Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, but thanks to my birthday, I now own the Konoha headband, a tshirt, a couple of kunai and shurikan, and some cuuuuuuuuuuute little figurines! Oh, and the movie, but we watched it and the translation was so ghetto.

A/N: Thanks for all my reviews and my hidden lurkers. Because this is my first fiction ever, I get nervous every time I post a new chapter! There are so many good fics out there right now, I am just trying to keep up!

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Sweat was pouring down Kiba's body as he did pushups. He could hear Sasuke grunting beside him, doing crunches. Because Sasuke's apartment had limited furniture, there was plenty of room for them both to work out. Originally Kiba had felt tentative asking Sasuke if it was OK for him to do some exercise. He didn't want the boy to take it as him being bored. But thankfully the Uchiha had wanted to work out as well, and it was actually pleasant to be doing it together. It gave Kiba a chance to watch Sasuke's hot body in motion.

Finishing his final set of press ups, Kiba collapsed on the floor. He still felt weak, but he had just done 100—not too bad. He rolled on to his side and watched as Sasuke did his crunches, the boy's face scrunched in pain and determination. Kiba's sensitive nose could pick up the smell of Sasuke's sweat. It smelled clean and well, like Sasuke. Finally Sasuke finished as well, laying back in exhaustion.

"So Kiba, where is Akamaru?" Sasuke began to stretch out his stomach as he spoke.

"Remember? I left him with my family for the week. I…didn't know if I would be spending time with you. I didn't want you to feel pressured when we talked by having my dog there."

"But now, are you going to leave him for the rest of the week?"

"I was planning on it. I assumed you and I would…be busy. This is big for you and me."

"I know, but I like Aka. And I hope he can like me, so maybe he should be here. You know, to see how happy we are together. Not to mention Aka is a part of you, and I know that loving you includes loving your dog."

There was nothing Sasuke could have said that could have made Kiba happier than he was hearing those words. It had always been an issue when he dated someone. To him, it was a given that Akamaru would come along and, in a sense, be part of the relationship because how tightly the two were tied together. Through experience, however, he had learned that the other girls of the village did not share his point of view, often becoming upset when he had brought Akamaru on dates. Sasuke had said the magic words—he accepted Aka in his life when he accepted Kiba.

"That is fucking fantastic, Sasu! You don't know how much I missed him!"

"Baka, of course I knew. You and that dog are never apart. I'm sure it has been eating at you not having him here."

"It has—can we go and pick him up today?"

This startled Sasuke. He had thought that Kiba would go pick up Akamaru while he waited at the apartment. But Kiba seemed to think they would both be going…

"Uh, Kiba? I'm not sure I'm ready to go out in the village yet. People are still very, very upset with me even if you aren't. With good reason, too…"

Again, Kiba's heart ached. He could see Sasuke reliving the fight in his head and knew the boy was overwhelmed with guilt. Adding on to that guilt would be the accusatory stares of everyone who knew what had happened. He couldn't imagine what the other boy was feeling now, but he wanted to help him as much as possible. Crawling over to where Sasuke lay on the floor, Kiba leaned down and gently kissed the boy's sweaty forehead.

"Sasu, I know it is going to be hard going out. I know you are still beating yourself up, and that it will take time for you to forgive yourself. Having people stare will make it hurt, I know. But I think that it would be good for them to see me with you, to see how happy I am with you. After all, if anyone should be filled with hate toward you, it should be me—" Sasuke's eyes closed in pain, but Kiba continued, scared about what he was going to say next. "—but I don't hate you at all. I… love you, Sasuke."

Those words, filled with compassion and sincerity, washed through Sasuke. They were a balm on his emotional scares, instantly taking away the pain, at least for the moment. He opened his eyes and stared at the gorgeous face hovering above his. Looking in Kiba's eyes, Sasuke could see that the boy meant it, and it made him feel…no words could describe the happiness he felt.

"…really?"

"God, of course! I am crazy about you. I have been since the mission, since taking care of you, even when we fought. I love you."

Again the words washed through and the feeling didn't diminish at all the second time they were said.

"I love you, too, Kiba."

They kissed, long and gentle. The kiss was filled with all the emotions, spoken and unspoken, they both felt. It was scary for each of them. This love was new, it was different and completely unexpected and yet they both felt it so much, and that kiss…it said it all.

"So lets get cleaned up and pick up Akamaru—I can't wait to see him!"

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Even though he knew that only a select few ninja knew about him, Sasuke was paranoid walking outside anyway. He felt people's stares on him, imagined them judging him, imagined each person disgusted. How was he worthy of this incredible man walking beside him?

The stares weren't imagined—Kiba felt them, too. But it wasn't because they knew about Sasuke. It was because Kiba was holding Sasuke's hand. Konoha was a very open-minded village, with plenty of same-sex relationships. Hell, though it wasn't talked about, everyone knew that even the Hokage, Tsunade, and Shizune were lovers. But people stared because it was Sasuke, the prodigy ninja that every girl loved. Villagers had even had bets on which girl would finally manage to break the Uchiha. So it was a great surprise for them to see that Sasuke had been tamed…by a boy. And a member of the Inuzuka clan, for that matter. No one had seen either of those things happening, and so seeing it was the shock of a century.

Keeping his head high, Kiba walked with his lover…no. With his boyfriend, through the streets of Konoha, toward his home. He ignored the stares, instead enjoying walking out in the sunshine, breathing in the (not so) fresh air of the city. It felt good to be out, and it felt even better to be out with Sasuke. It made Kiba nervous, but in a happy, excited way. He realized that, hopefully at least, this was the first day of a new life, his life with the Uchiha. It felt as if anything could happen, and the not-knowing made him feel exhilarated.

Kiba's pride and happiness radiated. Sasuke felt a reassuring squeeze, felt the sureness of Kiba, and stood straighter. Sun beating on his cheeks, he began to relax and clear his mind of the ugly thoughts that had been gathering there. Both boys strolled happily toward the Inuzuka home.

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Excitement pent up, about to break out, Kiba opened the door. Though he didn't live at home anymore, he still had a key. Inside, he could immediately smell that his sister and mother were home.

"Come on, I want you to meet my family!"

But Sasuke stopped. He hadn't thought about meeting Kiba's family before.

"Kiba—will they be ok? You know, with this?"

"Oh hell yeah, they'll be happy I finally found someone that makes me so happy. Don't worry, Sasuke, my clan cares most about the happiness and safety of its members. We are tightly knit. I…can't wait for you to be a part of it."

This made Sasuke smile and gave him confidence. If Kiba's family were even a tenth as wonderful as Kiba was, he knew he could love them all. Following Kiba, they made their way through the home.

A voice yelled at them from another room.

"KIBA! I can smell you from here? What are you doing home? And…YOU HAVE A GUEST!"

Kiba let loose a rolling laughter, filling the halls. It always felt good to be home.

"SIS! COME HERE AND MEET—" As he yelled, Kiba's sister rounded the corner. But Kiba stopped yelling when he saw his sister. She was shaking from rage, her hands clenching, a snarling sound coming from her throat. Eyes blazing, she turned red.

"What is he doing here?" she asked through clenched teeth. Sasuke saw her eyes and became very afraid, knowing the anger was directed at him. Apparently when Kiba was taken to the hospital, Tsunade had told the family about how Kiba had become a bloody pulp of a person. He didn't know if they knew that Kiba had actually been dead, even if for a minute, but judging by her face, Sasuke figured she knew.

"What the fuck, sis? Calm down. He is here as my guest." Kiba's voice was gentle, but his face was firm. He stepped forward, putting his body partially between his sister and Sasuke. She noted the protective gesture and became more full of rage.

"He is not welcome in this house. And you…what are you doing with that, that monster?"

Sasuke turned to leave, but Kiba grabbed his hand and held it tight. The movement confused his sister, and she began to laugh hard, a sick and ugly sound.

"Oh, little brother. You fool. How you can even stand to be near someone so evil is beside me. But this… I thought I had smelled a lover's scent on you. What the hell are you thinking? Are you fucking him?"

Kiba's face flushed with anger. Snarling, he mashed his teeth and yelled back. "Yes, I am fucking him. He is no monster. He is a powerful ninja, intelligent and caring, and he deserves your respect. You will not treat the man I love like this."

The words were like a slap to his sister's face.

"LOVE? You LOVE him?"

Face resolute, Kiba forced himself to calm down. He stared her in the eyes, never blinking. "Listen to me now. I love him. You know nothing about what happened, or what kind of man he is. But I will tell you this: I do love him and will love him as long as he permits me to. No, longer than that, because I know I will love this man forever. So if you decide he is not welcome in this family, that you will not welcome the man I love into your heart, then… I will break from the clan."

For a clan as tightly knit as the Inuzuka's, to leave the clan was the ultimate insult. It was something no other Inuzuka had ever done, or even threatened to do. But his sister could see that Kiba was not just threatening—he meant every word he said. It broke her heart, tearing her apart, to think of losing her little brother. But Sasuke…she did not think she could ever forgive the boy for what he had done to Kiba. Unable to speak, she just stared at them, tears beginning to fall down her cheek.

Enraged, Kiba was not willing to be a part of the fight any more.

"Sis, listen to me. I mean it. You can discuss it with the clan, and I am more than willing to talk to you about it—but only if you mean to try and open your hearts to this man, this man that I love." His eyes moved to Sasuke. "I am going to get Akamaru and we are going to leave. If I don't hear back from you, I'll know your answer, and will go to Tsunade and officially break from the clan."

And with that, Kiba pulled Sasuke, who was in shock at all that had happened, to the kennel. They got Akamaru and left without saying goodbye.

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A/N: If you have anything you want to add, or something you don't like, please let me know!