A/N: Not much to say here, but please, enjoy! =)


XVII: Consequences

Kiba stirred from deep slumber, the likes of which he hadn't experienced in several days, and as satisfaction oozed from his every pore, he noticed how the side of his face was wet, since he'd been sleeping with his mouth open again. No biggie- -he'd come to terms with drool a long time ago, because, duh, he lived with a pack of dogs.

Someone sighed. Underneath him. Kiba found himself sprawled over Ino, who was tucked protectively under one arm. Oh. Her yellow hair streamed a few inches from his nose, laden with the scent of her shampoo and their sex from the previous night.

Last night had been amazing. After sex, they'd cleaned up and snuggled under the covers together, without bothering to replace their pajamas, both falling asleep from their long day. This morning her skin and curves felt fresh, brand new against him.

He shifted and found a pleasant surprise- -morning wood. Ah, what the hell. He shoved a hand under Ino for a friendly good-morning squeeze. Her boob was as weighty and smooth as he remembered, and the look of them from last night freeze-framed in his brain, giving him a kick in the gut.

He pressed some, finding absolving pressure against Ino's ass, and kneaded her breast. Coaxing. He nipped her shoulder. A few moments passed without change, then her scent thickened from her arousal. His knee nudged between her legs. She sighed again, and she stretched, back arching, making her breast more accessible and Kiba hornier when moist heat greeted his knee.

"Hm, Kiba," she murmured, squirming, turning, and he found himself face-to-face with her. Her mouth curled; her blue eyes opened. "Morning sex sounds great."

She really was a dream come true. Their mouths slanted together, tongues molded, fingers and hands glided along warm, toned bodies. Ino's hand reached between them and touched his hardened length, stroked gently. He twitched under her fingers and grunted.

"We better take care of this," she told him.

His words stuck in his throat, so he kept quiet, reaching back for another condom. Like the previous night, he felt a profound distaste for the rubber, but rolled it on anyway, too horny to care. He just wanted inside Ino as fast as possible. She didn't resist him when he spread her legs and settled on her to obtain that perfect angle, and with some help from her, he sunk into her pliant body with similar ease.

They both groaned when Kiba pulled his hips along hers, the exaggerated movement helping him hit her deeply. Their movements became coordinated almost without thought, the arousal and pleasure burning white-hot inside him. Her fingers twisted in his hair, dragged nails down his neck and back. He couldn't think past her; he was too consumed for any other thoughts.

Oh, damn, he'd never edged so close to climax so quickly before. Had to take his time. Couldn't- -she felt so tight, hot. Consenting to some inner suggestion, he shifted, putting weight on his knees, and he drew Ino up by her hips. She followed his lead and wrapped her legs around his waist.

Kiba pulled on her hips, roughly, growling. She gasped, and he felt her hips jump. Her entire body lay before him, breasts bouncing to his hard pace, lower lip caught between her teeth, hair a mess around her. His body tightened, and he couldn't stop it from happening.

A few hard movements later, he felt Ino's body contracting, muscles rippling inside her, and she cried, "Oh, my God," the same time she bucked her hips violently. He lost all conscious thought as he jerked her against him, the orgasm spilling from her to him, his body too small a container for the enormity of physical and emotional feeling.

Kiba shuddered, throbbing, and he emptied out into her. They stared at each other a few seconds. Then, in relief, he relaxed and pitched forward, face-first, between her boobs. His tongue curled out to lick the salt-tainted skin.

Ino giggled. "Better?"

"Hell, yeah." Her sweet skin muffled his voice. "Much better."

"Shower?"

"Hm-hm."

They shifted, skin sticky from sweat; Kiba grabbed a tissue from the nightstand and disposed of the condom before following Ino into the bathroom, where she had already turned on the water to heat. She had leaned behind the shower curtain to test the water as Kiba stood in the doorway, saturated with what felt like glowing rapture.

The bathroom was small, so when he entered, he basically had Ino boxed in. He stepped over and wrapped his arms around her.

"I'm happy," he whispered, kissing the side of her head. "Thank you."

She didn't say anything, but he could feel her smile. They showered together, 'helping' each other get those hard to reach places, and exchanging smiles and kisses. It was when Ino handed him a towel, that he first felt some déjà vu.

"What's wrong?" Ino asked. "You look…concerned."

Kiba rubbed his head. He knew he was forgetting something, but what? "I'm not sure. I feel like there's something I should be remembering."

Ino had turned and she looked at him in the mirror as she brushed her teeth. Toothbrush. Towel. Ino's scent all over them both. Ah, shit. He should have taken care of that evidence when he'd had the chance. But no. Like a rookie, he'd hesitated too long, and now, if he remembered yesterday afternoon correctly, the evidence had gone missing.

"Shit. I'm a dumbass."

She tilted her head, white froth on her lips.

He continued. "You know how you used a towel and a toothbrush at my place? Well…I didn't…exactly…do anything about them."

A finger flipped up- -wait a second- -and in a rapid series of movements, Ino rinsed her mouth so she could speak.

"I'm sorry. You what?" She slapped down the toothbrush, not waiting for him to answer. "Your mom's gonna know you had a girl over! And if Roach is still working surveillance on your place…" she trailed off, letting the implication speak for itself. "You think she knows it was me?"

"Yeah, it's a pretty good bet." Kiba replied, feeling cold anxiety ruin his elevated state. "You 'lost' your earrings, and I bet that's why I didn't see 'er last night. She was over talkin' to Mrs. Nara."

"You know you have to lie, right?"

"Yeah." His shoulders slumped. "I know."

Ino caressed his face, bouncing to her toes to plant a kiss on his mouth. Such a simple action soothed him. His hand cupped her nape to hold her steady, damp strands of hair under his fingers. After a few moments, she broke the kiss and rested her forehead against his cheek.

She whispered, "You can do it. Just…make it a matter of privacy. You're grown-up. You shouldn't have to worry about her nosing into your business. And if things get too hot, tell her you're leaving until she's more reasonable."

"You make it sound easy," he answered, sighing. "It's really not."

"It's gonna be hard for you to face your angry mother. But who knows? Maybe she'll choose to keep quiet."

He grunted. "Ino. Do you know my mother?"

She laughed and exited the bathroom. "Hey. I was thinking." She waited for him to follow her. "I'm gonna inform Lady Tsunade about your situation."

"Whoa, wait. Inform the Hokage? Is that a good idea?"

"Look"- -she started dressing, her shining hair draping- -"the less people who know that Mrs. Nakamura is taking advantage of you, the better. People don't talk about what they don't have any idea, parents included. The Hokage will be able to tell me if there are any jobs on Nakamura. I relay the information to Shino and Hinata, and you guys can figure out what to do."

Warning bells clanged in his head, and his nerves hummed. "Don't you think Lady Tsunade will take action? This relationship-thing with Yukari has to be as discreet as possible."

"So you don't want me to say anything to the person who is in a position to order a hit on Nakamura?"

"A hit?" His mouth went suddenly dry. "That's a little too far."

"You know what I mean. You have your plate full with this. Behave around Yukari and her mother, and talk to your team otherwise. It'll be fine."

He wasn't so sure, but before he could argue or voice his concerns, Ino stepped into him and nipped his throat, while pinching his ass. He grabbed her wrist, but her mouth was against his ear.

"Trust me," she said, her breath sending shivers down his spine, "you'll be fine. Make Yukari believe she has you. Work her to your advantage."

Then Ino snapped away. "Get your pj's back on. You have to sneak back downstairs."

Kiba wrangled with his pajamas, which had somehow tangled together, inside-out. The conversation had died, and he felt it was mainly his fault because he was leaving his fantasy bubble for the real world and was brooding over that fact. Ino had already unsealed the door when he turned to her.

He studied her; it would be last he saw of her for an undetermined period of time. The mental snapshot would have to last him that long. The moment turned awkward, because Kiba didn't really want to go and didn't really want Ino to know he didn't want to go, but Ino, in her endless grace, smoothed things over by kissing him, hard, and practically shoving him out of the door.

"Go kick some ass, Kibbers," she murmured before shutting the door in his face and sealing it.

Wait. Kibbers? Where the hell had that come from?

Too late to ask questions. Silently, recalling his steps from last night, Kiba crept through the house. He'd woken early enough that everyone was still in bed- -sleeping?- -he wasn't sure. If anyone asked, he could say he'd been in the bathroom, but, of course, that wouldn't explain his wet hair and the fresh-out-of-the-shower smell clinging to him.

He met no one, and no one was awake enough to ask questions. Good. He flopped on his sleeping bag to catch another couple hours of sleep. Only it wasn't quite sleep.

Behind his eyelids, he saw Ino- -the images he had stored of her, the look of her naked body underneath him, how water and light streamed through her hair. Instances of her smile, her laughter, when he touched her; he could feel her skin and smell her scent and it all seemed too real.

"Kiba?" A soft voice shattered his dreams. "Kiba, time to wake up."

Kiba opened his eyes and found Shino, fully clothed, leaning over him. He didn't even remember falling asleep- -and his stomach growled when he smelt breakfast wafting from the other side of the house. Shino reached down to help up Kiba, and groggily, he stood and stretched, and felt like he'd been in a self-induced genjutsu. Together, they started moving through the house toward the kitchen.

"I have never seen you sleep through breakfast," Shino said. "We set aside a plate for you. Mother didn't want to wake you since you were sleeping so soundly."

"Hm."

"We need to discuss details for the double date."

"Sure." Kiba scratched his neck, plodding into the hall that led to the kitchen. "Whatever."

"Now."

"Yeah, I got it."

Shino grabbed his arm and tugged him backwards. Kiba reacted, almost without thought, twisting his arm to break Shino's hold and was successful. Like the flicker of a shadow, Shino slipped by Kiba and blocked the path to the kitchen. He stood defensively, hands half-raised, feet positioned for stability.

Kiba growled, but backed off a few steps, unsure how serious Shino was. "What the hell're you doin'?"

"We are discussing the details of the date, and we are doing so now."

"Why can't I eat first?"

"You will eat after the plans have been discussed to my satisfaction."

Leave it to Shino to hold breakfast hostage. Kiba's stomach growled, this time with a pang of hunger. Shrugging and dropping his own hands, he relaxed his stance. He was not getting into a physical altercation with Shino before breakfast. Better to make Shino happy as fast as possible.

"Okay, you win."

Shino shifted, but didn't completely let down his guard. "Masako has wanted to attend The Battle of the Nine-Tails at the Great Sarutobi Theatre, and she has wanted to try a new Sunagakure-themed restaurant."

A play and dinner? That was the whole night he would have to spend with Yukari. In disbelief, Kiba put his shoulder into the wall to support himself. Another hunger pang made him groan.

"The play is showing on Tuesday at five o'clock, and I will make dinner reservations at nine." Shino adjusted his glasses. "You will be required to dress like a gentleman. Of course, I will pay for the tickets ahead of time and you can repay me at your convenience."

He paused, and it seemed like he wanted to add something, so Kiba prompted him. "Is that all?"

"For now, yes." He stepped aside. "I apologize for my rough treatment of you."

Kiba shuffled past Shino with a chuckle. "You've been rougher."

"Indeed. And before you ask, Hinata and my cousin have already left to do some early training."

That was as Kiba figured, so the disappointment didn't hurt too keenly. They entered the empty kitchen, and very much at home, Kiba opened the oven that was keeping warm his breakfast. The intensity of the smell excited his taste buds and produced more salvia in his mouth, which he had to swallow before he drooled. He took the plate and transferred into the dining room, where a bright patterned tablecloth and pretty flowers accentuated the bright morning outside. He sat and Shino sat across from him.

"I heard something interesting," Shino started, when Kiba took his first mouth-full.

"Hm?"

"Your mother has been looking for you."

Indifferently, Kiba continued eating. "And?"

"She is on a rampage."

"Right. She's after my ass, is what yer sayin'."

"Yes. There was something about a girl involved. Was it…you know who?"

Kiba slowed his eating. "I can't say."

Shino seemed to expect his answer. "I see. Also, there is something…rather important I want to show you. After you have eaten, of course."

"Shino, okay, one thing atta time."

Finishing his breakfast as quickly as he could- -there was a ton of food on the plate, like he'd never eaten before or something- -Kiba went with Shino, who showed him to a side room with a lot of glass displays of insect species decorating the walls. Display cases contained even more insect collections, and if it hadn't been for the long years he'd been working with Shino, Kiba knew he'd feel seriously disturbed.

Shino gestured to an alcove in the room that had a desk, on which some scientific equipment for studying bugs was scattered and many drawers were stacked underneath. A single glass box lay on the desk, and it was what Shino picked up.

"Here. This is what I wanted to show you." He handed the glass box to Kiba. "See what kind of insect it is?"

Kiba knew what it was instantly. A cockroach. Was it Roach's?

"Father found it on the premise," Shino continued. "He said he has never seen a cockroach like this one and he is studying it currently. So far, what we have talked about," he pointed up, discreetly indicating the attic, "is holding true. You know by law that if something is found as suspicious in the village, is it to be reported."

A few moments passed as Kiba digested Shino's implication. Shino meant that if Roach wasn't being monitored, this roach his father captured would give an excuse for Roach's surveillance or arrest. Also, Shino would have an idea if Roach was already being watched based on the information his father was sure to share. But if it turned out that this roach was a normal, everyday kind of roach, Ino's intelligence from the Hokage's office would tip off Shino anyway.

"If this is an unusual cockroach," Kiba started, hoping Shino would catch his meaning, "why was it so easy to catch?"

Shino smirked. "My father is very good at catching what does not want to be caught."

Just another way of saying Aburame Shibi looked for the hidden meaning within the hidden meaning- -and in a moment of clarity, Kiba understood that Roach had probably meant for the insect to be caught, just as he'd meant for Kiba to mash the one behind the bedroom wall. Kiba knew well the meaning of it: a warning that there was danger everywhere and at all times.

But if that was the case, then surely Roach knew that Shibi would report any findings about the roach to the Hokage. Why risk detection in a fuckin' hidden village just to show off stealth skills? Hadn't the display at the Nakamura manor been sufficient?

Roach was playing a game- -and Kiba didn't understand the rules yet.

"My friend, you had better resolve the conflict with your mother. She is more than likely waiting for you at your home."

Shino's nice way of saying, 'Get the hell out'.

Kiba nodded, and not too long after, headed out from the Aburame compound, briefing Akamaru about everything that had happened last night and this morning. The entire conversation took them until their home to finish. When they arrived on the front doorstep, they glanced at each other warily.

The scent from the house reeked of anger and frustration, two emotions Kiba was particularly familiar with. His stomach somersaulted, and he had to take a deep breath to steady himself before opening the door and entering his home. Chakra gathered in his ears and nose; there was definite scurrying behind the walls- -maybe two or three bugs.

The bugs meant whatever he and his mother said would be heard. He'd have to control the upcoming argument by keeping his mother from speaking about Ino. His job became impossible.

Quietly, he and Akamaru stepped through the hallway into the open kitchen and dining room. A flop sweat broke out across his forehead and in the small of his back. The pungent scent emanating from Mom drowned him; he took shallow breaths, his body refusing to control his air flow.

His mother sat at the table, with Kuromaru flopped on the floor near her chair. More than the scent, Kiba could feel her temper sizzling under her calm façade. Approach was a careful affair, and he kept a safe distance. When he was satisfied with his position, he nodded to Akamaru, who left.

Good luck, buddy. I'll wait for you outside.

"Yeah." Kiba swallowed. His heart thudded in his throat. "Hi, Mom."

She didn't turn to acknowledge him. "So you've come home." Barely controlled wrath charged her voice.

"Yeah." The word came out high, so he coughed to clear his throat. "I was, uh, over at Shino's."

"Who else was there?"

"Hinata."

"And who else?"

Cautiously, Kiba rounded the table to face her. He'd face her like an Inuzuka. "Shino's cousin."

"I'd heard she was visiting. Is she nice?"

This prolonged question/answer exchange nerved up Kiba more than if she'd flown off the handle right away. Why wasn't she screaming at him, red in the face, and peeling the paint with her coarse language?

"Um, nice enough, I guess. I heard you were lookin' for me?"

"You heard correct. I wanna know," she said, rising from her seat, head bowed, "why there was an extra toothbrush and towel in yer bathroom."

"A friend needed them."

"A friend needed them?" she growled, her sharp teeth glinting in the morning light. She closed in on him, and Kiba backed away. "A friend needed them? A girlfriend?"

Time for evasive maneuvers. "Uh, no. Just a friend."

"Are you cheatin' on Yukari?"

Whoa. He hadn't seen that coming, and he laughed out of sheer reflex. "No. I'm not cheatin'."

"Don't lie," Mom snapped, poking him in the chest. "I can smell it in you. And that wasn't the scent of a male."

"For God's sake, Mom, I have friends who're girls."

"Yeah? Like who?"

"That's not the issue, is it?" Kiba asked, letting his temper rise. She'd backed him against the wall, purposely trapping him to show her control. "I ain't been nosin' around other girls since I've been with Yukari. I'm loyal."

"Yer lying! And here's proof." To emphasize her point, she slapped her hand down on the counter beside them. Then she revealed a pair of studs. Ino's studs. Fuck. "How do you explain these?"

"Those…are a pair of earrings." He shrugged, planning on doing something dangerous and stupid. "So what?"

"Well, well, smartass. What were they doin' on yer nightstand?"

"Just sitting there. God, Mom, what's the big deal here?"

"Do you know whose earrings these are?"

A rhetorical question, but he answered anyway. "No." His hand edged to the counter; had to make it before she struck.

"Yamanaka Ino's."

"Mom. Yer crazy. Ino'n'me hate each other. And besides…those earrings are common."

"If that's so, why'd Yoshino hear from her sister's friend's husband that you'n'Ino were seen kissing and holding hands in the village last week?"

Shit. Shit. He had to take the offensive. "Do you hear yerself? Yer soundin' like…some village hand-talker."

Hand-talker was his family's way of saying gossiper, since gossipers always used their hands to shield their mouths. His mother had warned him gossiping was 'idle talk good for nothin' but stirrin' up drama', but it was a vice she participated in and denied doing it bitterly.

"You know I don't gossip!" she sneered. "Yer tryin' to change the subject."

So she wouldn't take the bait? A different angle was called for, one that he knew would snare her attention and hold it. The cost of this tactic was indefinite, but it would be high. Extremely high.

"Yer the one actin' like a damn hypocrite."

As soon as the words exited his mouth, a brief stop in time occurred. Using that surprised second, Kiba flicked his hand out as he strafed to the side. As he did, her fist crashed through the wall where his head had been. She'd missed her first hit, but she clipped him with a heavy backhand from the opposite hand that sent him spinning.

He used the momentum to carry himself out of her striking distance. Steadying into a defensive crouch, Kiba prepared for his mother's next attack, but it didn't come. While she yanked her hand from the wall and shook it, sprinkles of plaster falling to the floor, he deposited the stolen earrings into his jacket pocket. At the same time, he tasted blood on his lip.

Mom's eyes blazed with fury. "You have one last chance to come clean, boy, before I set you straight."

"I'm tellin' the truth." His muscles coiled, prepping for the attack. "Besides…yer in my business."

"Fuck yer business. The evidence is against you. You know Inuzukas aren't liars or cheaters. I won't have my son turn into either."

Assessing the situation, Kiba realized she was going to continue to pry into his life. If she pursued accusing him of sleeping with Ino, it would put everyone in danger, danger that Kiba was unsure even his indomitable mother could overcome. It was high time to shut her up.

And he knew what would cut her enough to make her forget about Ino. As his mother approached, Kiba lined up his ammunition and aimed straight for her heart, for her own good because he loved her and had to protect her.

"Mom," he said, the prepared words sickening him, "I see why Dad left."

His words stopped her in her tracks. There was a moment, when she tilted her head, like she didn't understand what he said, but then the air popped. Kiba shivered when he felt his mother's intent. He couldn't even see her eyes, and that, most of all, terrified him.

"Get out," she told him, lowly, with killing in her words, "get out of here now."

He turned and escaped, like a coward.


A/N: Next chapter: Third Date's the Charm. See you then.

Edited 12/31/09: 'Nonplussed' to 'Indifferently', as the former was used incorrectly.

Edited 01/26/10: 'tofes' to toes. I can't believe I missed that.

Edited 07/20/10: Replaced incorrect hyphens with dashes = "- - -"