I really would like to finish this fic in '08. Let's hope! And since we're nearing the end—would anyone be interested in future KibaSakus from me?
And haha, this chapter is exactly a month after the last one. I find this fascinating. Plus I just changed all my chapter titles. I am very pleased. Go me.

Disenchanted
Step aside, Tall, Dark, and Handsome,
I do it better.

It didn't really surprise Kiba when Sakura's cheeks flamed red and she dropped her gaze from his. It bothered him, sure, but that wasn't enough to deter him. He prided himself on his tenacity.

He flicked a glance at Naruto, who was now playing Horsey with about three kids. It looked painful.

"I'm not great with kids," Kiba admitted, turning back to Sakura.

"I wouldn't say that," she said, probably referring to Akina. Kiba grinned.

"No, I'm just good with girls." Sakura tensed. Kiba probably wasn't doing this right, but he had to get it all out there. He had never been one to hold back. "I like girls. A lot."

"I know." Well, at least she was looking at him now. Her eyes were narrowed with the barest hint of impatience, but Kiba plowed on, not taking his eyes off hers.

"But I'm not as bad as you think," he protested. "I know you think I'm just some sleazy womanizing pervert, but I'm really not. I'm a good guy." Sakura didn't look convinced. "Weren't we getting along just now?" he reminded her.

"That's because, for once, you weren't hitting on me," she exclaimed, obviously fed-up.

Kiba was surprised. "You don't like it?"

"No," she said firmly, "I don't." She wouldn't look at him. "I've endured three weeks of your measured looks and touches and your calculated innuendo and everything that makes you a skirt-chaser. I'm not some variable to fit into your patented womanizing approach."

Her cheeks were flushed, and she licked her lips nervously in the silence that followed her speech. Kiba was taken aback.

But he could change. He was trying to change. He had never given so much attention to a girl before, never made so much of an effort to get her to see him. That had always just come naturally to him.

But with Sakura… he was up against Sasuke. Sasuke, who Sakura loved, and couldn't love her back.

Sasuke…

Kiba got to his feet. Sakura was silent as he walked away from her.

-x-

Kiba wasn't one to waste time. He left the daycare and Sakura, pulled out his cell phone, rang up Ino, and got Sasuke's number before the bus came. Then, as he sank into the upholstered seats, right across from a brunette who wouldn't stop smiling at him, he called Sasuke.

"Hello?"

"Sasuke." Kiba cleared his throat. "It's Kiba."

Sasuke was silent for a moment. "What."

Oh, yeah, Kiba could really see the appeal. What did Sakura see in him?

"I need to talk to you."

"That's nice. Bye."

Kiba rolled his eyes. "It's about Sakura." Out of the corner of his eye, Kiba noticed the hopeful grin slide off the brunette's face.

Sasuke didn't say anything for a moment, and Kiba wondered if he had hung up. He was just pulling his phone away from his ear to check, when Sasuke said:

"I'll meet you at your university's library. Be there in five minutes."

He was ten minutes away, not including stops or counting traffic, but Kiba figured that the princess could wait a few extra minutes. "Cool. See you."

He clicked off, stuffed his phone back in his pocket, and leaned back in his seat to enjoy the ride. He was almost there.

-x-

"You're late."

"And you're a brat."

Sasuke glared. Kiba scowled right back. For a moment, no one moved, and Kiba was starting to wonder just what the hell was in the juice at the daycare.

But then Sasuke sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I don't have time for this," he said, and that was when Kiba noticed the bulging bag of books slung over his shoulder, the bags under his eyes, and the messy ruffle of his hair. For a split-second, he felt bad – before remembering why he had called Sasuke, and why Sasuke had come.

He really did care about Sakura. Would he even help Kiba, renowned skirt-chaser and number-one flirt? Only one way to find out.

Kiba willed himself to remain unblushing and cool in front of the only person in the world that could get more girls than him. "I really like Sakura," he said slowly, choosing his words carefully.

Sasuke's expression didn't change. "I know."

"And I want to show her that."

"So show her."

Kiba stared at Sasuke. He looked hardly bothered by the subject of their conversation. He even looked a bit bored.

"Sakura's in love with you," Kiba felt he should point out.

Sasuke's expression flickered for only a moment, and it was then that Kiba noticed the tension in his shoulders, his defensive stance.

"I know," Sasuke said again. He sounded tired, weary. The more Kiba watched him, the more he could see the concern in those coal-black eyes, the uncomfortable twitching of his fingers around the strap of his backpack.

Sakura would never stand a chance with Sasuke. And despite knowing that, Sasuke wasn't doing anything about it.

But he could now.

"Let's start over," Kiba suggested. "You up for a coffee?"

-x-

Sasuke said Sakura needed time. But Kiba thought she had had too much time, and she still hadn't moved on from Sasuke. As far as Kiba was concerned, she needed a shove in the right direction, and she needed it now.

Still, he would give her two days. Partly to let her cool down, and partly because he didn't know where else to find her.

So on Monday afternoon, Kiba made his way to the vet's office, Akamaru in tow. He needed a check-up, anyway.

He said a quick hello to Yuuki. She wanted him to stop and chat, but Kiba was on a mission, and slipped out back before she could stop him. As expected, there was Sakura, throwing a ball for a big German Shepherd, who went leaping, barking wildly as he chased the toy. Akamaru yipped happily at Kiba's feet, and Sakura turned at the sound. She spotted his little white dog first, and brightened. Then she glanced up at Kiba.

She frowned. Kiba smiled. "Hey."

"Hey yourself," she muttered. The German Shepherd came back, and Sakura leaned down to take the ball from it. Kiba respectfully averted his gaze.

Well, after a little peek. Old habits died hard.

"Can I talk to you?"

"If I say yes, will you stop stalking me?"

Sasuke had warned him about this. Kiba tried not to take it personally.

"Depends on your answer," he said lightly. Sakura quirked an eyebrow at him, and he moved closer. The German Shepherd was back, butting its nose against Sakura's hand. She didn't seem to notice. Kiba took the ball it had dropped and threw it across the yard. That would buy him a few seconds of privacy.

Sakura was still staring at him with a mixture of annoyance and curiosity. Kiba cleared his throat, choosing his words carefully. This was a risky thing to do. If he messed up, Sakura could really hate him forever. On the other hand, if he played his cards right…

Sakura was looking more and more impatient by the second. Maybe he was over-thinking. Sasuke would say there was no such thing, but then, Kiba wasn't Sasuke. That was the point of his little endeavor.

"Go out with me," he said in a rush. Sakura stared at him with quickly rising irritation. He had to push on, before he totally lost her.

"Give me a chance," he said. "I won't let you regret it." Sakura looked doubtful. "Don't you want to be swept off your feet?"

She shook her head, obviously exasperated, and crouched down to scratch Akamaru behind his ears. He wagged his tail happily, leaning into her touch.

"He likes you," Kiba observed.

"He's cute," Sakura said, standing up and turning away from them. Akamaru barked cheerfully and trotted after her. She didn't shoo him away, and Kiba scowled at his ex-best friend. Traitor.

"Come on, Sakura," he said, striding after her. He dodged around the bones, balls and dogs as he caught up to her and reached out to grab her by the elbow. "You can't pine after Sasuke forever."

She spun around, eyes narrowed into a furious glare. He had said the wrong thing – again – but Kiba wasn't about to back down. He took both her hands into his, staring her down just as intensely as she was glowering at him.

"What? You know it's true. You want to spend your entire life wishing he saw you for what you're worth? Guys stare at you, Sakura. They check you out, and they smile when you talk to them, and they think you're amazing. You're gorgeous and you're funny and you're smart…"Her gaze was softening. Kiba took that as a good sign. "I'm not the only one that notices you, but you don't see anyone, because all you care about is Sasuke."

She slumped visibly, gaze dropping to her shoes. Kiba paused in his tirade. Had he gone too far?

"I know," she said, so quietly he almost didn't hear.

Kiba blinked down at her. Her pink ponytail had slipped over one shoulder, and there were three dogs, including Akamaru, gathered around her feet. Kiba loosened his grip on her hands, but she didn't pull away.

"I really like you, Sakura. I'm sure this doesn't come as a surprise to you, but I do. And I know you have a bit of a crush on me."

At that, her head snapped up. She was scowling now. "Ew. Get over yourself, Casanova," she snapped, sounding truly disgusted.

But she was blushing.

Kiba grinned. "It's okay. Even perfect girls get crushes on guys like me." Sakura rolled her eyes, and he backtracked. "I mean—" Kiba sighed. This was going to take some work. He was willing to go the extra mile, but could she take the first step?

Then he had a thought. Sakura said she didn't like his personality, but he had just been himself since they had known each other, and he still caught her eye. So maybe he didn't have to change so much as show her what he was all about.

If any girl needed some attention from a guy, it was Sakura. And if there was any guy that could make a girl feel like a princess straight out of Disney, it was Kiba.

He put a hand under her chin and lifted her gaze to meet his. He could see his expression, uncharacteristically serious, reflected in her confused green eyes.

"I couldn't help but notice that you're gorgeous," he said, thinking back to the day they first met. "Won't you allow me the pleasure of taking your breath away?"

Sakura was silent for a long moment, and Kiba didn't press her. Finally, her fingers tightened around his, and she looked up at him. Her lips were pursed, and her eyebrows furrowed, but when she spoke, her voice was clear.

"Okay."

All she said was one word, but Kiba broke out into a grin more appropriate for Naruto. Sakura eyed him warily.

"I'm going to regret this, aren't I?"

Kiba laughed, sliding his hands out of hers. "Not a chance."

Then he leaned down, put a hand on the back of her neck to press her closer, and in front of a dozen onlooking puppies, kissed her.

-x-
Going for a girl who's in love with someone else is the stupidest thing you can do.
But I did it anyway.
Because I'm a sucker for this girl. And if you are too, you should be doing the same.
-x-