Author's Note: Another third-person P.O.V., for certain purposes. I want to be able to show what Hana is thinking, as well. I will most likely have a few more chapters like this, but most of the will still be in first-person. We will do Kankuro next, I promise. (Sorry it's so filler-ish. And short.)
XI. Scandal
Hana had not expected to find her younger brother in the company of a boy. Ino or Hinata, perhaps. Maybe she had even expected, in the tiniest corner of her mind, to catch him with Sakura or Tenten one of these days. But a boy—much less a foreign Suna shinobi—that was something she had not expected at all.
Inuzuka Hana was not happy with her younger brother. To come home from a mission and find him off on a date with a Konaha kunoichi was one thing. That was something she expected to happen—it was a natural cycle of life. Boys meet girls, boys kiss girls, boys marry girls and make babies. It had been that way for the longest time now, and it wasn't about to change.
At least, she hadn't thought it was about to change—not in the Inuzuka family. She knew that once she told Tsume of this, she would be all over Kiba and that Suna shinobi like Akamaru going crazy over a stray cat.
If she told.
"Kiba," she said casually, leaning against the side of the house. "I didn't expect to find you here…with a guest."
"His name is Kankuro," Kiba said, the corner of his mouth curling to reveal his fangs.
Kiba had not wanted Hana to know about this—not yet. Her knowing was by far the worst possible thing that could happen. Tsume might be able to take information from him first-hand. It would be hard, but she would learn to deal. But if she found out how Kiba had deliberately kept such a secret from her—a secret that his teammates had known before his own mother did—she would surely have Kankuro's head on a plate.
Hana kept her eyes fixed on Kiba. "Tsume doesn't know yet."
"No." Kiba realized that it was a statement, not a question. Hana knew he had been saving this secret. Answering her straight-out was the best thing to do.
The two siblings glowered at each other. Kiba's answers had some cheek to them, and Hana's questions were downright cold. Even with the heat of the day, Kankuro felt a chill blow through the yard. He wanted to break the silence, but he was afraid that Hana would tear his head off if he did.
Kankuro took a deep breath and finally spoke. "Am I allowed to say something?"
"That depends," Hana said, not taking her eyes off of Kiba. "Are you going to explain what the hell you're doing with my brother, or are you going to say something stupid?"
Kankuro winced. Inuzuka women had a way with words, that was for sure. "My explanation is simple," Kankuro said. "I am in a romantic relationship with your brother, whether you like it or not. So if you're going to take out your frustration on anybody, take it out on me." He paused and licked Kiba's cheek, just to watch the expression of disgust that grew on her face. "Though," he continued, wiping the saliva off his mouth with the back of his hand, "I don't understand why you have the right to be so angry in the first place. Isn't it only natural for your brother to want to be with someone? And does it matter who that person is, or what gender they are or what village they're from? Because, if I may point it out, Inuzuka, you have no damn reason to be angry at all. If anything, you should be happy for your brother and I. We've found that we make each other happy. And what else could you wish for Kiba except happiness?"
Kankuro stopped, breathing heavily. It had cost him a lot of nerve to give that speech, and each second Hana's face grew a bit darker until finally her eyes were just two slits of black on her furious face. Still, Kankuro kept his cool. Many years of mouthing off to Gaara had taught him not to show fear.
Hana said nothing. Kankuro brought Kiba's lips up to his and kissed him fully, wanting to get a reaction from the Inuzuka sister. "Meet me at our apartment later," he whispered in Kiba's ear. "Then we'll have some real fun."
Kiba nodded. Hana let out a sigh of defeat. "You're right," she said.
"I'm what?" Kankuro asked, a bit surprised he had won so easily.
"You're kidding, right?" Kiba smirked.
Hana shook her head. "I shouldn't be mad at you," she whispered. "If—if this is what you want, then I should…be happy. For you. If he makes you happy as much as he says he does, then I should accept him. I'll accept him for you."
"And you won't tell Tsume," Kiba said.
"I won't. This is your secret—you should tell her. But don't come crying to me when she's not happy," she added.
Kiba nodded. "I'm glad you understand."
Kankuro put his lips up to Kiba's ear again. "Tonight," he murmured. "Tonight is when you really begin to understand."
