Love was something I had always struggled with understanding, it was pointless to me, how easily people fell in and out of what they claimed to be love, it made the affectionate term rather irrelevant. But when I rested my hand upon that of Kiba's and my heart raced like that of a hummingbird on wing I relished in the feeling and realised, as much as it irritated me, that I was falling for the younger boy. An emotion such a this would be tinder to the fire if my father was still here, if he knew of it there would be another mark against my name and against my back. Wincing at the memory I pulled up in front of the dog's house after almost driving past it, giving the dog a quick kiss good-bye I told him Temari would pick him up on Friday to take us to the party.

"Why would Tem? Why aren't you?" There was a teary look reaching his eyes which I banished with a lick to the red triangle on his cheek. Akamaru struggling out of his arms, leaping out the open window and dashing over the fence like he'd done the day I'd brought the two home from when Kiba's dad had injured him.

"I told you how much I love this car, right? I bought it myself, take care of it with my own money. To take something like this to a party held by Sakura... I'm already worried about everyone's safety I don't need to worry about not being able to get you home on time." Kiba smiled softly at this, eyes warm as he raised my hand to his lips, placing a soft kiss to the inside of palm, my fingers curling up to cradle his cheek.

"Love you too Kanky." He whispered sliding from the car and off into his yard, ignorant to the rather surprised look I'd sent him for the comment. Carefully pulling away from his house I tried to think back on all the conversations we'd had, never once had either of us openly said that we loved the other. It had been made in jokes and some side comments but not as direct and meaningful as Kiba had just said it then, my heart fluttered uselessly in my chest - I felt like yelling at it to stop and settle down before I purposefully removed it so it wouldn't jump out my throat like it was trying.

It took me a minute to realise I'd once again missed the turnoff to pick Gaara up.

Swinging the car round with a screech of tire rubber I swung into the street and drove up to the girls front door, trying to squash the urge to send my brother a sheepish grin as he slid into the car.

"You forgot about me again didn't you?" He stated easily, glaring only mildly at me for the incident. Damn, how the hell did he come to know EVERYTHING?

"Unintentionally I swear... Kiba... Kiba said he loves me." A sudden slap to my back almost made me lose control of my car, swerving dangerously into the opposing lane of traffic - glad barely anyone actually drove in this part of town. "GAARA! ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL ME! KILL US!"

"No." He said almost to smoothly, "It was a congratulatory act, kind of like when I bash you over the head with a book when you forget something."

"Now I'm confused, was it meant to be a good thing or bad?"

"Good I think, but also partially bad. Bad because it was punishment for forgetting me, again. Good because you got an admittance of affection from the dog." Gaara replied, grinning happily, as we rolled up to the house. Parking in the drive I sighed at him again. "So did you reply big brother? Or once again did you forget to open that fat mouth of yours?"

"I... I didn't reply, he left before I could." I replied, upset that I'd missed my opportunity to tell the dog I sent a rather upset look my brothers way. He replied with a sinister grin, patting my shoulder before we both hopped out of the car.

"Don't fret too much brother dear, you have twenty-four hours to instigate another expression of affection. Otherwise he might think you don't reciprocate his emotions."

"When did you become such an expert on relationships?" I asked only getting an exceptionally sinister grin and a flash of childish excitement as he dashed off inside. Shaking my head I followed him in intent on going through my wardrobe to find something Kiba would dub appropriate to wear to the party.

In the end I just ended up falling asleep on the bed with a pile of clothes scattered around me like flowers in a field of darkness.

TBC...