your fault," he yawned. "You are making me sleepy."
"I'm sure it can't be the full belly, tea, or four nights of no sleep," she replied, chin in hand.
"I got sleep yesterday," he yawned more widely.
"So we discussed," she smirked "Did you fill out your comment card?"
"Smart ass," he muttered taking her mug to wash it. She chuckled and he gave her a wry grin as he washed and dried their mugs. They heard the jangle of tags as Akamaru got up, stretched, and padded over to sit patiently by the door.
"I'll take you out, Big Guy," she smiled, getting off of the stool.
"Tch." Kiba rounded the breakfast bar and reached over her for his coat, preventing her from grabbing hers. "You're barely on your feet and it's freezing out. Can you stay up long enough to let me back in?"
"Just take my key," she reached for the basket.
"No," he shook his head. "Flip the hotel lock." When she would've protested, he added, "I'll feel better and so would Kakashi."
Tenten was too tired to argue. "Fine."
"I have to make a quick call," Kiba said, zipping up his coat. "I'll be back up in ten minutes. Don't open the door to anyone before then."
"You aren't serious, Inuzuka," she said flatly.
"Ten minutes," he repeated. He opened the door and Pakkun and Akamaru followed him out.
She closed the door and locked the deadbolt.
"Didn't hear the other lock, Ten."
"Stupid ridiculous hearing," she muttered to herself and swung the u-shaped arm over the knob bolted on the door.
"My hearing and I thank you."
She heard him head down the hall and smiled to herself.
"You're a good partner," she whispered, fingertips brushing the door.
She glanced down as her phone buzzed in her pocket. The call she had taken earlier had been from Itachi. Inuzuka was going to need cover in more places than the KPD could reach.
She turned off her phone and tossed it in the junk drawer, then she headed to the second bedroom. She dug out a 'pay as you go' phone, reinserted the battery pack, and dialed the number from memory.
"Been a while," the voice answered without preamble.
"Long time," she agreed. "I'm calling in a favor."
"And here I thought you missed me."
"That, too," she smirked.
The call didn't last very long, and she powered off the phone, removed the battery, and put it away. She retrieved her normal phone and turned it on before shooting a text to Itachi.
'Contact made. Locals on alert. More later.'
His one word reply: 'Understood.'
Tenten tucked her phone back in her pocket.
She had her secrets – she had been honest about that.
But the ones that ran the deepest – the most intimate and personal of her secrets had a great deal to do with the man that had just left her apartment and just how far she'd go to protect him.
Ami had some regular clients on Saturday mornings at Fuki's salon. She showed up early, her skinny vanilla latte in hand, and let herself in with her key. It didn't take her long to get set up, and she pulled out the inventory charts and began to make sure her supplies were in order. She scanned the shelves, took note of their supplies and made a list of what they'd need. Fuki was there about 20 minutes after she started, and once she verified Ami's list, Ami went ahead and placed all of the orders. She liked to get this stuff done and out of the way early on a Saturday when things were calm and she didn't have to worry about it.
Her system saved Fuki time and money, so she had no complaints. Ami was a good nail tech, too and could do a shampoo or a bang trim in a pinch, so she didn't charge her to work out of the salon.
"Who's on the books?" Fuki called over her shoulder while Ami sat at the front desk.
"I've got my regulars. You've got a few starting at 10:00. Who else is working today?"
"Two girls are coming in after 10:30." She glanced at the clock.
"Where is Kasumi? Looks like she was going to come in for an early appointment."
"Dunno," Fuki said as she pulled the dye she'd need for her first client. "She sent me a text last night and rescheduled her appointment for later. She's been with Waraji a lot lately, and her appointments move around a lot now."
"They have been spending a lot of time together," Ami said, absently, bringing the point of sale system online and getting the registers ready. "Guess that's good, right?"
"She seems to think so," Fuki shrugged.
The girls went about the rest of their preparations in relative silence. Ami flipped on the sound system, and unlocked the doors.
She made more money here than at the restaurant, but the Family was at the restaurant, and she could make appointments for her clients. When she needed extra cash or it was early and she knew no one interesting would be at the restaurant, she'd pick up some extra walk-ins, or schedule a few more regulars. It was just chance she had been at the restaurant early yesterday morning. She slid a glance over to Fuki. She still hadn't told her about Kuromaru, and had been tightlipped about the ride she had gotten to work, dismissing it with an airy "Just someone new."
She was disappointed he had left early last night, but he was supposed to go back tonight – she heard Zōri talking about it. Fuki almost never came out with them, so she didn't know anything about him yet.
Ami imagined what Fuki and Kasumi's faces would look like when they saw him for the first time. He was way hotter than Waraji, and light years sexier than anyone Fuki had brought around. She went over to her workstation and prepped her supplies, allowing herself one smug grin. She couldn't wait to introduce them… and make it very clear he was off limits.
The bell over the door rang, and the first customer walked in. Ami (who could be surprisingly pleasant when she felt like it) greeted her, and got her signed in for Fuki.
The morning went by quickly, and it was early afternoon before she knew it. She looked up at the clock; Kasumi was 45 minutes behind for her rescheduled appointment.
"Hear anything from Kasumi?" she asked Fuki as she filed the nails of one of the walk-ins. The woman had her earphones in anyway, so she clearly wasn't paying attention.
"Nope," Fuki said as she shampooed her client. "I'm going to start charging her for missed appointments."
"Good luck with that," Ami sniggered.
"I'll tack it onto the rent," Fuki muttered. "Not that she is there much these days."
Ami thought about that. There were two small apartments above the salon; Fuki lived in one, Kasumi lived in the other. Kasumi hadn't really dated much, but when she did, she tended to disappear. It was like once someone started paying that kind of attention to her, nothing else mattered. Ami guessed that is what happened when you fought to see past your 12 year old self.
Kasumi hadn't been cute in school. Her puffball hair was the result of having naturally curly hair and no sense of style as a kid. Fuki had straightened her out somewhat, but Kasumi wasn't the hottest of their friends.
"She's a butter face," one of the guys told her.
"A what?"
"You know," the guy rolled his eyes. "A butter face. Everything is great 'but-her-face?' I mean, her body is bangin', but the rest?" the man shuddered.
Ami had been caught between being offended for her friend, amused by the guy, and feeling guilty for secretly agreeing with him.
She wondered if Kasumi had ever heard what was said about her. Maybe she didn't care. Waraji didn't seem to mind; by all reports they were at it all the time.
As if on cue, Kasumi walked through the door. Her curly hair was in a sloppy knot, and she looked tired. She hung her coat up and stuffed her scarf down into the sleeve. She held her arms closely around herself and fiddled with the cuffs of her long-sleeved, high necked shirt.
Ami glanced up from her work, noting the outfit. It wasn't like Kasumi to not have bare arms or a plunging neckline to her shirt, even when it was bitterly cold out.
"Speak of the devil," Fuki called over her shoulder. "You better not wear your hair like that and tell anyone I cut it," she shot to her friend.
Ami smirked at the comment, and Kasumi rolled her eyes. "Whatever, Fuki," she grumbled and took a seat.
Ami finished lacquering her client's nails about five minutes later, and sat her under the UV lights to dry.
"C'mon," she waved Kasumi over. "I can get you in while Fuki works."
Kasumi draped her purse on the back of her chair and went to wash her hands.
"Gel?" Ami asked, reaching for her supplies.
"Yeah. The polish kind," Kasumi said absently, "Not the powder kind."
Ami rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, you don't want to have to keep up with them, - whatever." She handed the girl wheels of color. "Pick." She instructed while she got her supplies out. Kasumi seemed out of it when she pointed to a dark color on the wheel. "Nice," Ami said, getting the polish out. "What's up with you? You look out of it."
Kasumi smirked. "Long night," was all she'd say. Ami reached for her hands and started to push up her sleeves, but Kasumi pushed them back down. "I'm cold today."
Ami shrugged and just rolled the cuffs back slightly, noting that Kasumi watched her carefully. "I'm not going to bite you girl," she said testily. "Relax."
Kasumi took a deep breath. "Just… tired today. Some odd people hanging around work lately."
"Oh?" Ami asked as she fetched the bowls of warm water and made Kasumi soak her fingertips.
"Has me on edge," Kasumi shrugged. "Tell me what's up with you?"
The girls chatted about this and that, and every now and then Fuki would throw in her two cents. Ami's client paid and left while she was still working on Kasumi. Fuki's client paid and left just in time for her to take over Kasumi's hair. Ami worked on her own polish while the girls chatted. When it was just the three of them, it was never long before the conversations got girly.
"So, you're with Waraji and long nights, huh?" Ami asked as she painted her own nails.
"Most nights," Fuki added "She hasn't been to her apartment in a while."
Kasumi rolled her eyes as Fuki took out her hair tie and laid her back in the sink. "Yeah, well, I've been busy."
"Obviously," Fuki said flatly. "You picked a crap shirt to wear to get your hair cut, by the way. This neck is a pain in the ass."
Kasumi shrugged. "I'll go upstairs and change when we're done."
"Oh, well that helps," Fuki retorted.
Ami watched her friends bicker like always. Kasumi couldn't stay too long, and the other stylists came back from lunch after she left. She waited for Fuki to get back so she could go a couple doors down and get something to eat. She sent some more texts to Kuromaru, but he wasn't responding. She had one from around 9:00 AM saying he'd be off radar until late, but she sent selfies and the like anyway. She was excited to see him again, and would take her time getting ready tonight. She absently wondered if Karashi would be there, too.
"Well there is one good thing" she thought. "At least he won't bring her around to a place like the Tavern. We can have some peace."
Ami spent what was left of her break, smugly sipping her hot beverage, and blissfully unaware that she secretly really cared about Karashi and was therefore incredibly jealous of Tenten, her every text, call, and movement was being tracked by Kazekage, and she was being watched very closely by the man in the corner, who pretended to read his newspaper.
He watched her send off and yet another selfie, and Instagram her coffee. He and five others 'liked' her pictures, and she grinned at her phone.
He sipped his coffee with a smirk. Technology really made this game too easy.
Thanks for reading, friends - it is sincerely appreciated.
Best wishes for a healthy and happy 2015!
- Giada
