.:Couple Hours Later:.
"Hey, Kiba," Rimi spoke softly as the night progressed. Kiba turned slightly towards her. "When we see this, 'shape shifter' what do you plan on doing?"
"Meow?" Mei questioned, but Rimi acted like she didn't hear.
"Well, I don't know." Kiba replied as he led the two of them. "But you said she has the same scent at you, right?"
"Yes." Rimi said, looking around for any signs of movement. She shouldn't have gotten that far, I was only sleep for a few hours! Damn her for escaping so easily, but it worked out since this Kiba boy chased after her. "Thank you for helping me, I don't know what I would do without you."
Kiba turned and faced Rimi. Again, he did not blushed, but only stayed serious.
"I knew you wouldn't betray the village where we grew up." Kiba said. "And when they said you escaped, the fact that you left Mei behind confirmed my suspicion. I know you would never leave Mei behind."
Oh, so it's because I forgot the cat. This boy is really perspective of Kaira. Rimi thought."You know me so well." Rimi said as she stopped running. Kiba stopped and looked back at her. "I so," She reached over and grabbed Kiba's jacket and pulled him closer to her, "glad." She giggled. Kiba studied her.
"You're welcome." He said, pulling away from her.
"Meow?" Mei said, jumping into Rimi's arms. Rimi petted Mei before setting her down. Kiba went off again and Rimi pouted.
"I can smell that she's near." Kiba said as they transitioned back into the forest. "In fact, she's right here." Kiba jumped over a tree and saw Kaira lying on the ground. Rimi followed and grinned when she saw Kaira. She immediately sat up when she saw them.
"Kiba…?" Kaira asked, smiling from relief. "I never thought you would have followed me." Then her eyes drifted to Rimi. "No!" Kaira jumped up and back and let out a hiss.
"You imposter! Don't try to trick Kiba into believing you're the real Kaira." Rimi said, pulling Kiba back.
"I am the real Kaira!" Kaira yelled, baring her fangs. "Mei!"
Mei meowed her confusion. Kiba looked back and forth between them but didn't know what to say.
"This should be an easy choice for you, Kiba," Rimi said sternly, "you know me better than anyone!"
Kiba turned around and nodded. "Let's go Akamaru!" Kiba said as Akamaru transformed into himself and they knelt down side-by-side. "We'll attack the imposter!" Rimi smirked and Kaira gasped.
"Hurry, Kiba, before she gets away!" Rimi said.
"Kiba, you aren't ready to fight! Your wound…!" Kaira fought. Kiba smirked as he turned to face Rimi.
"I knew you weren't Kaira." He said, "fang-over-fang!" Then Kiba and Akamaru turned ferociously in the arm and came down on Rimi Kaira covered her face as rocks were thrown everywhere. "You didn't act anything like Kaira! She wouldn't pull me close to her, she wouldn't ignore Mei, she wouldn't say I know her the best when Sasuke does, she wouldn't let me freely attack, knowing of my wound from yesterday." Kiba huffed, returned to Kaira's side.
"Kiba…" Kaira muttered, smiling at him. Kiba blushed. Rimi also doesn't make Kiba blush like the real Kaira does.
"Meow!" Mei said, rushing over to Kaira's side.
"Mei!" Kaira picked up Mei before she fell back.
"Wow, so sweet of you." Rimi laughed. Rimi stood up from the ground and dusted herself off. Her disguise faded away and she returned to her real self.
"You were at the chuunin exams!" Kaira gasped, sitting up. Rimi shrugged and pulled out her huge sword. "That's right! Rimi Kedouin, it's nice to meet you…again." She pointed the sword at Kiba and smiled.
"You were the one behind all this!" Kaira said, trying to stand up.
"Let's make this quick, shall we?" Rimi sighed and shook her head. She disappeared and reappeared right beside Kiba. She put her sword, pointing towards him, against his body. If he so much as moved, he'd be sliced. "Come with me so this boy doesn't have to die."
"Kiba!" Kaira gritted her teeth as she stood back up. "That is shallow; using someone as bait for another." She growled.
"This wouldn't be like this if you hadn't escaped." Rimi snapped. "Now, hurry, I'm getting impatient here." Rimi squeezed her sword closer to Kiba. Kaira closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"Fine, I'll come with you." Kaira said, opening her eyes and revealing her cat-eyes. "Now let him go."
"As you wish, " Rimi said, slowly bringing her sword up. Kiba watched the sword as it almost cut him a few times. ", here, take these." Rimi said, throwing one pill at Kaira. "Unless you want this boy to die." Rimi raised her eyebrow and put her sword lightly on Kiba's head. He was too weak to fight back.
Kaira looked at the green pill and then back at Kiba.
"That pill will knock you out for a good amount of time." Rimi explained, "now hurry up."
"You coward." Kiba mumbled. "You cowardly cat!" Kiba yelled, looking at Kaira.
"Wha…what?" Kaira asked. Kiba glared at her and shook his head.
"Only a coward would do what an enemy says," Kiba went on, "you're giving up in battle so easily? Of course, I'd expect that from a Nekoosa." Then Kiba shrugged and grinned.
"H…How dare you say that about my clan you filthy mutt!" Kaira fumed, looking at the pill. "We Nekoosa never give up, that's the job of a dirty Inuzuka!" Kaira said, throwing the pill back at Rimi. She quickly looked at Mei. "Cat-Companion Body Switch!" Mei meowed before the jutsu activated.
"What?" Rimi glared, before swinging her sword at Kiba, but he had rolled away from her. "Urgh, dammit."
Kaira sprinted over to Rimi and pushed her up against a wall. Rimi dropped her sword in the process and kicked Kaira, but she wouldn't let her down. Actually, it was Mei in Kaira's body, but everyone knew that by now.
"I can't believe this!" Rimi grunted, trying to get free. "Held up by a cat." She rolled her eyes as the real Kaira, in Mei's body ran over to Kiba.
"Meow?" She asked, climbing on top of Kiba. He smiled at her and she nodded. She touched his partly headed wound and her paws started glowing.
"Wow, Kaira, you really trust your kitty to be more powerful than you." Rimi mocked before Mei pushed her deeper into the tree.
"Ffft!" Kaira hissed, not looking away from Kiba. Rimi reached up and touched Kaira's hair.
"Your face looks exactly like your mom's, but your hair…" Rimi muttered. Kaira spun around and starred as her heart started to beat faster.
She knew my mom…? Kaira asked herself as she released her jutsu. She returned to her own body and shook her head. "Tell me about my mother."
"I am not the one that should be telling you anything; I'm only trying to buy myself time," Rimi smirked before she snapped her fingers. Her sword lifted up on its own, but Kaira didn't see. Mei and Kiba didn't notice it until it turned towards Kaira.
"Kaira!" Kiba warned. Right when he opened his mouth the sword dashed for Kaira. The next moment that came seemed to take forever. The only thing that could be seen was blood flying towards the ground.
Kaira opened her eyes and saw Rimi being held back by Ibiki. Shizuka had pushed Kaira to the ground and the sword was through the tree that Kaira had Rimi against.
The blood that has fallen was Rimi's. Ibiki threw shurikan at her and they were all stuck in her body. Rimi rolled her eyes before Ibiki tightened his grip on her.
"Kaira, are you alright?" Shizuka asked, helping Kaira up. "You aren't hurt, are you?"
Kaira was still in shock of what just happened. She would have died if Shizuka and Ibiki hadn't shown up. She looked to the tree and saw Rimi's sword easily pierced through. Wait, so it Kaira was stabbed, wouldn't have Rimi been as well?
"Kaira?" Shizuka questioned, waving her hands in her face. Kaira brought her gaze up to her sensei and tried to smile.
"You saved me." Kaira murmured. Then Kaira looked over to Kiba and saw his mom was kneeling right by him.
"I convinced Ibiki to give chase to you, I knew you weren't the one behind this." Shizuka said, reading Kaira's thoughts. "Ibiki! That girl you have was impersonating Kaira for some reason."
Ibiki looked down at Rimi, who looked up at him and smirked.
"Wow, for a tough looking old man you sure aren't the brightest." Rimi giggled. Ibiki glared and pushed her down.
"I wouldn't be talking, you have shurikan in you, apparently you were caught by this old man." Ibiki spat. Rimi looked away and blew he bangs out of her face.
"Kiba, are you alright?" Tsume asked, examining him. Kuromaru, her companion, was sniffing Akamaru.
"Uh, yeah." He replied. Then Tsume turned strict.
"How dare you leave the leaf without telling anyone!" She roared, scaring him. "What were you thinking? You could have been killed! You're in no condition to fight!"
"I told you, I knew Kaira was innocent." Kiba whispered, startling her. Kaira crawled over to him.
"You knew, Kiba." She smiled and sat by him. He blushed and nodded. Tsume sighed and faced Kaira.
"He was determined to prove that you were innocent." Tsume explained and Kiba blushed more.
"Mom!"
"Thank you." Kaira said before hugging him. "If it weren't for you, I would still be considered guilty." Kiba hugged her back and Tsume slowly backed away. Shizuka looked over and smiled.
This boy's thoughts… Shizuka relaxed and patted Tsume's back. They're cute together. However, Kaira's thoughts are still clueless…
"Shizuka, Tsume, I might need help here." Ibiki said. "This girl is a missing ninja and you two know how dangerous missing ninja can be."
Kaira stood and helped Kiba up. Shizuka and Tsume walked over to Ibiki and held onto Rimi.
"We'll have to take her in." Ibiki noted.
"Oh, I have no intention of going back to your dirty village." Rimi grumbled.
"What was that?" Tsume snarled.
"Old bat." Rimi shook her head. Tsume growled and leaped for Rimi but Shizuka held her back. "Look, this was all fun and all, but it looks like I failed." Rimi went on, "look, Kaira," Rimi made direct eye contact with Kaira before proceeding, "when the time comes for us to capture you, the boss will send the strongest of us after you. I admit, I'm no match against three grown jounin, so consider yourself lucky. But," Rimi seemed to turn dark and no one dared to interrupt, "when our strongest comes for you, consider your village doomed." Rimi swung her hair before her sword seemed to have exploded. The woods filled with a thick gas that no one could see out of.
"Kaira?" Shizuka asked, trying to find her way through the fog. Rimi went right up to Kaira and pulled her close to her.
"Mai will tear you apart." Rimi whispered in her ear. However, Kaira was too busy worrying that she hadn't heard Rimi. Then, with that, she vanished. Shizuka cussed aloud. The fog nullified all jutsu, so her mind reading jutsu was useless. Kaira grabbed Kiba and they stood close together. They couldn't see each other, but they knew they were there.
"Kiba!" Tsume called, wandering in the fog.
"Arf!" Akamaru tried, but his sense of smell was messed up due to the fog. Kuromaru lifted up Akamaru and Mei and rested them on his back before trying to find Tsume.
The fog lasted for at least five long minutes before finally dying down. Everyone could see each other, but the effect of the fog still hung around.
"We need to get back to the village." Shizuka said, walking over to Kiba and Kaira. Ibiki and Tsume came up to them after looking around.
"She's no where to be seen." Ibiki said, angrily. Tsume shook her head.
"The fog erased her scent, I can't find which way she went." Tsume said.
"We shouldn't have let her escape, who knows what else she knew!" Ibiki yelled. "At least we got piece of information." Ibiki turned towards Kaira and pointed at her. "They're after you, for some unknown reason." Kaira looked down without saying a word.
They're after me because of the voice inside me… That is the only reason I could think of. Kaira thought. Shizuka looked down on Kaira and watched her.
If the fog's effect wasn't still in motion, I could read Kaira's memories and find out why they're after her…Shizuka sighed before lightly pushing Kaira and Kiba along. "Any who, let's get back to Konoha; after all that's happened, I'm sure these kids would want a nice, long rest." She smiled down at Kaira and Kiba, who were too tired to smile back.
"I'm glad this is all over." Kaira muttered, taking off for home.
.:Couple Days Later:.
After the Kaira incident, Ibiki, Shizuka and Tsume cleared Kaira's name and explained how someone posed as Kaira and framed her. The information about a group wanting her stayed secret though.
Kaira returned to her everyday life with visiting the hospital to see Sasuke in the morning and stay during the afternoon, then she would eat dinner with Kiba. You could say the event brought the two of them even more closer together.
They were currently eating dinner at the Inuzuka residence. It was the first time Kaira had even been to Kiba's house. Mei and Akamaru were running around the house, playing together as Kaira and Kiba relaxed at the table.
"So how's Sasuke doing?" Kiba felt obliged to ask. Kaira took a sip of tea that Kiba's sister prepared. She put down the glass and played with her fingers.
"He's still unconscious and his brother's sharingan is still in full effect." Kaira replied, "his condition hadn't changed." Tsume entered the room and took a seat.
"I heard the new hokage is on her way. They say she's an advanced medical kunoichi." Tsume explained, "she'll fix Kakashi and Sasuke easy."
"So he'll be back to normal." Kiba tried, but wasn't too enthusiastic about it; back to fighting with him over Kaira. "Hey, Kaira, tell me about the sharingan." Tsume looked at her son.
"I thought I told you before, Kiba." She said. Kaira fidgeted.
"You only scratched the surface, mom, I want to know more."
Kaira cleared her throat and smiled, "it's a bloodline trait that only the Uchiha have. I'm still unclear on what it does, but I remember Sasuke telling me when we were children." Kaira said. "He said it allows the Uchiha to see the flow of chakra. It also allows the user to see a bit into a future, like, if they are in a fight, the user sees the enemy's move before he does it, and lastly, the sharingan grants the user the ability to copy an opponent's technique. I know there is a more advanced type of sharingan, but I am unsure what it does."
"Only Uchiha's get it, huh?" Kiba asked, interested. "What if someone is half Uchiha?"
"I have no clue, I don't think there is a half-Uchiha out there. But I think you have to be full Uchiha to be able to have the sharingan." Then Kaira shrugged.
"You're so knowledgeable." Tsume said. "Unlike my son here." She let out a roaring laugh and Kaira smiled as Kiba looked annoyed.
"I told you we should have just gone out to eat." Kiba said, not looking at his mom, who didn't seem to notice. Kaira shook her head. Tsume invited Kaira to come eat, but Kiba didn't think it was a good idea, however Kaira was excited to hear it.
"Okay, dinner is finished!" Hana came out of the kitchen holding a plate of steak. "Kiba's favorite." She set it down and Kiba changed his expression to a smile. He grabbed his fork and reached for a steak.
"Kiba!" Tsume yelled. "Let your guest get hers first."
"Ah, no, it's okay ma'am." Kaira tried.
"Come on, Kaira, you get to fill your plate first." Tsume replied, not listening to reason. Hana set more side dishes on the table and smiled.
"Go ahead, Kaira." Hana said. Kaira dished her food out and smiled at everyone as they started dishing theirs out next. Hana took a seat and nudged Kiba. Kiba was already stuffing his mouth with his food.
"Really, brother?" Hana shook her head.
"It's okay, Kiba always eats like this so I'm used to it." Kaira laughed, cutting her food. Tsume gasped.
"You mean he always eats like this in front of you?" She asked. Kaira nodded and ate some of her food.
"Sheesh, Kiba, I thought you at least would have cleaned up your act around Kaira." Hana said. Kiba swallowed his food and went for seconds.
"It's fine, I understand that's how he is." Kaira said, eating some more, "this is really good!" Hana smiled her thanks and continued eating.
Everyone kept eating until all the food was gone.
"Wow, Hana, you really know how to cook." Kaira exclaimed after she finished with her third and final heaping. Hana smiled again as she started taking away all the plates.
"Hey, Kaira, let's go train now!" Kiba said more excited than he should be. Akamaru jumped on Kiba's lap and Mei laid by Kaira's feet.
"Oh, okay." Kaira replied, standing.
"I don't think so, Kiba," Tsume interrupted, "you have to was the dishes. Get in the kitchen."
"Aw, mom!" Kiba complained. She glared at him and he walked into the kitchen. Kaira followed him and saw him filling the sink with water.
"I can help you so we finish sooner." Kaira offered. Kiba looked and her and shook his head.
"It's okay, I couldn't ask you to help me." Kiba said. Kaira made a face and Kiba's only thought was, she's so cute. "Um, tomorrow, I'll come over and we can eat breakfast tomorrow, before you go to the hospital."
"Okay then! I'll cook something special for you." Kaira brightened. She leaned against the wall and smiled as she wondered what to make. "Oh no! I forgot something at the hospital! I better go get it before the visiting hours close." Kaira said, feeling rushed. Kiba turned off the water and faced her. "Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow then. Kiba nodded and Kaira went over to hug him. He blushed and held her tight. "Thank you for tonight."
Hana and Tsume peeked into the kitchen and saw them.
"Kaira is so polite, brother is so loud; it's weird how they attract." Hana whispered to her mother.
Kaira pulled away from Kiba and waved before turning away. She saw Kiba's family and smiled. "Thank you very much for dinner, it was great."
"You're welcome back anytime." Hana replied. With that, Kaira and Mei left. Tsume and Hana walked into the kitchen, where Kiba was trying to work. "You like her, huh?" Kiba blushed and dropped a plate
"Wha-What?" Kiba asked.
"Arf!" Even Akamaru was annoyed by Kiba's denial.
"Hana, don't tease him." Tsume said. Hana stepped back and nodded. "I like her though, besides, I wouldn't mind her being in our family."
"Both of you, hush!" Kiba yelled.
.:Later that Night:.
Kaira laid in bed and yawned. "Wow, dinner was so good!" Kaira exclaimed. Mei jumped onto the bed too and meowed. "Yeah, Kiba is lucky his sister knows how to cook."
"Meow?"
"He's coming over tomorrow morning," Kaira lightly blushed as she cuddled with her pillow, "my stomach has butterflies, that's weird."
"Meoww!"
"What?" Kaira rolled over and smiled, "we're friends, but I must say, he's been there for me a lot more now." Kaira whispered, "we've gotten so much closer; I never would have imagined that we would be as close as we are now."
"Meow…" Mei turned away and closed her eyes.
"Night, Mei." Kaira replied. Kiba is sweet. He bought Mei her ribbon and he saved me a couple times, not to mention he believes in me. Kaira shook her head and closed her eyes. Sasuke should be waking up soon with the new hokage coming… what should I do? I can't handle both Kiba and Sasuke at the same time; it seems like I'll have to pick between them again… Kaira faded away with her thoughts of which one to pick. The same question that everyone is asking: Sasuke or Kiba?
WHOOO!
I added a poll on my profile about if I should add another 'side story' for Cat & Dog characters, well vote and tell me what you think :)
Review? :3