A/N: Welcome to the second and final part of my little spin-off from 'The Inu and the Okami'. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any of it's characters, only my OCs.

The Inu and the Other Inu (Part 2)

Over time, her and the new Inuzuka became closer, and although it would be a far cry to say she could trust him, Luna knew she was growing attached. Which was a shame, because not four hours after they had left the training ground, Tsunade had returned with confirmation of their story.

So, he really was Kiba, after all. But not their Kiba. Kiba from another world. The next plan was to try to figure out how to send him home, but that seemed to be proving more difficult than they'd hoped.

It was virtually impossible to get their heads around, but Luna felt as though she was coming to terms with it the more she saw Shikon. He actually was quite different to her Kiba in many ways, she realised. He wasn't as abrasive as the friend she'd grown so close to, and his manners were by far superior. He seemed to have this odd obsession with cats too, which unnerved her slightly.

She came to visit Shikon more and more in his cage of grass and rock. The barrier the Inuzuka alpha and the Hokage had set up forbid him from leaving the training grounds, but Luna was still free to come and go as she pleased, and he was always grateful of the company. She brought him food every evening too, which he obviously appreciated.

"Tell me about her?" Luna asked one evening after watching him heartily scoff the chicken wing's she'd brought.

From the smirk Shikon threw her in response, it must have been dreadfully apparent that Luna had been wondering about her other self.

"Heh, honestly? She was a lot different to you, in many ways…" He was quiet for several moments after that, forehead creased as he debated on how to summarise his Lulu. "She had a much shorter fuse than you, for starters. It was just downright terrifying whenever she fought with my Ma because I swear, the whole building would literally shake with the force of their arguments!"

The hybrid girl chuckled as she tried to imagine herself fight so terribly with the Inu Alpha.

"And she was fearless. Never afraid to speak her mind, no matter the situation. God, that girl had absolutely no brain to mouth filter. She got herself into all kinds of trouble for that… Well, it would have been trouble had she actually needed my help. Let's just say she could hold her own in a fight against three seriously angry Jounin and two Anbu Black Ops!" This time it was Shikon who had to laugh, dark eyes gazing at the sky as though lost in a memory. "The biggest difference is your social habits though."

Luna blinked, unsure if she'd heard him correctly. "My what?"

"You know, the way you act around people. My Luna was much more open, whereas you seem much more reserved… No offence! It's not necessarily a bad thing, it's just different. And strange, in a way. Imagine being thrown into a world where everyone you meet you know, but everything you know about them is wrong!"

"Huh. I never thought of it like that."

The pair lapsed into a moderately comfortable silence, each mulling over the situation in their own way, until the silver-haired girl felt his onyx eyes on her own. She glanced up to meet his gaze, expecting him to react or look away, but he didn't. It was only when Luna made an awkward noise in the back of her throat that he realised he'd been staring.

"Oh, er, s-sorry. It's just, you do look exactly like my Luna did." Shikon's eyes softened as he spoke, adopting a somewhat melancholy expression. He reached up to trace the small curved symbol on her forehead. "Apart from your crescent moon, hers was on her left wrist."

"I'm not her, you know…" She murmured gently, not wanting to upset her companion.

"I know that. I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable."

"No, it's alright…" She shook her head in reassurance. "But erm, Shikon?"

"Yes?"

"W-what happened to her? The other me?"

The alternate Kiba pulled a face in distaste, as though discussing the subject would bring his Luna's fate on this Luna, too.

"I-it's okay if you don't want to tell me. I'll understand!"

"She…" The Inu ninja let out a sigh, closing his eyes momentarily. "She died. Three years ago. We were on our last mission together before our summer break…"

"Oh, I'm so sorry." It felt weird apologising about her own death to him, but Luna had to remind herself that this was actually an entirely different life force to her own.

"Not your fault."

"I'm sure it wasn't yours either." The statement was unusually perceptive for Luna, but there had just been something about the way he'd muttered those three words that had her replying before she realised it.

His head snapped up to look her in the eye, surprise tainting his expression. "You don't know that."

"No, but I can tell you loved her a lot. How could it possibly be your fault if you loved her so much?"

Shikon mouthed silently, and when he finally failed to form a suitable response, the she-wolf changed the subject. "Anyway, Tsume was very optimistic about the progress on finding you a way home, earlier."

She smiled, expecting him to mirror the notion. What she got instead was a small frown. What had she said now?

"Are you okay?" She asked nervously, jolting in surprise when the male before her leapt to his feet suddenly.

"That's it!" He exclaimed animatedly.

Deciding to humour him, she grinned and scrabbled to her feet too. "What's it?"

"Luna… You could come with me!"

Kiba couldn't believe what he was hearing. Fury balled in his fists as the sudden desire to punch something flooded him uncontrollably. It wasn't that he'd been intending to listen in on their conversation… It's just that he hadn't seen Luna in days, and he really, really missed her. More than he cared to admit. She'd missed their last few training sessions together too, instead opting to keep that bastard company. It seemed that's all she ever wanted to do lately, and he didn't like it one bit.

"Come… with you?" Luna repeated, clarifying what she'd heard.

"Yeah, back to my world. I could introduce you to everyone! They'll all be so amazed and I'm sure they'll all love you. And you'd sort of already know them, and they'd sort or already know you. And your family! Oh, your family will be so happy to–"

"My family?!" Scarlet eyes widened dramatically, mouth dropping open. "They… They're alive?"

"Oh… Y-you mean…" Understanding dawned in the fake Inu ninja's voice. "How long ago?"

But the hybrid girl only shook her head, not wanting to broach the subject in depth. Shikon seemed to catch on, bubbling again about how great it'd be if she came with him.

"Well then you'll get to see them again! It'd be perfect!"

How dare that bastard use her dead family as a bribe to go back with him! No way would she be swayed so easily. Kiba growled under his breath as he tried to sneak closer without being seen.

"…I could see my family again…" She murmured to herself, looking desperately tempted.

The hidden dog trainer stopped dead in his sneaking, mid-step. She's not actually considering this… is she?

Shikon apparently picked up on the hopeful note in her words and continued his plea. "They live on our compound with us now, you know. They moved in a little after you… Er, after Lulu… well, you know."

"They're living in Konaha? With outsiders?" Her eyes seemed to widen further, if that were possible.

"Yeah, I was surprised too. But it was their idea, said they wanted to feel closer to you."

This wasn't right. It wasn't that fake's Luna sat before him, it was his Luna!

Kiba sucked in a breath suddenly at that thought. Since when were either of them his?! And then he frowned. Maybe that was the problem. She didn't belong to him or anybody else, so if she wanted to leave, she could. No one could stop her, not even Kiba. The whole situation made his head spin as he strained his ears to hear her reply.

"I could see them again…" Her voice was quiet, but Kiba heard her tone loud and clear. That was it, she'd decided. She was going to leave him…

Unable to stand it any longer, he spun on his heel and leapt away, almost barrelling straight into Akamaru on his way home.

"What's wrong, Kiba?" The large white animal nuzzled his hand as he regained balance, eyes large and concerned.

"Akamaru…" The Inuzuka heir mumbled, a far off, lost look in his ebony irises, which made Akamaru even more worried.

"Home?" The big dog knew his master always felt his calmest in the depth of his own room, safe in his territory. This was the only thing he could think of to settle Kiba's nerves at the moment, that or find Luna. She always seemed to calm him down too. "Shall we find Luna?"

"No." He shot back quickly, almost making his canine flinch at the harshness. "Sorry, boy. Come on, let's go."

The pair took off, crossing the Inuzuka compound in minutes.

A couple of hours later, Kiba was mid-rant to his ever-faithful companion, when three sharp raps on the door spared Akamaru's ears the grief. He sniffed the air, but frowned when his nose came up blank.

Curiosity getting the better of the Inu nin, he crossed the room and slid open his door to reveal a little-too-happy Luna. He grimaced, cursing under his breath at the realisation that he couldn't tell who it was because that bastard's stench was almost completely masking hers. And it's a well-known fact that you can't smell your own scent.

"There you are!" Luna grinned, brushing past him and entering the room, oblivious to his displeasure. She made her way over to sit casually on his bed, pausing to pat Akamaru on the way. "I've been looking everywhere for you!"

"Yeah well, here I am." Kiba muttered irritably as he leaned against the doorframe.

Luna raised an eyebrow slightly at his tone, but breezed over it. "Fancy some late night training? Let off some steam?"

"No thanks. I'm busy."

The same eyebrow raised again, higher this time as she scanned his empty bedroom. "…Doing what?"

"Just stuff. Why, do you think I'm lying or something?" He growled, harsher than intended.

"What? Of course not, I was just curious." Frowning, the she-wolf tried not to let his sour mood get to her and attempted a subject change. "So, I saw Hinata earlier. She said to say hi." Small talk? Really, Luna?

"Oh. Hi, back then, I guess."

Silence.

"Hey, her and Naruto seem to be getting closer these days!"

"Really?" He honestly couldn't have sounded more disinterested if he tried. His voice was so mind-numbingly flat that Luna didn't think it was humanly possible to be so bored.

"Mhm…"

The silence stretched on, the elephant in the room growing larger by the second until Luna couldn't take it anymore.

"Okay, what is wrong with you?" She demanded, throwing her arms out on either side of her, palms raised. "Why are you being like that?"

"I'm not being like anything." He sulked, crossing his arms and turning away from her slightly, his actions completely countering his statement.

"Kiba!" She groaned, annoyed to have to drag it out of him. "Geez you're like a moody teenager right now. Stop pouting, for God's sake."

"I'm not pouting!"

"If the wind changes your face will stick like that, you know!" Akamaru whined, and while Luna couldn't understand the words, she recognised his agreement.

"See, Akamaru knows somethings wrong, too."

"Will you quit pestering me then?"

"I just wanted to catch up a bit! I feel like I haven't seen you much recently…"

Kiba snorted and rubbed his chin, pretending to think. "Hmm, gee, I wonder why that is."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Luna asked, suspiciously, standing and taking a few cautious steps towards her friend.

The dog trainer shrugged, eyes narrowing into a glare. "Oh, I don't know, why don't you ask your other half? I mean, you two are practically joined at the hip, right?"

"Shikon? Is he what this is about?"

"Don't give me that innocent and bewildered crap, you know damn well why you haven't seen me."

The girl reeled back in fury. "That is ridiculous! We've both been busy! Me more so under the circumstances, admittedly, but that's why I came to find you tonight."

Kiba scoffed, cruelly. He knew he was taking this too far, that things were getting out of hand, but he was just so angry. "Like you'd care anyway, since you're leaving for good soon. It was only a matter of time. Well good riddance to you both, I say!"

"…Wait, what? I'm leaving?"

That was the last straw for Kiba. One hand fisted and slammed backwards into the wall behind him as he stood up to his full height, moving to tower over her as he roared, "Don't insult me with that damn lie! I'm not stupid. I overheard you earlier, so I know all about your little plans to sneak off with that bastard fake when the portal is opened!"

Luna snarled probably the most ferocious snarl she'd ever expressed toward him and shoved him backwards, hard. Akamaru made a noise in the back of his throat and jumped to his master's side, instinctively defensive.

The she-wolf's ears were pinned to the back of her head and every hair on her tail stood on end, making her look more like a very angry cat than a wolf. "You idiot! If you'd stuck around long enough to hear my answer you'd know I said no!"

The room was once again quiet momentarily, with only the sound of angry panting from both parties.

"You said no?"

She couldn't help but detect the slight hint of hopefulness in his question. "Yes, I said no. I'm staying put."

"…Why? What about seeing your family?" Kiba's face was nothing short of total confusion.

"They aren't really my family. They were hers. And because I like it here, that's why." Her hybrid ears perked upwards slightly from their flattened position, as though testing whether or not the tension was easing up.

"You… like it here…" It wasn't a question. It was more like he was trying the statement out on his own tongue, but for what, Luna wasn't sure. Apparently it didn't fully pass his test, because he tilted his head and repeated, "Why?"

"Do I have to spell it out for you?" Luna sighed at his blank expression, and resisted slapping a hand over her face. "It's just like you keep telling me. I have friends and people who are important to me here. I don't want to leave them… That includes you, Kiba."

The Inu nin's mouth fell open slightly, forming a small 'o' shape as his cheeks tinged pink. Luna had to hold back a blush of her own, at the pure look of surprise on his face.

"I wouldn't leave you like that, especially not after everything you and your family have done for me."

Ebony irises softened, and Luna's scarlet ones widened as Kiba reached out to pull her to him. Her breath caught in her throat as he hugged her closer, nose nuzzling her hair.

"I'm sorry." He murmured, so gently that the flap of a butterfly wing would have drowned him out.

"I-it's fine…" Hesitantly, she began to lift her arms to return the gesture. His grip on her shoulders tightened ever-so-slightly as she responded, enough to encourage her to complete her action. With her arms now securely wrapped around his waist, Luna finally felt herself relax, leaning into his warmth. "You… didn't hear anything else after that, did you?"

Kiba's eyebrows pulled together slightly, concerned. "No… Should I have?"

"No, no! Not at all. That's good." She breathed, relief flooding her as she returned her focus to their hug.

It was only when Akamaru nudged their sides with his head that the pair broke apart.

Kiba cleared his throat awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck while Luna hovered in the doorway.

"Well, I'll see you tomorrow, then." She mumbled, shyly.

He grinned in response, and just like that the tension was lifted. "Night, Luna."

"I could see them again…"

Shikon smiled softly as Luna's ruby irises began to quiver. "Your death really hit them hard, you know. Your father, especially."

The she-wolf sniffed as she listened, mind working a mile a minute as she tried to organise her options. On the one hand, she could see her family again, alive and healthy and happy… and living in the Leaf village, of all places! But then, she'd be leaving everything she'd worked so hard for here. The bond with her new-found friends, not to mention the Inuzukas. And then there was Kiba…

"I know it's overwhelming, and scary. I can tell you that first-hand, being thrown into a strange world where everything you know is not quite right, but will you think about it, at least? For your family's sake… and for mine?"

Her eyes lifted to meet his again, scarlet orbs clouded with indecision. "I am thinking about it. I'm very tempted, in fact. There are so many reasons why I should agree to come with you…"

"But you won't." The Inu doppelganger finished her unspoken words. The gentle resolve was clear in her expression, her body language, even her scent. She wouldn't leave this village after everything it's people had done for her and all the hard work she had put into making a life here.

However, Shikon wasn't completely oblivious. He could tell the true reason that she wouldn't leave with him the second her eyes met his.

"…You love him, don't you?"

Panic flashed across the hybrid girls face, eyes flattening in automatic denial.

Shikon chuckled, raising his hands to keep her calm. "It' alright, don't worry. You're secret's safe with me. I understand. I understand completely, actually." His smile turned melancholy, hands dropping to his sides as though in defeat.

Choosing to ignore the insinuation on her feelings, she returned his sad smile. "I hope you can find love again in your world. I mean, I know that's what the other me would have wanted for you."

"Thanks Lulu– erm, Luna. Thank you." He forced a grin, but the notion was genuine. He was glad to have met her, even if she wasn't the one he had fallen in love with.

The evening the Hokage returned to the Inuzuka compound with the news of their success came all too soon for Luna, and she struggled to keep a brave face when they explained their jutsu process.

Their breakthrough revealed that they'd be able to open some sort of portal, but with their limited technology and knowledge on the matter, it would be risky at best. The portal would be a one-way system, and there's be no way to conclude whether or not Shikon arrived back home safely or not. And that thought terrified the wolf girl.

"So, you want me to jump through a one-man sized hole in space and time, with no guarantee I'll even get home, let alone survive?" Shikon asked, voicing all of it's flaws in one question.

"It's not ideal, but we cannot leave things as they are. The balance of the universe is in danger, I'm sure you can understand that." Tsunade reasoned, sounding far too calm about the whole thing.

Shikon's expression remained unconvinced, but he could tell there was no compromising on the resolution from here. They wanted him out of their world by any means necessary, and no amount of bargaining would spare him. Turning to the one person he hoped might offer him some hope, he was discouraged to find Luna looking as dire as he felt.

"So that's it then. It's decided." He mumbled, defeated. Though no one looked particularly happy to see him go. Even Kiba's expression was dubious. He might have hated the guy, but he didn't want him dead!

Tsunade took the moment of silence to speak, the authority in her voice ringing loud and clear, as any good leader should have sounded. "We shall commence the jutsu immediately. It will take approximately six minutes until it is in full force, which will likely be the safest time for you to enter, when it's at it strongest. Please use the time between then and now to say your goodbyes."

With a quick nod to Tsume and two of the Hokage's private Anbu guard members, the four began to form a series of hand signs that Luna didn't bother to keep track of.

Attention focusing on Shikon, she felt her eyes well with nervous tears for her newest friend's wellbeing.

Unable to hold herself back, Luna threw herself forward for an uncharacteristic hug. She'd come a long way from the fragile young wolf girl, alone and untrusting of the world as she had been back then. She had the Inuzuka's to thank for that, but Shikon was a special case.

"Hey now, don't cry for me." He murmured softly into her hair, stroking her back comfortingly and ignoring the tension rolling off his mirror image.

"But even if it all goes well, you'll be all alone again… I just couldn't bare it…" She sniffed. Both Kiba's knew the she wolf had known such loneliness in her past, and both knew these were more than just tears of worry. She was sharing his pain, the pain he was yet to feel once again.

But Shikon kept a brave face, letting out a low chuckle. "I've managed the last three years without Lulu, I can last the next without you, Luna. But thank you, for everything."

He pulled back slowly, forcing her to look him in the eye. "I do wish you could have come with me, but we both know you have some unfinished business here, right?"

She nodded miserably, knowing exactly what and who Shikon was referring to.

"Don't make the same mistake I did… Hold onto him." He whispered into her ear, so quietly that only she could hear those heartfelt words. "I'll miss you. Have a good life."

A small smile made it's way onto the lupine girls face, her ears perking up slightly. "You too."

Her response was simple, but that was all there was to say.

Shikon's gaze shifted over her shoulder to where Kiba was sulking in the background. "Take care of her."

Kiba bristled at the comment, taking it patronisingly. "Yeah, yeah. Get out of here…" He grumbled, but Luna had to cover a laugh at his brooding.

Smiling more strongly at the Inu before her, she watched as he stepped away and approached the swirling vortex the Leaf ninja were forming.

"Ready when you are!" Tsunade called over the rumbling of the jutsu.

Shikon stepped forward bravely, but stopped suddenly as though remembering something. "Oh, Luna! I almost forgot to warn you!"

The growling of the vortex had begun to raise in volume, and the friends found they had to shout slightly now to be heard.

"I don't know about your world, but in ours, the Hihanta is still around."

Luna's heart leapt as she felt her blood run cold upon hearing that title. Her mouth fell open, and she stared back in horror as Shikon's final words disappeared into the portal.

"The Hihanta is an ideal, not a person. He won't be so easy to… rid yourself… of…"

With a whoosh and a gargle, the vortex swivelled into itself. It swallowed the estranged Inuzuka and his foreign world within it, collapsing like a black hole, leaving the training field in a deathly silence.

The hybrid girl choked back a quiet sob, falling back into the comforting arms of her Kiba, the one she was so much more familiar with. His warmth and scent enveloped her, and all at once she felt a million times better, despite everything.

"It is done." Tsunade concluded, having nothing more to add and sensing the duo needed their space. With a graceful nod to the Inuzuka alpha, her and the two Anbu members vanished into the night.

Tsume turned to her son and the sniffling girl who was still in his embrace. "I'm sure he'll be fine, Luna. You did well, both of you."

Although her words were few and far from comforting, they served their purpose well, allowing the woman to make a civil exit. Even Akamaru trundled away after the alpha female, which Kiba was surprisingly thankful for. He'd missed having time with his best friend alone, even if it was an occasion such as this.

"Hey, Luna?"

"Hm?" The hybrid girl sniffed, raising her head slightly to look up into soft onyx eyes.

"What did he mean before, by 'unfinished business'?"

Luna faltered momentarily, but managed to recover quickly. "Just that I have friends here, and I'm working to build a life with you all."

The dog trainer seemed satisfied with her answer, returning to hugging her into his chest and seeming to enjoy her company as much as she was his.

But Luna's thoughts had now turned elsewhere. Hihanta is an ideal, not a person…

She had known that all along, but hadn't really given it much thought. Had she been foolish to dismiss him so carelessly?

"You hungry?" Kiba's voice broke through her worry, and all at once she felt so safe again, beside him. Kiba made it hard for Luna's fears to consume her, but she knew it was something that needed some serious consideration.

But not tonight, she decided. Tonight, she'd let him carry her away from it all. Tonight, she was safe.

But for how long?

A/N: Thank you so much for reading my little spin off to 'The Inu and the Okami', I really hope you enjoyed it as much as I did writing it! The fic will now continue as it was prior to these 2 chapters. :)

Peace out guys!