A/N: Yay! We're back with a new installment, dear readers. Prepare for a lot of information and a ton of dialogue. Some of you may not be familiar with a certain technique of writing dialogue, so I'll make a brief explanation of it here. I don't want anyone leaving a 'Your punctuation skills suck!' message. =)

When a character has a huge block of dialogue, the reader's eyes get tired of seeing all that text. To break up the character's dialogue, I usually put in paragraph breaks. Not so unusual. But if the character speaks over many paragraphs, I don't end quote. For example:

"Pretend this is a character talking. (no end quote)

"And this is the same character talking, only after a paragraph break." (end quote)

I just don't want any of you to get confused when I don't use the end quote in breaking up blocks of dialogue. Before we start, I want to say a quick thanks to gman391 who helped with the backstory in this chapter. That aside, enjoy!


Chapter 6: Fighting


"She's no good for you," Ino continued tensely, her cheeks pink.

Kiba leaned forward. "She's no good for me?" He couldn't believe this girl! "Yer the one who slaps me. Who…who is jealous enough to do anything to get what you want! Deny it," he shouted, "deny yer jealous!"

Ino crossed her arms. "You're right. Better?"

"Deny you hit Yukari!"

"Now just a-"

Kiba cut her off. "Deny it!"

"I don't."

"How can you possibly stand there and tell me she's no good? How?"

He punctuated his point with another shove, testing dangerous waters. She smacked his hands down, and he could see her iron will straightening out her spine as she prepped an offensive strike. Kiba expected no less.

"Because I'm not gonna roll over and let one of my comrades ruin his life!" Ino lowered her voice. "That girl's only out to get into your pants. Everything you think she feels for you is fake. She's a liar!"

Kiba wanted to tell Ino that having a girl get in his pants was exactly what he wanted, but he chose to ignore the point and address the insult on Yukari's honesty. But deep in his heart, he felt the panic, and the feeling that Ino was right, gnawing at him.

"You have no idea what yer talkin' about," he growled. "How dare you tell me she's dishonest. Yer the damn liar!"

Ino stared at him and said nothing, letting his words linger in the air between them. Her long pause nerved him up, and when she grabbed him by the jacket to get in his face, the nerves clenched all the tighter.

"No," she said, lowly, shaking him. "How dare you. I have never lied to you. And how dare you place more value on some…some chit you've known for not even a month than on a comrade who's known you since fucking preschool, who has fought shoulder to shoulder with you!" Her voice had risen. "How dare you devalue me like that!"

"Devalue you?" Kiba sputtered as he ripped her hands from his jacket. "We hate each other, Ino! Why do you care so much about what happens between me and Yukari?"

That question seemed to back her down, but she answered fiercely nonetheless. "Because you deserve better."

"You?"

A pause as her piercing eyes lowered. "No. It doesn't have to be me. Just not Yukari! Just don't choose her!"

Kiba didn't understand…what Ino said defied everything Kiba expected of her. He expected Ino to threaten and howl, to declare herself the best choice. Was this another mind game? He found he didn't know.

When she only waited for his response, the confusion tempered his anger; suddenly, he realized he couldn't take this anymore, and he decided he was done arguing with Ino.

"This is stupid. You've made up some crazy excuse to turn me against Yukari. I don't have to listen to this."

Again, he turned to leave…and froze when Ino's arms enclosed him from behind. His confused anger evaporated in the shock. Her contact with several erogenous spots- -back, stomach, chest- -sent heat streaking straight through him. He'd been short of breath before from his anger, but now he noticed how heavily he breathed.

Her lips brushed against the back of his neck as she spoke. "How do you feel about Yukari?"

She waited for his response, impressing slow kisses on his nape, driving him wild inside. He licked his dry lips and tried to ignore Ino's closeness, the heat, the want coiling in his stomach.

"Uh. That question…doesn't, um, make any…s-sense."

"Yes, it does," she answered. She inhaled slow and deep, then released a rush of warm breath that he felt to his toes. "Hmm. You smell like camp fire."

All he could think about at the moment was the phantom heft and feel of her breasts, the nub that had grazed his palm. Her hands had again unzipped his jacket, and now traversed slo-owly down over his torso. Dizziness increased when those hands slipped under the hem of his shirt.

His muscles skittered, and embarrassment burned when he realized how his body had responded to her touch. The tightness in his pants had become uncomfortable.

"You should breathe," Ino whispered.

Her voice raised the hairs on his neck, sent little shimmers of nerves all along his spine. She was right- -he'd been holding his breath.

One breath wasn't enough. He panted for it as her hands wandered up to caress his chest and ribs with seductive touches.

"Does she make you stop in your tracks like this?" One hand steadied him against her, as the other dropped lower, lower. "Does she make you break into a sweat like this? Pant like this? Burn?"

Her hand dipped under the waistband of his pants, fingers carding dangerously low along his abdomen. She made him shake so much, he lifted his own hand to stop hers from progressing further, but he'd moved the wrong one- -she hooked his left arm in the crook of her left elbow, immobilizing his arm in one swift movement.

After this slight scuffle, it took Kiba a second to comprehend- -in his pants, oh, God…she'd cupped him with her hand.

His eyes shut. All of his muscles went rigid; heat, throbbing heat, as she gently squeezed his tight balls, eliciting a groan from him. When she passed her palm over the curve of his hard-on, he groaned again with the burst of pleasure the touch generated.

Ino stroked him with agonizing slowness. At this point, if he didn't stop her, he'd blow his load right there in her hand. The idea of release sent another wave of pleasure crashing through him.

Some part of his mind pictured him fucking Ino from behind; the pale back and shining hair were so present and vivid, he jumped when Ino's hand rubbed him a little harder and nearly exploded then.

He wanted this, he wanted this so bad he could scream…but…he couldn't for reasons he couldn't fathom in his current state; he just knew he couldn't.

"Ino…don't do this to me."

Her hand shifted to rest just under his belly, stilled. "Why not?"

Kiba swallowed hard, scrambled for a sensible answer. "I don't understand this."

Okay, not a very sensible answer, but an honest one. He really didn't understand 'this': the situation, what she did to him, how he felt about it and her…everything. When he was with her, she toyed with him- -the hand caressing his stomach and places below a case in point. He lost control around her and didn't understand that, either.

"You don't understand attraction?" she asked, a tinge of incredulousness in her voice. "You of all people should understand it."

The spell was broken- -Kiba felt as much. He gently removed Ino's hand with the one not wrenched up his back. Ino, thankfully, released the hold she had on that aching arm and stepped back. At this point, any cooperation he got from her was a godsend.

Wincing with the movement, he touched his left shoulder. It was sore, giving him a much-needed distraction from the temper-tantrum his body threw for not getting that precious release. Kiba looked across at her, straight in the eye.

"No. I understand attraction. I don't understand this." He gestured vaguely between them to indicate what he meant. "I don't know, and I don't like it."

She stood there, face in high flush, blonde hair streaming around her face, eyes boring into him. Her hips and breasts formed perfect curves under the civilian t-shirt and shorts, and he suppressed an urge to reach out and run his hands over her.

Kiba was attracted to her- -but a problem still remained. Here he stood confused and turned-on and upset because of Ino. He didn't feel relaxed around her; a small piece of him had always mistrusted her, mistrusted her even now.

"Let me get this straight," Ino replied quietly. "You don't understand something, so you don't like it."

She still didn't get it. "Look, I don't understand my feelings where you are involved."

This experience with Ino had exhausted him beyond exhaustion. His bones felt made of lead. He wanted to finish this argument and go home.

"Are you a moron?" She looked at him like he had two heads. "Seriously. Are you?"

A spurt of anger revived him. "Knock it off, blondie. All I'm saying is that I can't identify what's going on between us. It's confusing. And to answer yer other questions, no. Yukari doesn't do all that to me, but that's why I like her."

Ino's eyes narrowed. "You like her because you're not attracted to her?"

"I'm attracted to her enough." Kiba shrugged, continued slowly. "But I'm under my own control. I'm not confused. I understand the..." he gestured with a hand, "the feelings."

"Yukari doesn't confuse you? Hm-hm." She started ticking off fingers. "Why would she say yes to a date right away?" Her voice rose in volume. "Why would she take you to a night club? Why does she hero-worship you so much? Why does she- -hey!"

He had grabbed her arm and tugged her sharply to stop her tirade. "I have questions about you, Ino! All these questions, and somehow you generate more questions! Yukari isn't the problem, here, it's you. I'm confused about you!"

"Stop!" she shouted, jerking her arm from his grip. "This isn't about me. It's about Inuzuka Kiba and his damn life!"

"ARGH!" Kiba growled, clasping his head in his hands. "This is exactly what I'm talking about! It IS about you!"

"No, it's not!"

He dropped his hands from his head and glared at her. "Yes, it is!"

"You are a moron!"

"And yer a stupid bitch princess, who never SHUTS UP!"

The intensity of his bark quieted her- -her mouth bowed down- -and they both consciously shifted back, having leaned forward in their aggression. They stared at each other for several moments. Then Ino swallowed and visibly relaxed.

"This isn't helping either of us," she said, more to herself than to him. Louder, she continued. "We both know this arguing is stupid. Agreed?"

Her change in tactics had suspicion creep up on him. Was this a trap? He hesitated, looking her over as he wondered what would happen if he remained silent.

She prompted him, patiently. "Agreed?"

"Agreed."

"We're both shinobi, and so we should discuss this situation like shinobi. Agreed?"

Where was she going with this? "Agreed."

She sighed. "Shinobi need evidence to back up theories and claims. If I have it, will you listen to the evidence?"

He only looked at her for a moment, trying to decide where the trap lay. Her suggestions were sound, both stated with reason and clarity. For Ino to so obviously control her anger was rare- -and serious.

Kiba, knowing that she was right, had to acquiesce. "I'll listen to the evidence. But I make my own decision. You'll have to accept what I decide. Agreed?"

Ino licked her lips, looking aside for a second, but she nodded. "Agreed."

Facing her in a temporary truce made him feel flighty, nervous, mainly because he didn't know what would happen next. At least in a fight, he could predict her movements. She turned around and addressed him over her shoulder.

"I need something to drink, and we need somewhere more private to talk."

Wordlessly, Kiba submitted to her and followed her across the cement square and into the bustling hospital. As they turned down corridors, Kiba struggled to keep his eyes anywhere except her butt. Just the way the shorts accentuated the cheeks, all the fabric smooth without underwear lines, drew his eye.

He bet she wore a thong. He wondered what color it was…maybe devil red…or she seemed the pink-lacey type. Hm…what would she look like with a cute bra and panty set…little pink rosebuds between her breasts and one between her-

Before the thought could continue, the scent of food prevailed, and Ino swung around one last corner and into the cafeteria. She was right about their privacy. A few scattered surgeons and nurses ate at small cheap tables. Windows drew in the natural light, and several verdant plants sat along the walls.

Ino chose a table in a far corner and plopped a shoulder bag on the table between them. In his blind anger, he hadn't noticed the bag when he first saw her.

"Wait here for a minute. I'll be right back," she said.

He watched as she washed her hands in a convenient sink, then as she strode up to the soda machines. Ino bought two, having trouble with the first and second buttons before punching the third one and getting their drinks.

She must have seen his amusement with her aggravation because as she crossed the cafeteria, she looked right at him and shook up his soda.

He took it from her and gestured with it. "Hey! Why'd you do that?"

Ino shrugged, twisting the cap off hers. "I don't have very good impulse control."

She sipped, and Kiba noticed the contraction of her throat. He wanted to nibble her.

"Now," she said, setting the soda to the side, "to business."

Like a great professional, Ino reached into the bag and withdrew a plastic accordion folder. She snapped the band free and flipped it open.

A pause to look at him. "Are you ready?"

"I'll say yes, but probably not."

"Well, first things first. You need a history lesson."

Her fingers walked over the sections to the one she wanted. She withdrew several pages. They fluttered as she placed them in front of him, several long pieces highlighted in fluorescent yellow.

"A long time ago, before shinobi villages, the daimyo had a personal military. These soldiers were…less than discreet with their sexual relationships. Many civilians came to the daimyo, claiming that their young and unmarried daughters were being impregnated by the military.

"These civilians wanted compensation for their pregnant daughters. To give compensation, and to make the military responsible for their offspring, the daimyo passed a law."

She pointed at a highlighted section. "The law states that any military personnel who impregnates a woman must marry that woman. As you can imagine, the soldiers were less than pleased and still would not take responsibility for fathered children, accusing the women of being loose and that the unborn child could be anyone's child.

"So, the daimyo granted civilian women something called 'A Right to Claim'." Ino flipped the pages and pointed. Kiba looked and saw the words in miniscule font. "A Right to Claim allows civilian women to 'claim' the so-called father of her child as her husband. And a marriage boom resulted.

"To sweeten the marriage deal, the daimyo allowed married military men to have better pay than their non-married comrades. However, the majority of the military got scared straight and started behaving itself. Less and less women used A Right to Claim.

"After a few years, the law faded into the background. Then shinobi villages were started. Shinobi are still military, but elite military that makes even more money than plain military. And this law that faded, but not quite forgotten, had a backlash result. Can you guess what that was?"

Kiba's heart clenched in his chest. He felt cold. "What?"

"Something civilian women call 'catching a shinobi'. You see," another page flip, "shinobi make great money. They are also revered- -the cream of the cream. If a married shinobi is K.I.A., the stipend for a widow is sufficient for comfortable living. However, if a shinobi child resulted from the union, the stipend is…more generous.

"So, for some single, civilian women, the only comfortable lifestyle they can hope to obtain is through marriage to a shinobi. But how to get a shinobi to marry?"

Ino's finger rested on the words 'A Right to Claim'.

Kiba had to speak around the lump in his throat. "But that's for pregnancy."

"I know," Ino smiled. "I'll narrow it more. How does one become pregnant with a shinobi's child?"

Oh, God, this information terrified him. The coldness he felt made him weak.

"How?" He could barely speak.

"A civilian woman has to become impregnated with a shinobi's child to use A Right to Claim. You know this. But how? How to catch a shinobi? The answer?" He didn't want to know. "Charm. Wit. Hero-worship. Naïveté. Drugs."

"D-drugs?"

"Yes, drugs." She made it sound so…so insidious.

Ino pulled another sheet from the folder and slapped it down in front of him. "Your blood that night you spent with Yukari tested positive for G.H.B- -date rape drugs." She tapped the sheet of paper. "I had an objective source run the test. Your blood is already on file, so we used that as a control."

The chart seemed incomprehensible to him; his head swarmed with the destructive information as Ino continued.

"I had my suspicions about Yukari. She seemed so sweet, so nice. And you…you're such a nice guy. I was happy for you. But then…I worried. What if she wasn't so nice? What if she was trying to catch you?

"So that day you and she came into the flower shop, I followed you when you left. I had to sneak into the club…I saw her dump some powder into your drink. I couldn't intervene until I knew for sure…Yukari and an older woman, I think her mother, took you to a room. I waited until the mother left, and then I made my move."

Ino stopped her narrative. Kiba sat, staring at the papers in front of him. It all made sense. The hole in his arm had been from Ino, but not to inhibit him. The little flashes of memory he had made sense of what she said. The evidence was there in front of him.

But…"Where did that drug come from? I don't even remember tasting or smelling it."

Ino's hand covered his. "Think about where you were. Smoke. Noise. Yukari had to shout to get you to hear her. Your senses were overloaded already. It's no wonder you didn't taste or smell the drug in your drink."

Kiba didn't feel any better about making the mistake and kept his eyes down. Ino removed her hand and another sheet of paper slid into his line of sight.

"The drug itself is illegal, but can be obtained on the black market. Or if not the product, then the formula. As you can see, the products in the formula can be found at any grocery store or pharmacy and can be made in your average kitchen."

He looked up. "Ino. Um. Am-am I still…is Yukari…?" The words stuck in his throat, choked him and made him feel sick.

"Is Yukari still a virgin? Yes. Luckily enough for you, I stopped any sexual intercourse. She's not gonna be pregnant with your child."

He went quiet for a full minute, adjusting to the relief her answer provided him. Even though he and Ino always argued, she was his comrade, and he should trust her absolutely and without question because of that. Her information was trustworthy. He had no doubts.

Kiba looked across the table at her as she sipped her soda, another question coming to his mind.

"How did you know? As far as any of us are concerned, this whole deal is just a fairy tale…something our mothers make up to keep us from terrorizing civilian chicks. Where did all this research come from?"

Ino sipped from her drink. "I don't know what you mean."

The way she answered told him volumes. He pressed her. "How did you know?"

"That's classified."

"How. Did. You. Know."

Another sip from her drink. "I can't tell you."

Fine, if that's the way she wanted to be- -"If you want me to decide in yer favor, you'll tell me."

She licked her pretty lips and wouldn't meet his eye. He watched as she struggled with some inner conflict before drawing out some more papers. Her hormones had been all over the place, but now he detected sadness and upset even before he saw the shine in her eyes.

"You have to swear not to tell anyone else what I'm about to show you."

What secret was this? "I swear."

"I mean it, Inuzuka. On the Hero Stone."

"I swear it on the Hero Stone."

Ino took a deep breath and looked him straight in the eyes. "I know because my mother caught my father."


A/N: Oh, teenagers, how you amuse me. =)