Where Evil Lurks

The place was black with something hissing deeply in the darkness. It rattled at the walls, shook the stairs, and made the Inuzuka's ears ring in pain. There was a purple glow by which he used to go down the steps, but he stumbled and fell the last few down, landing hard on his shoulder.

He groaned and got up, shook his head, and rubbed his sore limb. He looked around and through the eerie glow and saw a large stone in the far back. It was similar to crystal, and by the purple hue it reminded him of amethyst. Pausing, he saw something wrong with the crystal. It held many cracks and large gashes here and there, and through one particular crack he saw the figure with the lower half of a snake and the upper body of a woman.

Kiba stood and advanced toward the crystal, the hissing in his ears growing louder, but they beckoned him, as if begging him to touch the crystal cage. Once close enough, he reached out to finger a spider web of cracks. Before his fingers could come in contact with the stone, a roar echoed over the hiss and he was toppled over, again hitting his shoulder.

He was about to yell but his voice paused in his throat when he came face-to-face with a tiger, but instead of orange or white...it was black with deep blue stripes like sapphire.

"Why are you here, boy?" Safaia growled deeply.

"I-I-I was looking for Kerica!" Kiba stuttered out, holding his hand up in surrender. One wrong move and he was dog-er in this case cat food. "I swear that's all!"

Safaia growled at him but backed off, "I was saving you boy from making the biggest mistake of your life. No one touches that demon unless they want certain death." She let him sit up and her tail whipped back and forth, "Kerica is in her room. Didn't she tell you not to come down here? This is the only place a Jinchuuriki like me can be full form and free without consequences. I guard that one," she nodded her head toward the snake woman, "Her name is Sui. Don't come down here again, Kiba, or I might actually hurt you next time." She wrapped her tail around his arm and pulled him, dragging him easily back to the stairs, "Up you go, Kiba. You hurt her, fix it."

Kerica swallowed thickly but wiped her tears away and checked herself in the mirror before going to the door. She opened it and smiled, trying to pretend nothing had happened, "Hi, Kiba. Sorry, that was rude of me to run off like that." She joined him out in the hall and noticed his jacket was all messed up and had small pricks in it where tiger claws ripped it slightly, "Oh…seems you met my Jinchuuriki," she smiled sheepishly, "Are you okay? What did you do to get her fired up enough to tackle you?"

"Yeah, I'm fine…I…um went looking for you by following your scent to those gates and…well went in." Kiba said slowly, scratching his head nervously.

Kerica grabbed his jacket and her eyes flashed, but not in anger, but in fear. Her expression was furious however, "You didn't touch the crystal that held Sui, did you?" she demanded, but didn't realize the jerking was hurting Kiba's shoulder.

Kerica blinked and gasped, "I'm sorry! What happened?" She reached more gently and placed her hand on his, "Did you fall? It does get awfully dark down there...come on, I got some herbal tea and I can massage your shoulder with healing oils." She took his hand and gently led him back to the kitchen and started the tea before getting out the oil, You'll need to take your jacket and fishnet shirt off so I can massage you properly. The oil's a bit mint-scented but it isn't that strong, and it'll make your skin tingle for a while."

Kerica sat down the supplies, "I was trying to avoid this, but I guess I'll tell you why that area is off-limits while I soothe your shoulder."

Kiba winced as he slowly removed both his jacket and fishnet shirt. He blushed once it sunk in that he was shirtless around the loveliest girl he ever met, even Hinata with her shy beauty couldn't seem to compare to her. "You don't have to, I mean, if you don't want to. I know some things are better left alone. But then again it would be interesting to know why a tiger nearly killed me for almost touching…whatever it was down there."

"Sui is an evil demon that the Kage was able to catch, but she could never be anyone's Jinchuuriki because of how evil she is. The Kage sealed her in the crystal and gave her to my father to protect, but if you saw, she's slowly been cracking her prison. If a living being were to touch the stone besides me dad then the most horrible things could happen."

Kerica sighed and blushed at his toned body and magnificent muscles. She rubbed some oil on her hands before gently rubbing his shoulder where it was starting to bruise, "I'm supposed to be it's keeper but Safaia does that for me.

"Oh…so how did you get Safaia? I mean I know Gaara was born with his demon, and Naruto had his sealed away in him." Kiba asked, trying to make conversation after not being able to stand the silence that followed Kerica's explanation.

"I got Safaia by chance," Kerica smiled as she massaged gently, working the tightness gently to loosen it and then when she noticed he was tense all over, she hummed to herself in thought, "Come on, I'll take you to your room for while you're here." She smiled and walked him through her home and to a guest room. It had plenty of room just encase Akamaru wanted to play, and it was quite fitting with wolf decorations all over, "I decorated this room because of Sarrina, since her Jinchuuriki is a wolf."

Kerica made Kiba lay down on the bed face-first, "Just relax. While I massage you I'll tell you about Safaia."

"Alright," Kiba murmured as he blushed more. Who would have thought that he would be getting a massage from Kerica? He closed his eyes the moment Kerica began to massage him. Sighing contently, Kiba opened his eyes again to keep from falling asleep.

Kerica smiled as she put the lotions on her hands and got on the bed to be in line with his body, trying to keep herself off of him, a knee on either side of him, trying to make sure he wouldn't notice so he wouldn't tense more from embarrassment. She did this with everyone she massaged, even her dad, it was the only way she could work, but her efforts were in vein the moment she got into her rhythm of working his muscles loose.

She forgot the position she put herself in and eventually she ended up sitting on his lower back. The tiger started to panic when she realized this, but when Kiba only shifted but didn't tense, she calmed down. Kerica looked down to see he was starting to drift to sleep, but this was where she got mean…by placing a loose fist on the middle of his back, placed her other hand on top, and pushed.

Several cracks and pops were heard.

However, Kiba didn't cry out in pain. Instead, his eyes had flown open and he had let out a gasp at the very sudden movement. Kerica giggled at his wonder-filled face and swung her leg over and crawled to the other half of the bed, "Sit up, Kiba, and just take some deep breaths."

Kiba pushed himself up, taking deep breaths with widen eyes. "W-What was that?" he finally managed to ask after pushing passed his surprise. He looked over at the brown haired maiden for answers, noting the glee in her sapphire eyes.

"When you were completely relaxed, I did to you what I do to everyone else who I give massages to. While facing down, relaxed, and having someone pop your back when you least expect it, causes your airways to open up and some things to be put back in place," Kerica explained, "Do you feel like you can breathe easier now?"

Kiba stretched slightly and nodded, "Yeah, actually. That's amazing! Where did you learn something like that?" He rolled his tension-free shoulder with a grin.

Kerica giggled, blushing at how amazing he looked shirt and jacketless while he grinned like that. "I didn't learn," she said, "It was an experiment from the beginning and I've just kept practicing since then." She smiled at him, 'I think I'm crushing…lot of good that'll do me, though. He's got that Hyuuga girl back at Konoha. The Hyuuga are like royalty, even here. I'm a Jinchuuriki holder. That's, like, the complete opposite…he would never want me.'

The wolf boy watched Kerica's angel smile slowly disappear and noted the slightly glazed look in her eyes. Frowning, Kiba suddenly remembered why he went to Kerica's room in the first place. With a cough, he cleared his throat and looked at the Tiger with a slightly serious face.

"Kerica, I never got to ask you what I wanted back in your room." Kiba paused a moment before continuing, "When I was leaving the place where Safaia is, she said…she said that I had hurt you. I guess I probably said something wrong earlier. I want to apologize for whatever I said."

Kerica wanted to strangle her Jinchuuriki but knew she was just protecting her vessel. Sadly Kerica sighed and looked away, "I probably shouldn't be so hurt, I asked what Konoha was like and who you know. No…it was how you spoke about…her. Hinata Hyuuga…" She frowned, "You spoke so affectionately, like you like her…" She looked down at her hands, "I'm a hopeless person….I carry a demon inside me. No one…" she put her face in her hands, "I'm just being a fool, Kiba-kun, I'm sorry…" she got off and started to head for the door.

"Kerica, wait!" Kiba gave a start, and all but tackled the tiger to the ground when he leaped after her. He stood next to her with his hand firmly around her slender wrist. "Look…Hinata…Hinata is a wonderful girl, but…she likes Naruto, a Jinchuuriki like you. I have accepted this since…since he changed her during the exams. Before, Hinata would just run from a fight. Now, she stands her ground." He shook his head with a sigh. "I'm sorry I upset you by talking about her so highly, but she's a good friend of mine. And you're no fool, Kerica. You are so beautiful, and kind, I never thought that someone like you would ever even talk to me. Please Kerica, I'm sorry…I lost Hinata…please don't let me lose you, too…"

Kerica stared at Kiba with disbelieving ocean eyes, "You…don't want to lose me?" she asked, "No one ever wants me. I start to like someone but once I say something they have someone else or aren't interested, or are afraid of me…" The tears started falling and she shook her head, "You…don't care about what I am? I'm not normal…but you still…you still like…me?"

"Of course, Kerica…I don't care if you have a demon in you. Naruto and Gaara have demons, too, but that doesn't stop be from hanging out with them. I know you are a beautiful, caring, and intelligent girl, so what's their not to like?" Kiba hesitantly placed a hand on Kerica's cheek. "I really like you, Kerica."

Kerica felt like her heart would leap from her chest at the contact and she placed her hand over his, gripping it, "Oh Kiba…thank you. I never thought someone would ever really like me…but it is…it is possible," she hugged him close; "You've made me so happy!" She blushed softly, "Can you call me Keri-kitty?" she asked timidly, wanting a nickname meant only for him to say.

Kiba blushed as well when Kerica asked him to call her by a nickname. "Of course, Keri-kitty. And you're welcome." He lend forward but paused. What if he was taking it too fast? He really didn't want to scare her off after confessing to her. "...Keri-kitty...is it alright if...I kiss you?" He softly begged, his eyes locked with hers, searching to see any sign of rejection. It was hard enough that Hinata left him for Naruto, he didn't need Kerica scared off by him.

"Of course," Kerica smiled and as soon as she gave her permission, she felt his soft lips upon hers.