Disclaimer – I do not own Naruto.
Chapter Soundtrack (What I listened to while writing it) – The Material, The Medic Droid, Ice Nine Kills, Ivoryline, Kerli
Author's Note – This chapter was really hard to write, I wasn't sure how to make either characters react, and when I had an idea of how I wanted them to react I had the darnedest time getting it into words. Nonetheless the chapter is complete, so here it is.
(Previously)
Kankuro relaxed as he felt the warmth from the still naked body on top of him. He grabbed the blanket with his free hand and covered them both, and he closed his eyes to sleep, but sleep wouldn't come. His head was racing with thoughts of all kinds, but the main thoughts were about how Kiba made him feel. The younger boy was the best thing he'd ever had. Being with Kiba made him feel like he was on top of the world, and he was as happy as ever when the boy was around. He was even willing to show his emotions around Kiba. Deep down Kankuro knew that he cared for this boy more than anything in the world, but he just couldn't admit it to himself, but with every passing second the realization hit him. He had to say it.
"Kiba?" Kankuro whispered.
"Hmm?" Kiba responded, a bit groggy and still half asleep.
'It's now or never' Kankuro told himself, and then he took in a deep breath. "I think… I love you…"
(Now)
Kiba had just begun to doze off when he heard Kankuro whisper his name. Kiba noticed his voice seemed nervous, if not even slightly fearful.
"Hmm?" He responded. There was a short silence, and then Kiba heard Kankuro take in a deep breath and utter three words that almost made his heart stop. His thoughts were racing, he didn't know what to say, had he heard right? Is Kankuro serious? Am I dreaming? All of these questions went through Kiba's head. He just laid there unmoving. He had to make sure he heard what he thought he did.
"Y-you what?" He questioned nervously.
"I love you" Kankuro repeated, this time with more confidence. He wanted Kiba to say the same back, he needed Kiba to say the same back, and the longer the silence lasted the more he wondered if telling the boy how he felt was the right thing to do.
'He… loves me?' Kiba thought. He never expected Kankuro to say that. Kankuro was tough, popular, top jock, and though the older boy did have a soft side, Kiba never thought Kankuro would be one to admit such strong feelings. Kiba couldn't move, he couldn't speak, and he knew Kankuro expected him to say it back, but he couldn't. His mind was too cluttered; he couldn't think straight, he needed to be somewhere where he could be alone to think.
Kankuro stared at the younger boy that he just confessed his love to, waiting for something, anything. Movement, speech, anything; he soon got what he wanted, then regretted wishing for it, because Kiba started to move away from Kankuro and off of the bed.
"Where are you going?" Kankuro asked.
"I need to be alone." The boy responded monotonously, and then he left the room. Leaving Kankuro lying alone in Kiba's bed, as he withered away in the silence; feeling like he was slowly dying. He listened to the soft sound of Kiba's footsteps as the boy walked slowly to another room. As soon as the footsteps disappeared, Kankuro lost it.
"What the fuck is wrong with me?!" He screamed at himself. "Why did I say it?" he asked, "Why did I fucking say it?!"
He was afraid that by saying those three words he had ruined the best thing he had ever had. He punched the bed, leaving a slow healing indention in the mattress as the springs groaned in protest. He punched the bed again, and then a pillow, he was mad at himself, madder than he had ever been. He continued punching the bed, listening to the rhythmic sound of his fist hitting the mattress and the groan of the springs until he ran out of energy. Once his energy was gone his anger slowly drained and was replaced with despair. As he sat in despair he felt a bit of spitefulness towards Kiba well up inside him.
"How could he just leave like that? He didn't say anything except 'I need to be alone' nothing else, what am I supposed to think about that, does he expect me to think that everything is ok? How could he be so insensitive?" Kankuro asked quietly but irritated. "DAMN IT" He screamed before punching the bed one last time, and then collapsing against a pillow face-first. He laid there in silence as an endless flow of emotions swept through him. He felt as if he had been in there for a lifetime when he heard the door open slowly. He didn't bother look; he knew who it was.
"Kankuro?" Kiba asked quietly. He saw the older boy lying face-down in the bed.
"What?" Kankuro said harshly.
"I love you too…"
Note: Here you go folks. Hope you enjoyed. Please review!