Hello and welcome to this new chapter! Come, come, enjoy! It won't bite! Well, hopefully... It's had all its shots but you can't be too careful. Anywho, please read and enjoy because I worked really hard for the past couple of hours. Not really! It's been more like months. Either way, please enjoy and review if you wish! Oh, and Merry belated Christmas or as we say in Russia (I hope we still say it 'cause I haven't been there in almost eight years and you know how stuff changes like that new kind of toilet paper they got now that somehow my mother never bought for me and my siblings... mamochka, if you're reading this, yes, I didn't forget about the toilet paper you made us use): С Рождеством! wherever you are in the world, I would like to thank you for sticking with this story! I love you all!

To UchihaSyoaran1720: Thank you very much :) Thank you for reviewing! I meant a lot to me!

To AshenMarsha: Thank you, thank you! You're as kind as ever! I put a little Killer Bee badassery in there! I hope you like it! I thought it would be good for the story to see this side of Killer Bee! *coughcough because he's so freaking awesome and sexy coughcough*

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8:00 a.m. Saturday, October Tenth, 1964

I stared at the sidewalk in deep thought as I trailed back to my apartment building. The bags under my eyes were prominent from the lack of sleep I got. After Sakura talked to me last night, I spent most of the night wandering heedlessly around South Side. I stood beside Rococo Bay as the small waves lapped against the bit of sand that was there. That was the spot Killer Bee said he dumped Orochimaru's body. I don't know why I went there. I guess I was hoping beyond hope that Orochimaru would swim to the surface and pull me under. That would be a nice way to die. Unfortunately, Orochimaru never showed and I had to move on.

Among the other places I visited was Burgess Street. Yes, the street Killer Bee and the Azuma brothers have fought over for years. When I got there, a strong scent of piss, shit and smoke burned a hole in my nose. The street wasn't much better than it smelled -broken windows, fire marks, beer bottles and, well, shit. At least there weren't any dead bodies but who could really know what was buried underneath all that debris.

I felt sorry for the people who lived on Burgess, however, it wouldn't have been this way if the Azuma brothers would just mind themselves. Their greed was why the street was the way it was. Killer Bee was only defending his territory. If he gave up Burgess, our hold on Mary Way and Long Bow Road were shot.

I sighed as I turned on to Small Took. A heavy feeling overwhelmed me once I made that small step over the border. Small Took: my home and my grave, the feeling told. At the moment, it seemed true.

Kin was leaning against our apartment complex when I got there. She was lazily picking the dirt out of her finger nails with a pocket knife. Two small children came screeching by, making her look up. Her eyes instantly fell on me.

"Well, someone looks like shit," she greeted, with a slight tug of her lips.

I nodded in salutation. "It's more than just shit. I think there's some piss too."

Kin laughed. Quickly, however, the laughter ceased. She pointed to the Court Side Bar with her pocket knife. "Killer Bee wants to see you. Now." Her tone meant I better hurry my ass over before she kicked it there.

With a sigh, I ran my fingers through my hair in what might have been a vague attempt to fix it. "Why?" I asked a bit harshly. I had a long frustrating night and I was in the mood for the secrecy that always seemed to surround the Mob.

Kin shrugged. "Hell if I know, Gooseberry. Asuma just sent me to tell ya as soon as you got done with your vanishing act." She stared me up and down with a look one might give to a foul odor. She was still pissed at me for wandering off, I knew. Kin can hold grudges for longer than any sane person would. That was why Killer Bee hesitated when sending her on jobs that required negotiating.

I huffed. I never could catch a break, could I? I'll have to deal with Kin's problems once I get everything under control. With a drawn out sigh, I complied, "Fine."

Kin gave a short nod and went back to cleaning her nails.

:/line/:

At the Court Side Bar

The bar was empty for the most part which wasn't surprising considering how early it was. Baki wasn't at his normal spot. Instead, it was Asuma. It was rare for him to stand guard. The only times I've seen him there was when Killer Bee was angry with him.

Asuma nodded in silent greeting as he opened up the steel platted door.

The familiar smell of tobacco and sweat greeted me. Today, I acknowledged it with the same expression I did the first time I came here, disgust. With a crinkle on my nose, I past the gambling mobsters and headed to Killer Bee's office.

A cold look welcomed me. "Have a seat, Kiba," the owner of the look ordered.

I nodded awkwardly. With the same awkwardness, I sat down. It was then I noticed the well-known smell of bleach. If you knew mobsters like I knew mobsters you'd know why it smelled like bleach. I couldn't stop the gulp that came from my throat. They probably died right where I was sitting... right in this old leather chair. I shifted uncomfortably at the thought.

My actions did not go unnoticed by Killer Bee's sharp gaze. "Kiba..." he started, pausing for a second to take a drag of his cigar. "I had a couple of my boys follow you last night." He waited to see how I would respond.

I kept my face blank (like all mobsters do when they don't know how to act). I had no idea how I felt about this. I was hurt at the thought of him not trusting me enough that he had some street rats follow me. I was also worried. Did he know about Sakura? How would he deal with the idea of me being with a Northerner? Would he whack her? I had no fucking idea, and I knew the only way to find out was to play it cool and wait for him to tell me.

Killer Bee stared at me. I could feel his coal eyes scanning every inch of my soul. "Aren't ya gonna ask why I had them follow you?"

My palms sweated. "Uhhh, w-why'd you have them follow me?" I asked timidly.

A long puff of smoke blew out of Killer Bee's mouth. With the smoke, I couldn't help but think of him as a smoldering dragon on the verge of anger. Casually, he told, "Your mother's worried 'bout you, you fucking idiot."

I was taken back by his chose of words. Never had he cursed my name before. "Oh, really, pop?" I sarcastically inquired.

With another long drag of his cigar, he glared at me. "Yeah, she was. You disappeared for a day after running off. Didn't care to call to say how you were. She didn't know if you were alive or dead. Hell, I didn't even know! Now, she's busting my balls, thinking you were on a job. I didn't send you on no job but hell if she cared! So ya wanna know why I had them follow you?! I'll fucking tell you! I was worried about you. All to find out you were with fucking Northerners the whole fucking time!"

I had squished myself deep into the chair by the time he paused to take a heave of his cigar. There were no thoughts running through my head. I knew I was officially royally screwed.

"And!" Killer Bee all but shouted, "Not only were you with Northerners but ya had to sleep with one of them too! You could do all that but ya couldn't call your own ma to tell her you were okay?! What the fuck's wrong with you?"

I didn't know how he figured out I was with Northerners or that I slept with Sakura. However, I did have a hunch on who stitched. It had to be Zaku. Boy, did that make me want to punch him in the face... with a bottle... full of alcohol... that was lit on fire...

Cigar smoke seeped out of Killer Bee's nostrils. "Have the Northerners turned you deaf? When I ask you a question I expect you to fucking answer it, god damn it!" His heavy fist slammed onto his desk in an expansion of his anger.

I didn't get why he was so angry. Sure, I slept with a Northerner but I've never seen him this angry towards anything. And he's seen a whole lot worse than what I did. "I-I wasn't thinking, Bee. All I knew was that I passed out and... and when I woke up, I was in a Northerner house! And then there was this Northern girl there and she just made me so mad and, I don't know, things happened! I-I've regretted it ever since and, for fuck's sake, I have no idea what to do! I just want to go back and erase all this from happening but I can't! I can't even forget it ever happened! I have a date with her tonight and I'm so fucking lost, Bee!" I couldn't help but spill my guts to my one and only father figure. I was an ashamed and embarrassed man. I was at his will.

The Mob boss studied me. He looked into my eyes to find anything that might falsify my words. At last, he closed his eyes and sighed. "Kiba, times are changing. The North and South aren't what they used to be. Northerners are coming into our land and we're going into theirs. There's no way to keep the divide. Ya can't stand where you once stood, my son. You have to keep walking. And before we go any further, let's get one thing straight, I'm not mad at you because you slept with a Northerner. I am mad at you because this world is dangerous. There are so many things that could have happened to you especially since you are in the Mob. You hold my entire operation together therefore you are my one weakness. I had no idea what happened to ya, and when your ma came barreling in here last night... Kiba, I panicked. I didn't want to be fishing your body out of Rococo Bay. Ya can't go off by yourself anymore. Not with the Azuma brothers out there. It's too risky. Why do ya think I have Asuma by the door? Huh? He's one of the best fighters I got, ya know. I wouldn't put him there unless there was a serious threat. I don't do everything out of anger despite what you may believe -I have some thought to what I do."

I slumped lower into my seat. He really did care about me. Who'd have thought?

Killer Bee breathed in another bit of his cigar. He looked relieved somehow. "Ya said you have a date tonight, right?"

I nodded slowly.

He chuckled and blew out cigar smoke. "You're gonna need a ride." With little effort, he pulled open a desk drawer, and poked through the contents until he found what he was looking for. Quickly, he pulled it out and threw it at me.

I caught then stared at the object. It was the keys to Killer Bee's 1961 Cadillac. I've dreamed about driving this car and now, its key resided in my hand. "I can't take this!" I retaliated at once. No way was I driving such a car when I, myself, was only worth five cents. No matter how long I've dreamt about it, I still could not do it.

Killer Bee waved his hand dismissively. "You're gonna take it and you're gonna take her somewhere nice. 'Less you wanna go against a direct order from the Boss? Baki!"

Before I could talk back or even thank him, Baki came and escorted me out of the office.

"Boss sure has taken a liking to you," Baki told with a smirk. When we reached the steel exit, he offered some words of wisdom, "Do what he says and you'll get far in life, Kib." With that said, he pushed me out of the hideout and shut the door.

I turn around to see Asuma's grinning face. I tried to ignore him as I walked out. Faster than I could get out, he shouted cheerily, "Good luck on your date!"

I cringed and picked up the pace.

Why the fuck was everybody so nosey?

:/line:/

Later that night in North Side

I fidgeted with my collar as I stood on Sakura's doorstep. My finger hesitantly hovered around the doorbell. Come on, Kiba, it's not the end of the world. Just do it! But still I could not. I was nervous as hell. My palms sweated like crazy and I'm pretty sure I stunk. Dosu had brought over some of his new cologne when he had found out I had a date. He sprayed some much on me I think the people in Konoha could smell me.

I glanced at my watch. The hands were on the six and ten, respectively. I sighed. I knew I would have to ring it sooner or later. However, some reasonings kept me from doing so. 1.) She was sexy as hell. 2.) She was Northerner. 3.) I couldn't shake the feeling that this all just a sick and twisted game of the Northerners.

Okay, Kiba, you're just over thinking it. It's not a big deal. With some mustered up courage, I rang the doorbell. I could hear its haunted ring echo inside the house. A light came on from the window above me and I heard feet thumping down the stairs. Looks like it's showtime. I could just imagine what I would say to her parents. 'Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Haruno, remember when you found me passed out next to my own vomit? Well, now I'm here to take your daughter on a date! Oh, and I fucked her too! Surprise!' That would go over well...

Sakura's front door opened up gradually. The person behind it was not Sakura like I'd hoped but rather a man a couple of inches shorter than me with a huge frown on his face. "What the hell is a Southerner doing on my doorstep?" he growled. The look in his blue eyes was anything but kind.

Two small hands pushed him aside. "I'll have you know he happens to be my date!" the she-devil herself told. Sakura stepped in front of the man. She gave a sheepish smile to me, "Sorry about that."

Before she could go off with me, a strong hand grabbed ahold of her shoulder. "Sakura, you will not be going with him," the man (whom I could only assume was her brother due to how young he looked) declared. Another hate-filled glare was sent my way.

Sakura retorted, however, I did not catch what she said. My attention was focused on the hand that was firmly placed on her shoulder. Ma told me to never grab a woman, and, somehow, it set off a spark in me.

"Get your filthy Northerner hands off her," I commanded before I had time to stop myself. My tone was the tone I normally reserved for my lackeys.

The Northerner's face was nice and pink at that. His gaze switch onto me. "Fuck off, blackhead."

My body twitched at the word. Now, that little spark in me was a big and blazing wildfire. Blackhead was a racial slur towards Southerners. It was a no-no. A big fucking no-no. Any Northerner who would say such a thing to me or my people in hearing distance were nothing more than a feast for the buzzards. Without thinking, I ripped his hand off Sakura and sucker punched him in the face. As he fell back, I scooped Sakura up and ran to Killer Bee's car.

Sakura shook her head in disbelief as she dropped into the passenger's seat. A small giggle escaped her lips. As I drove off, her giggles began to turn into fits of laughter. "Well, that's one fucking way to start a date!" she hooted. Her feet were on the dashboard, and she was not bother by the fact that she was wearing a dress.

I sighed. "You're telling me."

If I thought it was bad before, I could only imagine how her parent felt about me now.

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That's all, folks!

:D