Well, I meant to upload this Monday but I didn't because I just...didn't. This isn't a good sign for my uploading abilities. Anyhoo, it's up now so you can all enjoy it!

I don't own Naruto. Or Kiba. Or Neji. Darn.

Kiba

A month. A month since he walked this street, saw that boy get hit. A month since he heard the mother's anguish. It's been a month and here he is, braving this place again because Neji told him he'll never get answers by running away. He's braving this street for answers, though it does help a lot that he's got Neji on speed dial if anything goes wrong.

"For a while I thought you were never coming back." Naruto jumps and turns around and there is one of the twins leaning against a building. The blonde opens his mouth but no sound comes out. "You don't know me," the boy says dryly, pushing himself off the wall and coming closer.

"No." Naruto's voice sounds weak to his own ears. He doesn't think he can do this anymore.

"But I know you." The boy is circling him, watching him like a hawk watches prey.

"Do you?" Naruto is fairly certain his voice just cracked.

"You're Naruto. You like orange and frogs and ramen. You're loud and obnoxious and kinda stupid. You're stubborn to a fault. But you're one of the most loyal and kind-hearted people I know." The boy smirks like he's won.

But the blonde shakes his head and with all the courage he can muster says, "But you don't know me. I don't like orange; my favorite color is blue. Frogs are disgusting and so is ramen. I'm not loud and I try hard not to be obnoxious. I'm slow sometimes but I'm not stupid. I have all A's and B's. I'll give you that I'm stubborn and loyal and kind-hearted because that's what I like to see myself as. But you know the old me. You know the me I was. But that's not me and I still don't know who you are!"

The boy is staring at him incredulously, smirk wiped completely off his face and Naruto feels bad for yelling at a kid whose brother got hit by a car because of him. He opens his mouth to apologize but the boy holds up his hand. "You're right. You don't know me. And I…I obviously don't know you. I'm sorry." The boy turns to leave, muttering under his breath.

"Don't walk away from me," Naruto whispers. "Please." But the boy is walking away. "Please, Kiba!" he pleads.

The boy freezes then spins to face him. "What did you call me?"

"I…I don't know. I'm so sorry. I should go. I'm so sorry." Naruto is backing away. He's got his cell phone in hand, ready to call Neji and tell him what's happening but his hands are shaking too much for him to do anything.

"No. What did you call me?" The boy is approaching him again. His phone slips from his fingers and clatters to the ground.

"I don't know. I'm so sorry."

The boy shakes his head, disgust written all over his features. "Then you really don't remember. I knew it. A loser like you doesn't deserve to remember." The boy turns, hands jammed into his pockets, and walks away.

"Tell me about him."

"Does everyone remember but me?" Naruto is sitting on a park bench, recovering from his encounter with the boy.

There's silence on the other end, then the sound of quick typing, and finally, "I don't know, Naruto."

"Did I do something wrong? Is this some sort of punishment?"

"I don't know." More typing. Neji is work. "Tell me about this boy, Naruto. You said you called him something?"

"Yeah, but I don't remember what. It got his attention though." He chews on his bottom lip.

Typing. A pause. More typing. "Describe him, Naruto. Please."

"He's got short brown hair and brown eyes." He pauses as he tries to remember. He's being too vague; Neji won't know who he's talking about. "A grey coat." He tries harder to remember. Neji is patiently typing away on the other end. "He reminds me of a dog." This last part he says quietly; it is a little offensive.

"Kiba," is the automatic answer. "Kiba Inuzuka."

Memories flow back. The jacket, the red triangle cheek tattoos, the little white dog… "Akamaru!" he shouts in revelation. Their fight in the exams, Kiba by his side, arm along over his shoulder as they laugh about something…And then the barriers slam down and all that's left is pain. Recent memories pop up. Akamaru getting hit by the car, Kiba walking away with that disgusted look on his face….

"Neji…"

"Naruto? Naruto, stay with me!" That voice is so far away…

"Kiba…"

"Naruto? Naruto!"

"Naruto." A hand lifts up his face and Naruto finds himself staring into warm brown eyes. "Stay with me." A smile lights up that face. "Hey, loser. You whining to your boyfriend?"

And it suddenly feels like they're those kids again. "Shut your face, dog-breath. Neji is not my boyfriend."

"Naruto? What about your boyfriend?" And there's Neji, confused.

"You've found Neji?"

"Naruto, is everything okay?"

"Is that him?" Naruto hands Kiba the phone. "Hey! Holy shit you sound old!" A pause as Neji speaks. "No, I am not a child!" Another pause. "You know what, asshole? I never liked you!" Kiba sticks his tongue out and hangs up. "Ha!" He hands the phone back to the blonde. "We should go do something."

"I'm sorry about Akamaru," Naruto blurts out.

Kiba blinks, startled by the outburst, then shrugs. "It's okay, man."

"It's okay? Your brother is dead and 'it's okay'?"

The boy looks confused for a second, and then it dawns on him. "Akamaru's not dead. He's just got a broken arm." He laughs at the look on Naruto's face. "I can't believe you thought he was dead!"

"I never knew otherwise…"

"You should come sometime! He'd enjoy that."

"Kiba, I don't…"

"Come on, man!"

"Kiba, I still don't know you." Naruto has to glance away as he says this; he doesn't want to see the hurt on the boy's face.

"But you…you…" Kiba is absolutely crushed.

"Some part of me remembers you but I…I don't know you. Every time I try to remember it's like…there are mental blocks to keep me from doing so. I only get snippets of how we used to be…what you used to be like. I'm sorry." He places a hand on Kiba's arm. "I'm so sorry."

The boy looks up at him. "You don't remember much at all?" Naruto shakes his head no and Kiba smirks. "Then start asking questions."

Well, I think that was a longer chapter than usual, so yay. Um, I don't have much to say on it. So...sorry for any mistakes, and leave a review telling me what you think!

Have a nice day!