Tai: And here we are at last dear readers; the final chapter of a story I started all the way back in 2007. I must admit I never imagined it'd take me so long to finish this, and I thank you all for sticking with me; for reviewing and demanding chapters, and, most of all, for the kind compliments and encouragements on my writing.

The Kiba/Neji pairing community always seems to leave such lovely reviews, to the point that when I'm having a bad day I'll simply turn to the reviews on these stories and it cheers me up. There's another thing I've been wanting to write for a little while that I decided I wasn't allowed to start until this was finished; you've all waited 6 years for this story to finish; my other ideas could wait a month at the very least.

I do, however, have one last apology; I'm a little rusty at writing lemons. Fluffy adorable cuddling? Yeah I've got that nailed down now, but I've lost my touch on the more intense stuff, or at least I think I have; I hope you guys find it satisfying.

Enough of my prattling on, go on and enjoy the final chapter!

'Why is he all the way out here? Who's he waiting for?' Sakura wondered, shuffling slightly in her observational spot. She'd left Shikamaru with Neji and Kiba and started to loop around for a vantage point from which to watch and listen to the trio, but by the time she'd gotten downwind they'd already moved off. It had taken forever to find any of them again, and at the time Shikamaru had been heading directly for the gate, with no sign of where he'd come from nor the other two males. She was almost certain he knew something, but he clearly wasn't going to tell her or he would've blurted something out when she was trying to get something out of Neji and Kiba.

She was almost certain she'd been annoying enough to break even the bored Nara, but he'd been as unyielding as the other two. Instead she decided to follow him in the hope he'd either talk to himself, as he often did, or meet up with someone and discuss it.

'Middle of the night and he's here waiting at the gate for someone or something…but why would he come straight here after leaving them?' she pondered, glancing up at the gate once more. Someone was approaching quickly and heading directly for the snoozing Nara, and they seemed somewhat familiar…'Is that…Shino? I need to get closer.'

"Shikamaru." The voice snapped him back awake in an instant and he looked up to see the heavily clothed male he'd been waiting for. He took a moment to stretch and wake up properly before standing to greet the other male. "Shino; how was the mission?"

"Simple. How was-" Shikamaru frowned at the hesitation from the Aburame, until it finally hit him; the weird feeling he'd had since sitting down was someone watching him, and he could almost guarantee he knew who it was.

"Found out what we wanted to know; we should head away from here if we're going to talk about it." He replied, receiving a nod from the other male. He let Shino lead him away from the gate, certain the insect user had already pinpointed the pink haired pest and was moving them as far from her as he could.

Shino glanced at him sideways as they walked. "She's following."

"As she would." He muttered back.

A slight nod was all he received, and the pair sped up, forcing Sakura to do likewise and reducing her ability to stay completely silent. "We're out of earshot for the moment; what did they tell you?"

"We were right; the night Sakura saw them was just one hell of a coincidence, but there's no way they could explain it without it souding like they were lying." Shikamaru stated, sighing. "They decided faking a relationship was easier that trying to convince the girls they weren't lying, which is fair enough really. Not sure how long it'll be a lie."

"Something happened today?"

"Fake spat, Ino said we should give them time to kiss and make up. Sakura had Hinata check up on them as we were walking away and they were kissing." He informed the Aburame, who stopped and looked at him closely.

Silence surrounded them for several moments before Shino finally spoke again. "You're sure?"

"I doubt Hinata would lie, and she went red as a beetroot when she saw them. Unless she accidentally saw something equally as private that we weren't aware of, it's about the only explanation." Shikamaru sighed. "So?"

The Aburame looked over his shoulder, fixing on one tree and nodding. "Hmm….Where are they now?"

"One of the lakes north of here."

"Can't believe they're so intent on keeping up this lie."

That was all it took; a rustle and some snapping branches reached the ears both males and they smirked; Sakura had forgone all attempts at stealth the second she'd heard something to confirm her suspicions, that was the great thing about the pink haired female; she was very, very predictable.

Dropping back down to the ground they headed back toward the shops. "So what do you think they're up to?"

"Kiba's not great with words, Neji is. Chances are Neji's admitted his feelings verbally and Kiba's trying to show his physically." Shino stated, shaking his head. "Dinner?"

"Sure. So, when do you think Sakura's going to reach them?" Shikamaru grinned. "At the start or the end?"

"If the gods are good, she'll reach them about the halfway point. No denying it then."

"True." He was trying not to laugh at the idea; the look on Sakura's face would be absolutely priceless and he dearly wanted to see it. His stomach disagreed quite firmly; lunch had been quite a while ago and he was hungry. Besides, there were a total of seven lakes north of where they'd been, and it'd take Sakura a while to check them all. "I take it you're keeping track of Sakura?"

"Of course."

"Well then, since we're already getting dinner and we'll have plenty of time, why don't we buy that old man dinner?" Shikamaru asked, earning a glance from the Aburame.

"You mean the hobo that's always near the ramen cart?"

He rolled his eyes at the comment. "Hobo is demeaning, but yes that's the one I mean."

"I knew it!" Sakura yelled happily as she crashed off through the trees, no longer caring if either the Nara or Aburame heard her. She'd gotten what she wanted; confirmation that the relationship between Kiba and Neji was a lie. Now she just needed to go and confront them on it, and there wouldn't be a better time than right now.

She paused briefly to decide where to go first, and almost cursed her own stupidity. With how far she'd had to chase both Shikamaru and Shino, there were at least six lakes north of where they were standing. Seven, if she included the one they'd been roughly in line with. Not to mention she had to do all the searching on her own; the other girls had given up on listening to her about their relationship being fake. She had been the one to find out about it in the first place after all.

'Why did I have to open my big mouth and get Hinata to see what they were doing? If I hadn't done that they'd still doubt it; we hadn't seen anything to confirm their relationship until then. I'm so stupid sometimes.' Sighing, she headed for the lake they'd been parallel to; it was as good a starting point as any.

Heading off through the trees, back in the direction of where they'd started the day, Sakura sighed; her own stubbornness was biting her in the ass and there wasn't much she could do about it.

Neji could feel his heart pounding in his throat, and he was certain it was loud enough for the Inuzuka to hear it. Almost certainly, considering how close they were; Kiba was still on top of him, his hands resting either side of the Hyuuga's head, and the bright golden eyes had captured his own. He couldn't speak; it was all he could do to stop himself from locking his legs around the younger male and pulling him into another kiss.

'I can't tell if he's just suddenly on shy or if he's waiting for something…' Conversation had stopped some time ago; every time he started trying to speak the tanned male would kiss him, either forcefully or gently, but always enough to stop him. It was strange, confusing and exciting at the same time; it was an intoxicating feel overall and he wasn't sure he wanted it to leave. He did know he didn't want to just stay lying on his back staring into the mesmerising eyes of the Inuzuka.

Kiba had been less than helpful; despite stopping his ramblings and attempts at conversation the tanned male had done next to nothing. Squirming slightly, Neji found what he did and didn't have free; Kiba's legs were between his own, his arms were free but sitting up wouldn't be possible. There was one temptation he could give in to, and while he was unsure how Kiba would react he was almost certain it'd be entertaining.

Leaning up, he pressed his lips to Kiba's and slid his hands under the male's shirt, taking advantage of the slight gasp it extracted from the male to slip his tongue into the other's mouth. He could feel the muscles beneath his fingers tense and relax slightly as his hands ran over them and further up his chest. Kiba had wrapped an arm around his shoulders, keeping them firmly entwined in the kiss and he could almost feel the Inuzuka trying to push them closer together.

It was all he could do to keep his legs against the ground at that point; it was stimulating to be in such an embrace and he wanted more. 'Stupid Inuzuka; promises more and then won't do anything.' He mentally complained, although he was having trouble remaining even slightly angry with the male; though he reasoned that was probably connected to the whole intimate embrace thing.

"Where the hell are they?" Sakura yelled, almost hitting her head against a nearby tree. Three lakes she'd visited and the pair hadn't been at any of them. 'Still, I suppose it'd be too easy for me to just find them at one of the first ones I check. They wouldn't really make it easy for me.' Sighing, she took off once more, hoping she'd find something concrete.

Kiba held back a triumphant smirk; his Hyuuga was getting impatient, so much so he'd slipped his hands beneath his shirt to try and get closer. It was enjoyable to feel Neji's warm hands against his chest and he wasn't going to lie to himself, he wanted more.

Pushing Neji flat against the ground he leant forward and kissed his way down the slender, pale neck, slipping his hands beneath the light shirt. "Ah….Kiba…" The gasping moan made him smirk; there was no denying they both wanted it and he definitely wasn't going to disappoint his Hyuuga. He was really beginning to like the sound of that; his Hyuuga.

Claiming the soft lips once more, he slipped his tongue into the waiting mouth, freely exploring the wet cavern. Running his tongue over Neji's seemed to spark the older male into life and they began wrestling for dominance, Kiba only winning when he snaked a hand up and pinched one of the paler male's nipples.

Breaking away from the older male, he tugged Neji's shirt free in a few swift moments, looking down at the breathless male. "No fair…" he muttered, and Kiba's smirk returned; prideful and calm though the Hyuugas might be, they had very poor control over their emotions once they were unlocked. Yanking off his own shirt he tossed it away randomly and returned his attention to Neji's neck, enjoying sweet taste against his lips.

His hands meanwhile were already moving southward, stroking and teasing the male beneath him as he slid both hands toward the waistband of Neji's pants, almost growling at his own impatience. 'We wear far too many clothes.' Kiba noted with disapproval, finally locating the edge of the offending cloth. He returned his lips to Neji's as he pulled the cloth free, stifling a groan as the older male lifted his hips to make it easier and pressing their bodies together.

Biting back his own eagerness, Kiba pulled back to look at the flushed face of the Hyuuga beneath him. In the past month he'd learnt to read Neji's pale eyes like a book, and for the first time he could see something he hadn't before; lust. It was maddening and ebbing away at his already weak resolve, and for the first time in his life Kiba cursed being an Inuzuka; he could smell everything.

Over all else, he could smell the sweat that was slowly rising on his body and everything that was contained in it; desire, impatience, lust and desperation. It was completely intoxicating, and considering that neither of them had been with anyone in the past month, he didn't want to give in to instinct. The last thing he wanted was to hurt the Hyuuga.

Oh, but Neji wasn't making things easy on him; while he'd been watching Neji's eyes the coffee haired male had manoeuvred his hands down to Kiba's waistband and had finally wrestled them undone. Groaning, he pushed the Hyuuga down into a forceful kiss and ground his hips down into those of the older male, thrusting his tongue into Neji's mouth as he elicited a moan from the male.

The last shred of control left him as one of the Hyuuga's silky hands brushed against the outside of his boxers, sliding across his hardened length. Growling, he ran his hands down the pale chest and hooked the last scrap of clothing the Hyuuga had left, tugging it away without another thought. Neji gasped as the cold air struck the warmth of his body.

Eyes raked over his naked form and the Hyuuga shivered under the predatory golden gaze, unable to tear his own away as the Inuzuka deftly removed the last of his own clothes. Licking his lips, Kiba ran both hands down Neji's sides, his touches light at first until the tanned hands reached his hips. A crushing kiss smothered any complaints before they could start, and Kiba ground himself against the male's firm backside.

"Ah…Kiba…" the Hyuuga's voice was failing him and he buried a hand into the short brown hair. "Not…not so…rough…." His objection was met with a wordless growl and a further thrusting by the younger male, causing a groan from the older male, reason clearly beyond the Inuzuka for the moment.

"Oh come on…they're either playing games with me or I have the worst luck in the world." Sakura grumbled, dropping to sit under a tree. She'd checked six of the seven lakes and found no sign of the couple, meaning either Shikamaru had lied, or they were at the last one. Taking a moment to catch her breath, the pink haired woman sighed. Was being right really worth all this running around?

'Of course it is. Now, I only have one place left to check….'

He almost wished he could feel panic rising in the pit of his stomach but he wasn't quite that fortunate; all he could feel was the thrill and arousal coursing through his body at Kiba's every touch. Part of him was concerned about the pain that he'd undoubtedly get, but every time he tried to bring it up the Inuzuka would claim his lips and grind against his backside, drawing more frequent and louder moans.

It was almost too much when he felt something wet enter him; something much smaller than the throbbing length Kiba had been rubbing against him. Neji could feel his own arousal building and tried to focus more on the Inuzuka's movements, finally managing to pinpoint just what the younger male was sliding in and out of him. 'A finger…instinct might've taken over but he still doesn't want to hurt me...' He realised, moaning as another slick digit entered him.

Unable to stop himself, Neji started rocking against the fingers inside him moaning softly at the actions of the Inuzuka; the nails digging into his hip, the fingers already inside him and the mouth working softly on his neck. His own nails dug into the tanned flesh of Kiba's back and his legs wrapped tighter around the male's hips. "Gods…Kiba…more…" He could scarcely control himself as the third digit slid into his still tight entrance, gently probing and stretching it for what was to come.

A growl from Kiba was all the warning he had that the younger male was done waiting, and Neji whimpered at the loss of the digits that had been inside him. His disappointment didn't last as he felt something much bigger begging entrance, and Neji felt himself tense momentarily. 'No, you need to relax.' He mentally scolded himself, and he did his best to do just that as Kiba's throbbing length entered him.

Neji didn't have time to adjust before the Inuzuka started moving, slowly thrusting deeper and deeper into the Hyuuga's tight body, drawing louder moans and gasps from the pale male. The guttural growls and moans erupting from Kiba's throat were increasing his pleasure. Everything in the world had dissolved into nothing more than the slapping of flesh against flesh, the moans and groans emerging from their throats and the desperate clinging of the males to one another.

The sliver of pain that'd been buried in the back of his mind was gone, replaced by an almost indescribable pleasure, and Kiba's movements became much more fluid than they'd previously been. Part of him wanted to question that, but the continual rocking was for too enjoyable and he wanted more. The Inuzuka's grip tightened on his hips, and Neji kept a firm grasp on the younger male as he started slightly changing his angle of entry, earning small moans from the Hyuuga.

He felt himself grip tighter to the male as his back arched, an intense symphony of pleasure streaking through his body as the Inuzuka struck something inside him. He felt the nails digging into his hips release and adjust slightly before Kiba thrust in once more, Neji unable to quieten the moan it drew from his throat. The rest of the world dissolved and the only thing he could feel was the tanned male on top of him, driving him further and further into maddening pleasure.

Neji felt the grass against his back as he lost his grip on Kiba's shoulders, the Inuzuka's forceful and desperate thrusts stealing away any shred of control he might've had left. The hands left his hips and the Hyuuga felt a warm friction against his own hardened length, and he realised Kiba was all but lying atop him as he continued to plunge deeper into Neji's warm, tight body.

It was growing to be overwhelming in combination; the Inuzuka's thrusts and strokes, the feel of their bodies so close and the sweat that was already drenching their skin. Neji could feel his throat growing sore, hoarse from moaning and wordless muttering at Kiba's ministrations. "Gods….Kiba….ah…don't…don't stop…." He begged, and the younger male seemed to take that as an instruction to speed up, licking and biting at Neji's neck.

"Ah…Neji…so good…" Kiba growled back, and Neji could feel his own end rapidly approaching. It seemed the Inuzuka could feel it too; his movements had sped up and it seemed almost like an eternity. He felt his whole body tense and a cry of pleasure escape his throat as Kiba finally coaxed out his climax, the younger male emitting a noise somewhere between a growl and a moan. It took a moment for the dizzying, overwhelming sensation to subside long enough for Neji to notice he couldn't really see; specks of light dancing in front of his eyes.

He could hear panting, but couldn't really tell if it was his own or Kiba's, and he realised he didn't care. Kiba was his; he could fell every inch of the Inuzuka's toned frame pressing down on him and he loved the feel more than anything. Familiar golden eyes swam into view and smiled, still high on his own orgasm.

"Neji, I love you." The tanned male stated softly, closing his eyes and resting his forehead against the pale one of his lover.

"I love you too, Kiba."

"You sure she's headed this way?" Shikamaru asked gently, looking sideways at his companion. The stoic male nodded and motioned for the Nara to be quiet. They'd finished dinner and set themselves up in, what the Aburame claimed, Sakura's path. It was the shortest distance between her own house and the last lake she was supposedly checking, so it made sense, but they'd yet to see any sign of the woman.

That changed quickly as crashing and thrashing met their ears; the sounds of someone desperate to escape some unseen predator or danger. A blur of pink and red passed by beneath them and the Nara stifled a laugh.

"Was that Sakura or a tomato?"

"Sakura I think, unless you know of tomatoes with pink hair."

Shikamaru couldn't help himself as he started laughing, shaking his head. "I guess she caught them in the middle of it this time."

"So it would seem. Good to know those two have stopped dancing around their emotions; it was getting painful to watch." Shino agreed, jumping down and walking lazily back toward the village.

Shikamaru smirked at the comment. "You're right about that; for a pair of fairly intelligent ninja they're idiots when it comes to noticing some things."