You stopped pacing to look at the clock – it was a quarter past eight.

"Aw, Kiba's never late! I hope nothing happened!"

Checking the mirror for imperfections, you smoothed your long green skirt, making the little bells hanging off the ties jingle. You made sure your white tank was pulled all the way down, and your black choker was fit snugly.

i'It's so cute!' /iyou thought as you jingled the bell hanging off it. There was a rapping at your chamber door.

"Coming!" you called as you skipped over to the entrance. All your little bells jingled as you moved.

"Um, Kiba, you're a little la-..."

Your jaw dropped. Kiba stood sheepishly before you in a loose, long-sleeved button down dress shirt and black dress pants. His black shoes were shiny and he was wearing an interesting belt. It was black like his pants, but the silver buckle was shaped like a moon, with a wolf's howling silhouette. The thing that stood out the most was his hair – it looked like he tried to slick it back, but it hung in long, gelled spikes in the front. He laughed uneasily as you stared at it.

"Yeah, my hair refused to cooperate. I'm sorry I'm late – I stopped at the Yamanaka's to get you this." He revealed a flower he'd been hiding behind his back. It resembled a white lily, with turquoise tips and a splash of yellow in the center. It smelled like a combination of vanilla and spearmint.

"It's really pretty, and reminded me of you." he murmured as you took the flower and examined it.

"You're so kind! Thank you so much!" you squealed as you hugged him. "Wait one moment, please!" you told him, running back inside. You found a tall glass, filled it with water, and gently planted the flower inside it. Placing the vase on the windowsill with the desert rose, you grabbed your little kitty pack, then turned off the light and joined Kiba outside.

"You take that bag with you everywhere. How long have you had it?" he asked as you set off along the path.

"A long time…about six years, actually."

"Really? It doesn't look that old. You must really like that bag." he chuckled. You smiled. Nobody noticed your ears in the darkness. Your little walk to the Shushuya was undisturbed, and the restaurant wasn't very full, either. A waitress led you to a booth and you ordered shortly after.

"Wow, this place is pretty! Too bad Akamaru couldn't come. Why didn't you bring him?"

"Eheh, he was takin' a nap, so I let him sleep. Don't worry though, I'll bring him some leftovers. We come here often."

Your waitress brought you each a bowl of miso soup.

"Thank you! It smells good!" you told her. You and Kiba chatted in between bites, mostly about his match against Naruto in the Chunin exams and how you thought he was getting better during Shino's training, even though Shino kept kicking his butt.

"You and Akamaru are getting more agile with every training session. You guys are amazingly fast!" you enthused, digging around in your soup for more tofu. He waved his spoon. "No way. Shino keeps beating us. We have a lot more training to do."

Swallowing a spoonful, you shook your head. "I'm not sure you're going about this the right way. His insects drain you so easily...so you need to dodge them instead of attacking them. Go after him instead."

He suckled his spoon, thinking. "I could try that..."

Soon the main courses arrived. You'd gotten a small, seared tuna fillet, a little tray of sashimi, and a bowl of rice with steamed veggies. You nibbled on veggies as you watched Kiba tear voraciously through a steak.

"Are you hungry?" you giggled.

"Yeah, that training session today took a lot outta me. You better eat all your food there, skinny. Like I said earlier, you've been looking really pale lately."

"I am, I promise. And I've always been thin and pale – that comes with the whole Ueda package," you explained, gesturing with your hands, "I can't do anything about that…"

Looking around, you noticed you were attracting some stares.

"What's with them?" Kiba whispered.

"It's nothing. They're just nervous because a black cat crossed their path." you laughed bitterly as you finished your food. The waitress came to take your plates away. Kiba reached in his pocket to pay the bill, but the waitress stopped him and bent close to his ear.

"There's no need to pay. Your dinner's free. Just promise to never bring it here again." she muttered to Kiba, obviously trying to stay out of your earshot.

"Bring what?" he asked. The waitress glanced at you, then quickly returned her gaze to him.

"That's just - !" Kiba began to shout as he pounded the table, but he seemed to think better of it. "C'mon Ai, let's go." he grumbled. You followed him quietly, trying to shut out several pairs glaring eyes and their spiteful whispers. He suddenly turned and shouted, "Bastards!" as you walked out the doors.

"I'm so sorry, Kiba…" you murmured after he'd fumed in silence for a moment.

"Why the hell are you apologizing? It's those assholes who should be apologizing!" he yelled wildly, pointing back in the direction of the Shushuya. You resumed walking when you started attracting stares. Something cold slid down your cheek. Startled, you wiped it away and stared down at your hand.

"What? I'm cry-!"

THUMP. You'd run right into someone.

"Oh! I'm…sniff…I'm so sorry!" you quickly apologized, wiping away tears. Kiba pulled you backwards, whispering, "Ai, quick, get behind me."

"Why, what's-?"

Your heart thumped in your chest, stifling your words.

"Sorry…" murmured Gaara, one of his strange emotions playing across his face.

"It's okay, Gaara." you sniffled, wiping your eyes again. Kiba quickly came between you, locked in a stare-down with the mahogany haired boy. Gaara crossed his arms and stepped forward.

"You're pitiful existence isn't worth snuffing, but if you wish, I can bury you with the others tonight…" he threatened. Kiba tried to lunge, but you grasped him around his middle and held tight.

"Yeah, same goes for you, little emo punk! Go sit in your corner and write your stupid little poems and slash your wrists, fuckface!"

You dove backwards into a pool of shadows as sand threatened to engulf Kiba.

"Whoa! Hey, Ai! What happened? I can't see, and I'm upside down! Why-?"

He quickly shut up as you broke out in loud sobs. "Are you okay? You're not hurt, are you?" he asked gently. You shook your head against his back. His cruel words against Gaara had slashed open old wounds.

"Why? Why did you insult him like that?" you sniffed as you flipped right side up. You'd didn't release your hold on Kiba.

"I…lost my temper. He should've watched where he was going…" he sighed. You continued to cry quietly. He launched more questions as he began to shiver. "Okay…I'm sorry. What about you? Are you okay? And where are we?"

Stifling a sob, you told him you were fine. In seconds you'd broken out into more tears. Visions of a small, sad, trembling Gaara kept flashing through your mind, along with the villagers' echoes of "Demon!" and "Monster!" It shattered your heart.

"Hmph. You're a bad liar."

"S-sorry…"

He waited for you to calm down before asking again, "Where are we?"

"This is the Realm of Shadows. It's…hard to explain…are you okay?"

Kiba was shivering violently. "I'm…cold, and my chakra's draining."

"Eeep! I'm sorry! Hold on."

Within seconds you were standing on solid ground again.

i'That's why Gaara grew so ill! He was already unstable, then I accidentally drained all of his chakra! Ugh! I AM unlucky…'/i

You unlocked your death grip. "I'm so sorry for all the trouble I caused, but thank you nonetheless for your kindness. I'll go home now…" you murmured, forlorn.

"Ai, wait!"

You turned back towards Kiba. "At least let me walk you home."

Bowing your head, you murmured a word of thanks. The rest of the trip home was in silence. As you arrived at your apartment door you turned to thank Kiba, but he pulled you into a hug. He rested his cheek against your forehead and ran his fingers through your long hair.

"I'm so sorry about tonight. Are you sure you're okay?" he whispered.

"Yeah, I think I'll be okay." you lied. As you parted you gave him a fleeting smile, then watched as he darted away across the rooftops. After you went inside, it felt as if you had been covered in a blanket of snow. You were cold and numb, and couldn't shake away all the voices echoing in your head. Gaara ruled over your nightmares that night…