Authors note: Hmm...should I give you fluff, or shouldn't I? I need to make a list and check it twice, just to see if you deserve it. Hmm...
Disclaimer: you should know the drill by now...but just in case, I don't own anything.
Beautiful liar;
Chapter twenty-one: "I trusted you".
Sometimes, when one is put under stress they just might happen to say something they didn't mean or perhaps didn't want to say to begin with. Of course there comes a time when every truth must be brought out into the open for that truth to be bathed in the light of realization. However realizing that something is, in fact, the truth is an entirely different matter. After all, to recognise something as the truth you must first believe it and to believe something you must first rationalize it and form it into a context you can understand.
However not everything can be so easy, as one Yamanaka Ino was about to find out.
Yes, it was true that prior to the words 'I will not tell them about the baby' there were indeed three very confused people occupying the room, simply because when a man says 'I'm showing' no one knows quite what to think. However, the room wasn't the only thing Ino was occupying at that moment in time. She also just so happened to be staring dumbly at Kiba as she sat on the ground, taking up floor space. But, she was not the only one stunned into silence – Aburame Shibi was also having trouble processing the words that had just left the hysterical Inuzuka's mouth.
Fortunately, the least confused of the lot but still quite confused Nara Shikamaru stared, having only been filled in about Shino's mission just moments ago, stood dumbfounded, quite the unusual state for the boy genius. He just wasn't quite sure where a baby fit into all of this. It was clear Neji had left quite a bit of detail out. But that was not the only reason for the stunned silence as it were, Kiba's most recent statement had caused Kenshi's chuckles to die in this throat, and Tsume's burning anger to flicker and die. It had caused Hana's blossoming frustration to wither and fade. All that remained was the hesitant dawning of realization, even as Neji and Shino looked on, mildly surprised at Kiba's outburst.
No longer was there a victorious smirk plastered on Inuzuka Kenshi's face, no longer was there anger or frustration in the Inuzuka women's' eyes. All there was, all that remained of the argument beforehand was the sniffles of a broken young boy, his arms wrapped around his knees as he tried desperately to hold back his tears.
Now, before venturing further into this controversy, you must first understand that the Inuzuka clan is a close-knit one and as such; it would be uncommon for a member of such a clan to want to give up a child. In all actuality, it is so uncommon that is is considered a rarity and so rare that there is not a single record in the history of the clan of an abandoned child. The mere thought of it to the clan was alien.
"Pardon me?!" Ino cried out, perplexed "can someone please explain what's going on?! What's this about a baby?!" She shot up, quickly overcoming her shock. It was at that moment Shikamaru clamped a hand over her mouth while she continued to scream out questions, muffling her words.
He frowned "Yeah," Shikamaru agreed, over Ino's muffled cries "I think it's time we got in the loop here" he stated drearily glancing at Neji and Shino from the corner of his eye. With that being said Ino's shouts died down and he released her, only to receive and annoyed punch to the arm. Wincing slightly, Shikamaru rubbed at his soar arm muttering to himself "troublesome...".
Still knelt in front of his baby cousin, Kenshi stared at him, a look of concern flooded his features "you're not serious...are you...? Bebii-chan?" he asked quietly, unable to keep the shock from his tone.
The younger boys head head shot up, glaring at his ebony-haired cousin, said cousin remained unaffected due to the red-eyed puffiness that surrounded the tortured boys gaze "yes," Kiba bit out "deadly serious" he finished, turned his head away, continuing weakly "...and don't call me that" he whined helplessly, biting his lip to hold back another sob.
"Hello" Ino started, waving her arms about as if she were trapped on a desert island, attempting to grab the attention of a passing ship "unanswered questions way over here" she stated loudly, pointing to the space she was standing in. She cheered internally when she successfully grabbed Kiba's attention. Shikamaru simply sighed, shaking his head – Ino could just be too bothersome to deal with sometimes.
The brunette simply sat, staring at Ino and Shikamaru, he wasn't sure how long it was before he spoke "I don't expect you to believe me but..." he began, his resolve to hide crumbing. He glanced briefly at Shibi, then to Neji and Shino before turning back to the boisterous blonde and bored genius "I'm-" he hesitated, Shino noticed that he looked strained "I'm p-" once again, he stopped himself finding it difficult to continue "pregnant" everyone in the room could see that the mere thought of the word caused the boy distress, but to actually say it looked physically painful.
"How?" Shikamaru asked, looking slightly alarmed. From what he had seen and heard over the pasted two weeks, it was not entirely possible to rule out the possibility that Kiba may in fact, have a child. After all, to be admitted into hospital and then to be suddenly released after a week with no improvement on Kiba's supposed condition is quite strange. Not to mention, that those aren't exactly the most common symptoms of anorexia.
"Long story" Kiba stated quietly "just please believe me...I don't wanna' lie anymore..." his gaze fell to the floor beside him.
Just as Tsume opened her mouth to speak there were two sharp taps behind her "knock, knock" came the words to accompany the noise, turning she stared in shock at the person occupying the doorway.
"Hokage-sama" Tsume stated, bowing her head slightly, Aburame Shibi did much the same thing.
Smiling, with her hand resting against the door frame, which she more likely then not knocked on, Tsunade nodded "I hope I'm not interrupting anything," she began, glancing at Kiba, who had his head buried in his arms "I just came by to check out the noise...there have been..." she paused "a number of complaints" after examining the room and the people inside it for a few moments she frowned slightly as her eyes rested on the brunette and his cousin "Kiba," she said, moving further into the room "I couldn't help but over-hear-".
"I know," Kiba said, looking up at her, wiping the tears from his eyes "you don't have to say it" he sniffled lightly, the grip on his trousers tightening somewhat.
Her frowned deepened, not particularly liking being ordered around by a chuunin, however emotionally strained he may be "you can't have the abortion" she stated, her tone unforgiving. She could have sworn she saw Tsume breath a sigh of relief.
The decommissioned chuunin's eyes widened "I'm sorry," he began, his tone laced with disbelief "what?"
With a sad sigh Tsunade continued "you can't have the treatment because, to be frank, we don't know how to go about it," She stated, her gaze suggesting she was quite serious "not to mention, here's no telling what will happen to you if something were to go wrong, you're body..." there was a pause "I did some research. Your body it – it's delicate, for lack of a better word" there was a pause when Kiba's expression turned to disbelief to stunned "medically speaking, removing the baby could upset the balance of the cells in your body – you don't have to understand this, just take my word for it" she said, her gaze hardening sightly.
"No..." Kiba said quietly "I think I do need to understand. It's my body after all"
Shaking her head lightly Tsunade sighed in resignation "even if we did have a medical procedure for you...there's no telling if you'd survive or not," she paused when Kiba raised a brow "if your cells turn on you, you're natural defences would try to protect you – effectively killing you. That's why we can't risk aborting the child. It's for your own safety, Kiba." Tsunade finished folding her arms in front of her.
It was most likely having the Hokage talking civilly to Kiba about a matter as outrageous as this one that had finally caused Yamanaka Ino to collapse, clearly the realization had hit her hard and hit her fast. Shikamaru had caught her easily and sighed "I'm going to take her home" was all he said, before he adjusted her in his arms and walking slowly towards the door.
"So soon?" Tsunade asked, "I haven't even gotten to the best part yet" she stated all too innocently.
"This can get better?" Kiba asked disbelievingly.
She nodded "mm-hmm," she began "long story short; the baby is going to have to be born by caesarian" the comment caused Shikamaru to stumble slightly, almost dropping Ino as he steadied himself.
"Y-you mean the cut-me-open kind of caesarian!?" Kiba cried out in shock, watching as Tsunade nodded "w-with a knife?!" nodding again, Tsunade looked mildly surprised when Kiba slumped forwards slightly, fainting.
- Shino -
It has been a number of hours since Kiba and Ino were carried out and taken home. My father left an hour later, since visiting hours were over then. I am now alone, staring at the ceiling, I can't sleep even though I have tried many times in the last couple of hours and despite the fact that I really do need to sleep I can't help but worry for Kiba. It was painful to watch all that had transpired and being too incapacitated to do anything about it.
It hurt to watch Kenshi so blatantly insult him and watch him take it. I scares me that Kiba can be called a whore and silently agree the way he did. I am not sure of this myself, but I am sure I saw a flash of realization in his eyes, like he truly does believe that he is one.
I had never really thought about this before but...I can't imagine how Kiba is feeling, discovering new things about himself the way he has. It must be killing him. I am almost certain of the cause of his...his ordeal. It was that mission, over a month ago now. I think it was about five and a half weeks ago...which would make Kiba five and a half weeks pregnant, if indeed my theory is correct. It would make sense for Kiba to believe himself to be so worthless, under those circumstances, as if he were only good enough for the lowest of the low.
He just doesn't quite know that it is my fault he has ended up this way. After all, it was me who delayed the rescue, even then is wasn't much of a rescue at all, by the time we reached him, his attacker had gone. When Hinata finds out...she'll be destroyed.
I pause in my line of thought, blinking away the immanent tears that were sure to flow. It pains me to know that I had failed Kiba for a second time, with the failure of my most recent mission – once again my mind halts in it's musings as I listening to the slow, steady foot steps echoing through the hall, it must be one of the nurses making their rounds, I think to myself, attempting to return to sleep, not entirely taken with my dismal line of thought.
My senses heighten as I heard the door slide open, and the footsteps getting closer, after a while they stop, I can tell whoever it is is looming over me, as I can feel their eyes on me. After a few moments of nothing happening I open my eyes slowly, behind my glasses. I have to hold back a gasp upon taking a look at my visitors face.
It's Kiba.
He looks like he's contemplating something as his hand is hanging over my arm, more likely then not he's trying to decide whether or not to wake me up. He's still in the cloths he was wearing this morning, but his hair isn't quite as neat, like he'd just woken up. I mentally sigh when Kiba still hasn't made a move "Kiba" I state blandly, effectively frightening the life out of him. How do I know this? He jumped about three feet backwards yelping.
"S-Shino" he whispered, calming himself.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, not wanted to risk an awkward silence. It's strange, when Kiba is in quiet for too long, he always seems to clam up, especially as of late.
"W-well I...wanted to...talk...to you" he said slowly, okay, perhaps scaring him wasn't the best plan, but at least it was fun while it lasted. Now he's nervous, which means he'll take a while to open up...but then again, I'm in a hospital, alone, with all the time in the world. I can wait.
"You knew, didn't you?" he asked, with an annoyed edge to his tone. Perhaps he wasn't as nervous as I first thought. I raise a brow.
"Knew what?" I ask, playing dumb.
With a low grown, Kiba plopped himself onto my bed, glaring at the door "don't be stupid" he hisses "me, you knew about me, didn't you?" he asked again, his glare hardening.
I frown lightly, attempting to sit up and failing miserably. I sigh "yes Kiba" I say, watching his gaze flicker to me at the corner of his eye "I knew...Neji and Sakura knew too, while we're being honest-" I grunted slightly when I felt Kiba's fist connect with my arm, interrupting my sentence.
"You ass" he says, standing "not only couldn't you be patient, but you also had to drag over people into it?" he turned around, glaring at me, I could see the hurt in his eyes "I trusted you" he said "I trusted you and you betrayed me – again" he hissed, the pain evident in his tone. He didn't shout, he had enough sense to know it was late and other people were sleeping.
We stared at each other, for how long? I don't know. But after a moment, he scoffed and shook his head, turning swiftly on his heels and storming towards the door "I am still unsure about what it is I did to hurt you the first time" I blurt out, I didn't want him to leave like this. He's already in pain, I don't want to hurt him even more.
Immediately after the words left my mouth he stopped, paused and ran up to me, yanking me up by the collar of my shirt and pressed his lips against mine, neither of our lips moved to the angry kiss and after a moment Kiba pushed me back down onto the bed roughly "Does that jog your memory?" he asked, his voice was laced with anger. I opened my mouth in an attempt to answer only to be silenced as Kiba continued his rant "my first kiss" he hissed, confusing me "I gave you my first kiss".
"I still don't understand" I say, it was true, I am unsure of how giving me a kiss warrants his anger.
He shook his head "no, of course not. I showed you just how much I trust you and you throw it back in my face" I can't help but notice that he's tearing up slightly as he sits himself back down on my bed "by dumping me in this god-forsaken building" oh, I understand now...I'm sorry...
"I was worried for your health," I say, I know it's a little bit too late to try and justify my actions but I do not wish for him to hate me so "I didn't know what else I could do for you if you hadn't been in hospital" I heart aches as I watch a silent tear slip down his beautiful face. I blink to myself; did I just call Kiba beautiful? With a sigh I shrug it off and attempt to once again sit up.
This time, Kiba takes notice of my struggles and helps me, leaning me gently against the headboard. I sigh slightly, it's quite annoying – chakra deprivation, it'll be a while yet before I get my strength back. He sighs, looking at me sadly "you're in here because of me aren't you?" I can do nothing but nod and I wince slightly at the apologetic look he sends me.
"Well," I begin "strictly speaking, I am here because of my own actions – you were merely the reason I over-exerted myself. It's not your fault, it is my own impatience" there was a pause "I wanted to help you..." he blinks at me, astonished "I thought that if I found the one who attacked you..."
Shaking his head, Kiba turned to me "please don't," he said, and I opened my mouth to protest "he's dangerous" he continued before I had the chance, another tear rolled down his cheek "I don't want you to get hurt..."
After a moment I sigh, not particularly wanting to start up another argument now that we appeared to be on the best of terms since his admittance to and release from hospital "Kiba" I say quietly, grabbing his attention, noticing he'd gone into some sort of daze "there is something I have been meaning to give you" I say, watching him blink in surprise.
"Oh yeah?" he asks "what?"
"Come closer" I say, much to my horror. Of all the things I could of said, it had to have been the most cliché of them all, didn't it? Thankfully, Kiba doesn't seem to notice and does as he was asked, I can just about make out the slight blush on his cheeks in the dim light of the candle in the corner of the room.
I lean forwards only slightly when he gets close enough, and claim his soft lips with my own. I pull away after a moment "I've been meaning to give you that for a long whi- mph" his lips reclaim mine applying just a little bit more pressure, I can't help but suck a little on his lower lip, causing him to let out a soft moan, I take the opportunity to gently ghost my tongue over his upper lip.
His hands, that had previously been resting on my shoulders moved up, his left hand now rested on the back of my neck whilst his right ran through my hair. With a little bit more effort then I had thought it would take, I rested one of my hands on Kiba's leg as he climbed over me, effectively straddling me.
Our tongues battled for dominance, and, much to my enjoyment, I was winning. Kiba moaned my name into my mouth and I whispered his huskily. He tasted...he moaned again, interrupted my train of thought, I savoured that sound. So like music. He tasted so...we pulled away for a brief second, grabbing the little air that we could before out lips joined together once again. He tasted so sweet, Kiba's hand gripped my hair just a little tighter. I whisper Kiba's name again, unable to find exactly what it is he tastes like.
He moaned my name again before we pulled away from each other abruptly and turned towards the door at the sound of someone clearing their throat "K-Kenshi?!" Kiba cried, alarmed at the appearance of his cousin.
Glaring at the pair of us, Kenshi glowered "Kiba, get the hell home"
Kiba frowned, looking from me to Kenshi "But I-"
"Now" he insisted, his glare hardening. Hastily, Kiba scrambled off me and I found myself already missing his warmth. I don't blame him for leaving though, Kenshi is quite ruthless and Kiba is in no state to fight back. Quickly, Kiba left the scene looking like a frightened rabbit, and Kenshi followed him towards the door, but he apparently wasn't leaving.
He closed the door silently, and strolled up to me, staring coldly.
There was at least a minute of silence between us before he grabbed me roughly by the collar and yanked me forwards so our faces were level "okay, Aburame. I'm going to say this once and once only – got it?" he said, glaring darkly at me "Kiba is mine to break" with that he pushed back onto the bed "Stay the hell away from him" he growled out before turning briskly on his heels and leaving, slamming the door behind him.
(A/N: Okay, how was that? I'm quite proud of it myself. It's longer then usual too, but that's okay because you got fluff out of it, ne?)