A/N

Thank you to all readers and reviewers. You mean the world. The first few chapters are going to seem a little haphazard, but the plot should rear its' head soon enough.

"Hey, Kiba."

Inuzuka Kiba glanced over his shoulder, rubbing behind Akamaru's ear one final time before standing up. He grinned, exposing sharpened canines and shaking his wild hair from his eyes. "Yo, Shikamaru." He returned, closing the gap between them and punching his friend lightly on the shoulder.

"I think I'm late." Shikmaru yawned, "Am I?"

"You lazy bastard, you know you're late." Kiba replied easily as they walked, "Lucky Sado's used to it."

"Eh." Shikamaru muttered, shoving his hands in the pockets of his jeans. He squinted against the harsh sunlight reflecting off the concrete path, and sighed. "I don't see why he can't come to us."

"Because he's a man of business. He doesn't leave his office, you know that. Personally, I think he sleeps there." Kiba replied. "Besides, this is a small price to pay for what we usually get out of it, and it isn't that far." He grinned.

Shikamaru looked less than enthused. "I guess. You better keep winning, or else I'm out." He said, but Kiba knew he wasn't serious. He'd stick by him whether he won or lost; whether he decided to keep fighting or not. Shikamaru wasn't just his unofficial manager and strategist; he was one of his most loyal friends.

"Yeah, right. Me, lose?" Kiba scoffed. "Not likely." Akamaru barked loudly at his side, wagging his long white tail. "See? Even Akamaru thinks I'm a winner."

"Kiba, I don't know if anyone's told you this before, but Akamaru is a dog. He can't understand you." Shikamaru glanced at him through one opened eye. Kiba raised his eyebrows.

"No kidding!" he laughed, "Seriously? And here I was, thinking my buddy here understood every word I said!" he leant down to scratch Akamaru's head.

"Dickhead." Shikamaru said absently, raising his head to the sky. They weren't too far away from Sado's office now, only a few more blocks. Still, Shikamaru thought, all of this Crimson Fist business was troublesome. It wasn't that he didn't enjoy it, he did, but he knew it was all going to explode sooner or later. Sado was smart, that much was true. He ran the Fist like clockwork, and Shikamaru admired him for that. However, he knew all it would take was one blabbermouth, and the cops would come crashing down on the place like a pile of bricks. Shikamaru didn't want his name anywhere near that hornet's nest for much longer.

They'd had a good run, after all. As a team, he and Kiba had made a fair bit of cash. Kiba was a born fighter – physically and mentally strong, tough as nails and determined as hell. The guy didn't take losing very well. And although he was no weakling, Shikamaru himself preferred to fight outside of the ring rather than in it. In the brawls the Fist hosted, strategic thinking was lost on most of the contestants. Kiba included – not that he was in any way stupid. Shikamaru, however, knew there was more the fighting than brute strength. You had to know your opponent, had to get inside their head. And he knew that teaming up with Kiba in that respect would get him the money he needed quickly, rather than going it alone.

Kiba was happy with the partnership, too. With Shikamaru, he didn't have to think. All he had to do was get in that ring and beat the living shit out of The Other Guy. Kiba liked not having to think, because he knew that eventually all kinds of thinking lead to thoughts about what had happened six months ago, and those kinds of thoughts weren't good for him.

They weren't good for anyone.

"See? Told you it wasn't that far." Kiba said, pointing to the large, black building on the corner. Shikamaru nodded.

"Guess you were right."

"Of course I was right."

"Sure."

Kiba rolled his eyes. "Let's just hurry up and find out when my next match is." He jogged ahead, a little apprehensive but a lot excited about going inside. Sado both terrified and inspired Kiba – everyone knew his story. He was some punk kid with nothing, until he founded the Fist. He made friends and enemies, and worked his way to the top of the crime-lord food chain. He dabbled in all things; drugs, booze, brawls and babes. Truly a sinful God in the eyes of Konoha's low lives. Kiba chuckled.

He mashed the elevator button with his palm, and it began to rise. Sado's office was, of course, on the top floor. The guy had nothing if not a God complex. When it finally binged at the top floor, Kiba was grinning excitedly. A new pick of newbies, some new faces to smash in. He wondered who he'd be paired with – no doubt Sado would want him with one of the tougher kids. He needed someone who'd draw a crowd, someone with a reputation for being dangerous.

As cheerful as he was outside the ring, Kiba had some serious issues to sort through inside it.

"Kiba, Shikmaru," Sado grinned at the two boys like they were old friends as soon as they walked in, "how have you been?"

Kiba laughed loudly, but Shikamaru barely cracked a smile. He knew that calculating look in Sado's eyes, and he didn't like it. "Fine." He muttered, "what's the set list for this week?"

Sado didn't lose the grin. "Straight to the point. I like it. Alright boys, take a seat." They did, sinking into the twin leather chairs opposite Sado's desk. Humming softly under his breath, Sado reached into the top drawer and pulled out a small, red, leather-bound book.

"Inuzuka... Inuzuka..." he murmured, scanning through the pages. "Ah! Here we are. You will be fighting... Hyuuga. Neji Hyuuga."

Kiba tried to recall where he'd heard the name. "Newbie?" he asked. Sado nodded.

"Relatively new. He won his first match against Aburame pretty quickly, but Aburame's a pushover anyway." Sado shrugged, "I paired him with you to see what kind of a fighter he really is."

"Please," Kiba smirked, "he'll be no match for me."

Sado nodded thoughtfully. "Well, we'll soon see won't we? Your fight's on Wednesday. That gives you a few days to get ready." The businessman's eyes flicked to Shikamaru. "I know how you like a few days in preparation, Shikamaru."

Shikamaru forced himself to meet the cool grey eyes of his employer. "Thank you, Sado. We... uh, appreciate that." There was that smile again, triumphant and cocky.

"Yeah, thanks." Kiba agreed with a curt nod. A cold silence settled over the room. Sado coughed, obviously expecting something else. Shikamaru forced himself to look Sado in the eye, no matter how much the guy scared him. He forced himself to look into those eyes, because each time he did, he felt closer to the truth.

Was it you?

"Well, I'm off." He placed his hands behind his head. "Coming, Kiba?"

"Ah, Shikamaru?" Half way to the office door, Shikamaru sighed once more and turned around. Sado rose, clasping his hands together. "A little rude to leave without being excused, don't you think?"

Shikamaru managed a thin smile. "Sorry, Sado. You know how I am." Sado laughed loudly. Kiba coughed out a laugh of his own.

"Just remember who your boss is, Nara." Sado said it cheerfully enough, but the gleam in his eyes was all Shikamaru needed to see. Cross me, and I'll kill you. Without another word, Sado handed Kiba a piece of paper and nodded for them to leave.

Barely repressing a shudder, Shikamaru all but hauled Kiba out of Sado's office. "You crazy son of a bitch." Kiba growled as they stepped into the elevator."What the hell?"

Shikamaru frowned. "That guy is dangerous." He said in a low voice.

Kiba rolled his eyes. "Yeah, like the entire population of Konoha doesn't know that. I thought you were supposed to be a genius."

"I'm not coming with you next time." Shikamaru muttered, shoving his hands in his pockets. The elevator doors opened and he stalked out, leaving Kiba alone in the lobby. As soon as he got outside he broke into a run, desperate to escape those cool, grey eyes.

And all the secrets he knew they held.