I rock so hard, for totals. And I know I'm kinda defying canon in this story, with the couples and the situations – as you'll see soon enough. but I'm glad you all still like it, and just be glad I haven't messed up all the couples.

This chapter is dedicated to Ailey, or illusioned, even if she never reads this, because it's her birthday today, and I like her. Just a little. So yes.

Disenchanted
Party Queen, she is not.
But I can work with that.

It was a good enough lead-in, because Naruto loved to talk, and he loved his friends, so he really loved to talk about his friends. Plus, they had just left Sasuke to study, so it wouldn't be too out of the blue.

With that in mind, Kiba began, "So how long have you known Sasuke?"

"Since I was ten," Naruto said, kicking at a pebble and barely listening. The rock would probably keep him occupied for hours. Simple things for a simple mind, Kiba thought.

"Ten?" he echoed. "I've never heard of him before now." Granted, he had only been friends with Naruto through their past three years at university, since they were roommates in their first year.

"He doesn't go to Konoha U," Naruto explained, finally abandoning his pebble. Now he had picked up a long, skinny branch, and was dragging it as he walked. Kiba privately wondered if Naruto had maybe snuck into the university, and should really still be in elementary. "He and Sakura-chan are both really smart, so they go to Oto."

Kiba's eyebrows flew up in impressed surprise. Oto was hard to get into, and the workload heavy. To be doing pre-med in a place like that…

If he wasn't Kiba and full of himself, he might wonder if Sakura was a bit out of his league.

"I've known them both for forever," Naruto went on, apparently not needing Kiba's prodding questions any longer. He had abandoned the branch and was now walking with his bag slung over one shoulder, hands stuffed in pockets, looking almost nostalgic, a little smile playing over his features. "I had a huge crush on Sakura, from the moment I met her."

Join the club, Kiba thought wryly.

"But they're both really smart. I didn't even try for Oto." Naruto shrugged, not looking too bothered. "I would never get in."

"Maybe if the admissions office admins were all drunk," Kiba offered unhelpfully. Naruto stuck his tongue out at him.

"Besides, it's really expensive. Sasuke's family is super-rich, so they paid for him, but no way my Dad would. He'd just laugh. Anyways, Sasuke paid for Sakura to go, too."

"Why did—" But Naruto needed no encouragement.

"She walked out on her parents when she was fourteen. Tired of them fighting and ordering her around, she said. Sasuke took her to live with him." That smile of his was back, subdued and gentle and so unlike Naruto. "He's taken care of her for a long time. Must be why she loves him so much, huh?"

Oh. There was the catch.

-x-

"So hot," Kiba said with a grin.

"Stop talking to your reflection," Naruto said. "It's gross."

"Not when you look like I do," Kiba reminded him, giving himself a spray of cologne before walking to the door. "Come on, loser, let's go."

Naruto grumbled a bit, but got up lazily from where he was sprawled on Kiba's bed, waiting for Prince Charming to get over himself so they could leave for Ino's party.

"I've got a surprise for you," Naruto sang as they emerged into the cool night air. They were late; it was almost ten. The party had started two hours ago, but it wouldn't be ending soon.

"Golly gee whiz, I' wonder what it is, the suspense is killing," Kiba deadpanned. "Come on, I need a drink," he snapped, breaking into a jog across the grounds, out of campus, and down the road to hail a cab to Ino's. Naruto followed, at a high-speed sprint, his endless supply of energy kicking in.

"You're an alcoholic. Last one there's a virgin!"

Kiba sped up. No way was he beating him there, not after that crack.

-x-

It was fun so far. There were a lot of people, which made moving around difficult, but dancing extremely fun. So far, he had danced with Ino for three minutes (before she moved on to the next five friends vying for attention), Tenten for almost twenty, before he got tired and she went on to find her boyfriend, and Karin, who was now lying asleep and wasted in Ino's bedroom.

He was standing with Naruto and a couple of their friends, Gaara and Kankuro, nursing a beer and looking around for something to do, while Naruto recounted the tale of how he stopped a man from choking to death (which he almost caused him to do in the first place, but he always left that out).

Suddenly, he stopped, nudging Naruto. "Hey, isn't that—"

Naruto followed his gaze and, immediately, broke out into a face-splitting grin. "Sakura-chan!" he finished, lifting his hand so eagerly to wave to her that he almost knocked Gaara in the side of the head. The short, but terrifying, redhead glared at the two of them – Kiba was apparently guilty by association – but Naruto didn't seem to notice.

He zipped over to her side, dodging dancers, couples, and drunken slobs, and Kiba, after a moment, followed. He couldn't look too eager, after all.

Sakura was smiling up at Naruto, looking very small in jeans and a simple white tank top, alone on the couch. She looked out of place in too-simple clothing, her posture stiff, and only a glass of soda in her hands.

"Hi, Kiba," she said when he neared, and he knew something was up.

"Hey," he replied, dropping down onto the couch beside her. It was a small couch, squished into the corner of the room to clear the way, and when he sat down so heavily, she bounced up a bit, sliding into him so her shoulder knocked his. Immediately, her face flamed.

"Sorry, I—"

"Where's Sasuke?" Naruto shouted over the music, not seeming to notice their position.

"He went to get a drink," she said, distracted, but only for a moment. As soon as Naruto left in search of their third musketeer, she tried again to extricate herself from Kiba. He, in turn, wrapped his fingers around her elbow and pulled her closer, ducking his head down to her ear to speak to her.

"You don't seem too thrilled to be here," Kiba said. His hand was flat against her back, so when she shivered, he felt it, and he smothered a grin.

"I'm okay," she said, too quickly.

"You're a terrible liar." He pressed closer to her under the pretense of being able to hear her. She was nervous, but she was trying to play it off. "Do you want to go outside?"

She turned to him, one eyebrow raised challengingly. "With you?"

"I won't touch you as long as you don't want me to," he promised, letting go of her to prove his point.

"I never will want you to," she said, but when Kiba held out a hand to her, she took it without thinking, and he pulled her up, cocky Kiba grin in place.

"We'll see how long that lasts."

-x-

"I wasn't expecting to see you here," Kiba said when he led her out onto Ino's balcony. Sakura shrugged, arms wrapped around herself for warmth.

"Ino invited me to spend the night. I didn't know about the party, or I wouldn't have come." She laughed a bit. "I don't really like these things. But then I called Sasuke, and he said he'd stay with me, since Naruto was coming anyways. So here I am."

Kiba looked her over coolly. The last time they spoke, she was all fired up, confident and countering his every attempt to woo her. Now she was almost submissive, contained, and ready to go along with anything he said, just for some company.

She must have really hated being there.

He tossed his leather jacket to her, and she caught it automatically. "Wear that," he said to her questioning look. "It'll probably look even better on you than it does on me." And that's saying something, he wanted to add.

Sakura smiled at him, pulling on the jacket without complaint. It was too big on her, and she had to roll up the sleeves, but she said, "How do I look?" so he said, Kiba-instincts kicking in, "Like a biker babe."

Hey, it was better than, "You'd look better in less," which was what he was itching to say.

Sakura made a face at him, but didn't move to take off the jacket. "That's not very flattering."

"Are you kidding? I just basically said you're the hottest thing ever created."

"And way out of your league," she tossed back, smiling, and Kiba was struck again by the change. Was she… flirting back?

"That can be remedied," Kiba told her casually, leaning back against the wall. "What kind of guy do you like?"

Sakura rolled her eyes. "Depends on what kind of guy you aren't."

Okay, maybe she wasn't. Dammit.

"Spend some time with me, Sweetheart," he drawled. "You'll find out soon enough that I can be everything you want me to be, including the man of your dreams."

Sakura's smile dropped, and she said, tone suddenly bland, "We should go inside. Naruto and Sasuke must be looking for us."

-x-

Indeed, Sasuke and Naruto were waiting on the couch. Naruto was talking to Ino's boyfriend, Sai, and Sasuke was looking bored and ignoring all the girls who came up to him, which annoyed Kiba to no end. So many girls going to waste!

He looked up when they approached, pushing Naruto over to make room for Sakura. The loveseat was a bit small, but the trio barely noticed how scrunched up together they were. That was friendship for you.

Kiba felt a bit left out, and was ready to go back on the dance floor, especially when he saw Sasuke hand Sakura a can of Coke, and she beamed at him in her hero-worship way.

It meant so much more now that he knew their history.

Either way, he didn't make it more than two steps away before Ino barreled past him and launched herself at Sakura.

"You came!"

Sakura said, not without some amusement, "Uh, yeah. I helped you set up, remember?"

Obviously, the blonde was plastered. She never could hold her alcohol very well.

Sai's smile didn't falter as he turned away from Naruto to pry Ino off her best friend. Beside her, Sasuke shot the couple an irritated look.

"Sakura's my best friend," Ino informed Kiba cheerfully. "Since kindergarten." She blinked, looking from Kiba to Sakura, and back again. "Hey, Kiba," she said in what only she thought was a whisper. "Sakura's wearing your jacket."

All eyes turned to her, and Sakura flushed at the attention. Kiba hid a grin. Oops.

-x-

What had followed was a long night of awkwardness. Kiba spent most of the night drinking and dancing, catching only glimpses of Sakura on the couch, looking bored and lost in her thoughts. Sasuke didn't stray from her side, but they didn't seem to be speaking. Not like the two of them had outside for those few minutes.

She was still wearing his jacket, picking at the sleeves, and Kiba smiled at her when she looked his way, all teeth, predatory and devious.

She burned red and looked away, but that was all Kiba needed to feel the familiar rush in his system, the rush only a true skirt-chaser could feel, looking at a girl who didn't want to want him.

If Sasuke wasn't going to give her what she wanted… well, Kiba would.

-x-
If you really like a girl, you can't let little things deter you from her.
Persistence is key.
Be patient, Grasshopper, and you will be rewarded.
-x-