A/N: Welcome back, dear readers. In a rare show of motivation and a flurry of typing, I have completed this chapter. You may breathe a sigh: we are nearing the end! Thank you again to everyone who has reviewed and supported the story, especially PSI who always supports me. =) Enjoy!


XXII: It Hits the Fan

He didn't know how long he stared at Yukari. Telling himself to breathe. Breathe. Time seemed to slow, emotions and thoughts piling up, one after another, until all of it was an incoherent jumble.

The confusion nauseated him, the bile in his throat leaving a burning stain, sweat breaking out. Even through the wreck in his brain, two thoughts were clear: How did this happen? and He needed to get the hell outta there. He could at least accomplish the latter.

Carefully, oh, so carefully, he adjusted Yukari off his arm, slipping gently out of twisted blankets, and when he was free, he shuffled back on elbows and ass to rest. When Yukari stirred, he froze instantly, his heart-rate tripping.

Breathe. In. Out. In. Out. She settled back with a sigh. All his physical alarms had sounded, and he wasted precious minutes trying to get his shit together.

Standing was dangerous. The dizziness engulfed him, and so he crawled on hands and knees to his backpack. He fiddled with the zipper and buckles, frustration with his shaking fingers slowing him, and when he got the pack open, he didn't care, he shook everything out on the floor.

Quietly, his pack regurgitated his clothes. He wrangled on the first pair of pants and shirt he put his hands on, stepped into his boots, and without tying them fled the apartment.

Staggering, gripping the handrail for dear life, he negotiated the dark stairs- -his bootlaces caught underfoot more often than not- -and stumbled into hot, blinding sun and a busy street. The dizziness screwed up his sense of direction; he could not smell a damn thing; desperate to get as far from Yukari as possible, he headed in the direction he faced.

He walked, kept his shoulder dragging against buildings for support; each time he left the solid walls, he couldn't keep upright. Watched his shoelaces flopping, following them, watched as a myriad of feet crossed his vision.

The heat pounded on his back; his sweat left sticky residue. Over and over and over he asked, "How did it happen?" Had to stop, his stomach…hurt. Putting pressure where it hurt; muscles had clenched too tightly, heat throbbed through him. He knew that feeling.

Oh, God, oh, God. He was gonna puke. Fuck. Somehow he worked his way into a feet-free area, the dark cooling and private. As his shaking worsened, so did the heat fanning up and out all over, he got his forearm planted on the chilled cement wall, leaned, and retched. On principle, his stomach heaved again- -felt like his body wanted to turn inside out- -nothing but acid came up.

Breathe. Breathe. He spat, but it didn't help the sting in his throat. Exhausted, unwilling to collapse wherever he was, he lurched forward. Maybe he'd go home. He traveled in the dark, breaking into sunlight and another street, blinked and tried to figure his location through haze. Crap. Didn't know which direction to go. Panic hurried up and squeezed his throat.

His wheeling vision had gone blurry. Heat suffocated him. Dammit. If he didn't rest, he'd pass out. Breathe. He kept his narrowing focus on his toes, swung around a corner, and bumped headfirst into someone standing there.

Kiba stumbled back. A flak jacket. Thigh holster, boots.

"Kiba? Son?"

The air left his lungs, and remarkably, his eyesight sharpened on his mother's face, the cigarette dangling out of her darkened lips, the crow's feet in the corners of her eyes, red triangles. Familiar features.

His heart jumped into his throat; he remembered what he'd done to her, how he had hurt her on purpose so she'd leave him alone, and he couldn't believe how much he missed her and that loyalty he had, that absolute love, froze him in place. Some part of him, some hidden, dark, part had been scared that she'd forget about him.

"Hey. Hey, it's okay," she said gently. The cigarette fell from her lips. "Lemme take you home, kiddo."

Mom reached out, but Kiba's fight or flight response kicked in and he shied away from her hand. He couldn't adequately comprehend the conflict raging inside him: he wanted to crumple into her arms; he had to turn tail and flee.

His lungs forced him to drag air through his mouth. He hadn't known he'd been holding his breath. Whatever he was feeling, it hurt, pulsing behind his temples, pulsing in his chest. Alive and eating.

Mom shifted forward. "Easy. I'm not gonna hurt you."

He'd been running from something, what had it been? And a horrid, filthy memory slipped into his brain, the image of Yukari, naked, curled next to him, of the sex he couldn't quite remember, answered his question. Humiliation and shame cued his flight response along with Mom's hand on his arm, but he jerked away and ran. He ran and ran and ran until darkness enveloped him, gasping and drenched in sweat.

Shouting punctured the thick black. "Dammit! Kiba!"

Barking. A firm grasp; he struggled. Unintelligible mumbling. A sharp prick in his arm, then he felt or heard nothing else.

- -N- -

Waking up was damn hard to do. He had oozed into a comfortable, cushiony heaven that he was loathe to ooze out of. There was that, and there was the suspicion that a return to reality would be more than it was worth to move. Every single muscle and bone agreed with him except, unfortunately, his bladder. He had to pee, and he had to pee right now.

Much like a butterfly worked out of its cocoon, he wiggled free of a dense wrapping of blankets. First impression was the darkness. He took a breather and realized, hey, I feel much better…but where the hell am I?

The scents that reached his nose were faint; he didn't want to strain and cause himself more problems. His last clear memory was the tactical meeting with Shino and Hinata. After that…details were a little fuzzy.

He'd been deposited on a couch, complete with linens and a couple pillows. There was an end-table with a light and alarm clock, and a coffee table situated between his couch and a desk, cluttered with office materials and pictures, turned-away. Blinds covered half-wall windows to his right, and there was a door further back. On the right wing of the couch, light illuminated a second doorway, and curious, Kiba stood- -with minimal dizziness- -to investigate.

Ah, thank God, the bathroom, complete with toilet, shower, sink. After using the facilities, including the toothbrush and toothpaste that had been set on the sink (Ino's note stuck in the mirror clued him in), he realized where he was: the office of the Yamanaka Flower Shoppe. How he'd gotten there and for how long he'd been there remained a mystery.

Soft scratching at the office door. Kiba? Kiba, are you awake?

Akamaru! Kiba shuffled over, body stiff and popping, and opened the door to let in his oldest friend. Akamaru shoved through, huge body knocking Kiba on his ass, and proceeded to smother his master and companion with nuzzles and kisses, while receiving pats and nuzzles back. Akamaru's massive tail swung with a steady whap, whap, whap, against the doorframe.

"Hi mutt," he said, laughing, "good to see you."

Hey! He-ey! You can talk! Is your throat still really sore?

'Talk' was relative. He sounded like he had a bad case of laryngitis. "Not sore, no."

I can tell you're getting better. I was worried about you!

"Why's that?" He stood and went to sit on the couch, Akamaru on his heels. An odd sense of completion had returned to Kiba, like he couldn't get better without his dog.

Kiba. Akamaru's serious tone caught his attention. Do you remember me leaving with Ino yesterday?

"Sorta. What happened?"

We left you with Yukari so Ino could check out your condition at the hospital. Ino ended up falling asleep while waiting for the results, and when we returned to Naruto's…you'd gone missing and Yukari was nowhere in sight. Akamaru rested his chin on Kiba's knee; his soft furry head wonderfully familiar. Your scent was screwy, Kiba, like you were in a panic and when we found you, you wouldn't let Ino help you.

Hn, some clip of memory occurred to him. Kiba opened his arm to check the inside of his elbow- -a red dot stood out on his skin. "So she used a sedative on me."

Yeah. Sorry, Akamaru said, pink tongue curling out to lick his arm apologetically. We brought you here since it was closest. You've been asleep up 'til now, buddy. Shino and Hinata just left and Ino is over at Naruto's picking up your stuff. Heh, she said it'd be easier to get your gear to you than it would be to get you to your gear. And it was Inoichi's idea, anyway.

Akamaru chuckled when Kiba grimaced at thought of being near Ino's dad. Inoichi was very accommodating. Think he knows about you'n'Ino yet?

"Don't you breathe a word."

"About what?"

Kiba snapped up his head as the overhead lights flickered on, and lividly (inwardly) cursed his nose for being offline when he saw Inoichi in the doorway. Brief panic skittered cold through him. No one could sneak up on him like Inoichi could.

Inoichi lifted a breakfast tray; immediately, Kiba accepted the interruption in favor of food. "Never mind," Inoichi added, "I don't want to know."

Kiba patted Akamaru's head and watched quietly as Inoichi came over and settled the breakfast tray on the coffee table. Breathed a sigh when a bowl of ramen steamed lightly; some bread and a glass of water accompanied the ramen. And in the corner of the tray, sat a small, gift-wrapped box.

What's that? Akamaru asked, as Kiba picked the gift up and thinking it had been placed there by mistake, showed it to Inoichi.

"Go ahead and open it," Inoichi said from the desk. "It's something else that belongs to you." Then sternly, "Open it," when Kiba started to argue.

His fingernails more than adequate in shredding the gift-wrap, Kiba had the box open in a couple seconds. Nestled in cotton was a polished, ivory tooth on a leather string. When he held it up to the light, the enamel shone along the one and half-inch curved length.

"It's a wolf's tooth. Prehistoric," Inoichi clarified when Kiba glanced over, skeptical, "and passed down through the Inuzuka clan for generations as a sort of…good luck charm. It was given to your father from your mother."

Akamaru sniffed at it. That's awesome. Put it on, and let's see how it looks!

"Can I…wear it?"

"Of course. It's yours."

"Thank you," Kiba said, ducking his head into the leather loop. To Akamaru, "How's it look?"

The dog's lips curled back in a smile. Badass.

Yeah, it was badass. The necklace was lighter than he thought and rested against his heart; the tooth had probably rested against his father's heart. The point of the canine was still sharp when he tested it with his fingertip.

Inoichi gestured with a pen. "There's a back-story if you're interested. But first, eat your lunch. Ino'll kill me if you go hungry."

At the front of the store came the cheery jangle of bells.

Speak of the devil. She's here! Akamaru's tail wagged.

Footsteps crossed tiled floor and another door opened. Then Ino's voice sang through the back of the store. "Hell-o! I'm ba-ack!" And she flounced into the office, full of life and all smiles.

Her presence had an immediate, chaotic effect. Physically, he shivered and his heart skipped a beat. He needed her there; he was terrified and nauseous for a reason that he didn't quite grasp and for a reason he did: Ino was still in danger from Mrs. Nakamura. A nip on his arm directed his attention to his dog.

She figured if Nakamura wanted her dead for helping you out, she'd be dead by now, Akamaru said. And she missed you, so be calm.

"Look," she said, "he's up!"

Kiba saw Inoichi's curious half-smile as Ino dropped a kiss on her father's forehead and then dumped the backpack next to the wall. He noticed she wore a flak jacket, his flak jacket, and she slipped it off to hang it and his leather jacket on a couple hooks that had been screwed into the bathroom door.

Thankfully she didn't sit next to him on the couch, choosing instead to lean a hip against her father's desk. Kiba didn't think he'd be able to resist temptation even with Inoichi sitting right there.

"You don't have to stop eating on my account," Ino said to him. He turned his intense focus to the ramen as she spoke. Anything to keep from jumping her bones. "So I checked out your family history. The development of glands comes naturally for Inuzukas. It's painful, but nothing aspirin can't fix.

"And before either of you ask," she said, her tone anticipatory, "using chakra to try to fix the pain or the glands only complicates their development. Bed-rest and fluids for another couple of days is recommended. Then you'll be back on your feet. Though, your running around in the heat didn't help you any."

"Gotcha." Kiba sipped up the noodles, unable to taste them. He wanted badly to hug Ino and kiss her. Stroke her hair. Nuzzle her. "Thanks for yer help."

She smiled. "I'm happy to help."

"Kiba," Inoichi said suddenly, "why did you leave the apartment?"

A bout of nervousness kept him quiet, and he didn't have to answer before Ino piped up.

"He probably doesn't know for sure, Daddy. When we got there, nothing was out of place…except for him." A contemplative pause. Kiba continued eating, one hand on Akamaru's head. "Although, his clothes and things were out of his pack stacked and folded, and also the blankets and sleeping bag were folded up."

"Kiba wouldn't have done that. Inuzukas are not known for their tidiness."

Kiba let Inoichi's off-handed remark pass.

"Good point. But do you think…someone woke him and then neatened the place up?"

They spoke to each other like he wasn't a part of the conversation. He didn't want to get involved because having both Yamanakas there made him feel twitchy…something about why he left the apartment. Maybe he didn't want to go digging around for answers in his head, but he wouldn't be a good shinobi if he didn't.

"It still doesn't answer the question," Inoichi said. "Why did Kiba leave?"

"When Yukari came looking for him, and we went to visit him, his fever was extremely high. Might've been that he'd hallucinated and the hallucination caused him to leave."

"You mean he thought he saw something and got scared off."

"Yes. He was a significant distance from the apartment, which makes me think he'd been running for awhile. I had to use a sedative to calm him down."

"I see." A long pause. "I think it's best if we let him stay here. Is that okay with you, Kiba?"

Could he really say no? He had nowhere else to go, and at least here, he could watch Ino. "Yeah, that'll be…fine."

"Good," Inoichi said. "Now we'll let you rest. Ino and I will be available if you need anything. Don't worry about lunch or dinner. We'll get it for you. Is there anything else you need?"

"Probably something to do," Ino said. When her father glanced at her, she fidgeted. "I mean, from what I've heard, he gets bored easily."

Inoichi turned his gaze back to Kiba. "Is that so"- -stated, not asked- -"Do you read?"

"Yeah, kinda."

"Yeah, kinda," Inoichi repeated, chuckling. He spun around the chair, rolling it over the tile to a cabinet along the wall. "Try these. They're old, but they're classics."

"Like you, Daddy," Ino chirped.

Inoichi grinned. "Like me." Then he stood and transferred the three shabby paperback novels to Kiba, saying, "We've got a lot to do today, and I have afternoon training with my genins. Mrs. Yamanaka will be by to help out then. You'll hold down the fort from here?"

Was that a joke he detected? He wasn't sure, so he responded by nodding. "Thanks for everything."

An even gaze from Inoichi pinned him. "No trouble. Any time."

Together, Ino and Inoichi exited the office, closing the door quietly on Kiba and Akamaru. He could hear them moving and chatting in the backroom, but he didn't listen in on them. Being in their territory was bad enough.

They're being really helpful, Akamaru said. I doubt we'll be able to pay them back for it all.

Kiba snorted. "No kidding." He patted Akamaru's head. "You sure yer okay cooped up with sick little ole me?"

Heh, heh. Yeah. Someone's gotta keep an eye on you. He promptly folded his paws together and settled down his head on them. Taking a nap now. You read your book.

At lunchtime, Ino served him much better fare than Inoichi had provided; easy-to-swallow rice and scrambled eggs and steaming green tea. She sat beside him on the couch, leaning down, since he'd sprawled out lengthwise. Her ponytail hung free over her shoulder.

"How are you feeling?" she asked, fingers at his throat, and in that proximity, Kiba felt self-conscious, almost uncomfortable, which was so weird and surprising he couldn't explain it. "You sound a lot better than a couple days ago."

"I feel better."

"That's good." She leaned closer and kissed him; he kissed back out of pure reaction. Against his mouth, "Hm. It's been a long time."

Since his smell and taste were knocked out, he responded to the feel of her soft lips, the smooth slickness of her tongue along his. Heat spurted from his groin, chemistry and emotion working together to intensify his arousal.

The kiss was driving them toward the point of no return. But his brain sent opposite messages, including a very sharp memory of kissing Yukari and having a similar response. Shocked, he flinched away.

"What?" she asked, after a second of collecting herself, "What's wrong?"

Kiba passed a hand over his face. He felt unsettled, restless. "We shouldn't be doing this in yer father's office."

The excuse was flimsy, she probably saw through it, but she nodded. "I understand. I'm…gonna leave you alone. I'll come back to take care of your plates."

Ino took his hand and pressed a few kisses on the back of it, then stood and left, closing the door behind her.

I figured you woulda taken the opportunity to hump her, Akamaru remarked from his spot along the wall. The way you were shooting looks at her earlier.

"Something's wrong with me." Of that, he was sure. "But I don't know what it is yet."

Akamaru snorted. Obviously. You better figure it out or else she's gonna get disappointed.

He ate his lunch in silence, wondering about that inappropriate Yukari-thought that he'd associated with Ino. Kissing Yukari had been just at the start of his illness. He remembered trying to track down Ino, but failing when Shino interrupted and took him to the team tactical meeting.

The rest of the day passed uneventfully, and he still could not think of anything that had caused his strange aversion to Ino's physical contact. He showered and went to bed when Ino's mother closed the shop.

A dark dream occurred. He knew he was dreaming, but with perverse fascination, he allowed what he saw to play out. Yukari was with him, the details of the space blurry. He kissed her, touched her, like he did with Ino, and realized he loved Ino but couldn't stop what he was doing to Yukari.

The feral, predatory side of him relished the idea of experiencing two girls, pushed him to take Yukari, and he let himself do it. She was upset, the sheen of tears on her cheeks, clearly miserable, but he saw it too late, couldn't stop himself, couldn't peel Yukari off him, had risen nearly to climax…something aggressive and evil breathed down his neck, pinning him to her.

She cried out; he struggled violently.

Acute pain shattered the dream. Kiba woke, panting, achy, sweaty. The sheets and blankets had been flung off. Akamaru whined and nuzzled him; he needed space and gently pushed the canine back.

He touched his arm where it throbbed. "Sonavabitch."

You were having quite a nightmare. Akamaru growled and licked where he'd bit Kiba. I'm sorry, but you were thrashing around. I didn't know what else to do.

"No, it's okay. Thanks, buddy."

Are you…will you be okay?

"I…I don't know. I think whatever's wrong with me has somethin' to do with Yukari." He glanced at the alarm clock and cringed. "It's too early to be having this discussion. We'll talk in the morning."

Akamaru growled in disapproval.

"I know," he answered, "you don't like it. But I'm exhausted."

After tucking in the linens on his 'bed', he laid back. Sleep was more of an aware doze, and when Inoichi opened the shop, Kiba greeted him, dressed and starting the second novel.

The pattern of the next day matched the first day, only with more visitors. Hana showed up, Shino and Hinata after that, Mrs. Yamanaka, and surprisingly Shi and his two teammates. Most of the conversation was on the visitor's side, updating Kiba, asking him how he felt. Ino had the day off as she was needed at the hospital.

Worn out from all the company, Kiba went to bed (again) when Mrs. Yamanaka closed the shop and slept solidly the entire night. The next morning, too early for the shop to be open, Shi crashed into the office, causing him to bolt upright from the deep sleep.

"Kiba!" The kid looked pale and faintly green when he flicked on the lights. "Yukari needs you now!"

Still half-asleep, Kiba opened his mouth to reply, but instead of words coming out, loaded scent flew in. The stench of panic and sweat rolling off Shi coated his tongue, jammed into his sinuses, and reached down his throat to torment the new glands.

The detergent used to wash Shi's clothes, the spot of sauce on the kid's shirt; deodorant, soap, shampoo; Yukari's scent; the smell of the house; something Shi'd stepped in on the way over; the bubblegum in Shi's pocket; and adolescent hormones clarified, leaving him overwhelmed, like he'd been punched, hard, in the face.

Akamaru had sat up on his haunches. Kiba? You okay?

"KIBA! YUKARI NEEDS YOU NOW!" Shi screamed, and rushing over, yanked Kiba by the arm. A fresh wave of hysteria. "WE DON'T HAVE TIME!"

The sudden movement towards his master jolted Akamaru to his feet, snarling, barking.

Shi's forceful pull snapped Kiba out of his stupor and he felt his emotions climbing with Shi's. Mom had warned him that scenting another's extreme emotions could cause him a similar reaction; he'd already experienced it sexually with Ino.

Shi's panic wrought panic in Kiba, and it was worse than usual with his new glands. He had to chill out; he waved off Akamaru, who dropped the defensive stance but continued to keep watch.

"Shi. Shi," he said, jerking the genin by the shirtfront when he struggled, "yer panicking. Calm. Down."

"You don't understand!" Good God, the kid was crying now! Great big tears dripped over his cheeks. With Kiba's new super-senses, he could basically taste the salt. "Yukari is in trouble! Why aren't you going?"

"I'm not goin' anywhere until yer calm. Sit over here and work on breathing while I get dressed." Kiba plunked Shi on the couch, then dug through his backpack for clothes to change into. He nodded at Akamaru, who'd give Shi some comfort. "You need to tell me what's goin' on so I don't go in cold."

"Okay, okay, okay, okay," Shi said, sniffing. "Lemme…get together."

A few moments passed as Kiba hauled on some clothes and grabbed his leather jacket off the hook. He turned when he sensed a sharp decline in Shi's stress levels and found Shi stroking Akamaru's head. A few more seconds couldn't hurt, so Kiba took the time to check and strap on his gear and lace up his boots. By the time he was done, Shi had stopped crying and had regrouped.

"Now," Kiba moved the coffee table back and crouched in front of Shi, "tell me what's goin' on."

"My mom found Yukari with the servant, Kai. They were," a blush rose in Shi's cheeks, matched the embarrassment in his scent, "you know…"

"Having sex," Kiba finished, figuring that was what it was. "When was that?"

Shi closed his eyes. "Maybe four or five days ago. I'm not sure, but I know that they've been...together a long time. Mom had been suspicious before and threatened to hurt Kai if Yukari didn't catch you, whatever that means."

"Was that when you followed us on our date?" Kiba remembered how Yukari had been upset and hurt when she'd confronted him at his house. Then the strange vibe coming from the Nakamura manor when he'd picked up Yukari for their double-date. It made sense. "Yer mom hits Yukari, doesn't she?"

"Yeah. But that's not what's wrong. Yukari's…" Shi swallowed, like the words had gotten lodged in his throat. "Yukari's…pregnant, Kiba."

Kiba went cold and thought he'd misheard Shi, but his ears never lied. He knew something like this was gonna happen. He'd known as soon as he'd smelled Kai's scent all over Yukari, saw the devotion she had to him in her eyes. Waking up to Yukari beside him hadn't been a dream or hallucination brought on by his illness- -it had actually happened. Suddenly he felt sick to his stomach. Bet he could guess why.

Holy shit. Akamaru broke the long silence. Is it…? He left the rest unsaid.

"It's Kai's."

"You mean…you haven't…?" Shi asked. "But that doesn't make any sense! Yukari claimed it wasn't his! That you were the father and she had proof! And that the one time with Kai was a fluke!"

Akamaru gazed at Kiba shrewdly. This ain't soundin' good. Did you mate with Yukari?

A headache throbbed in his head as the pieces fit together. Yukari had gotten pregnant by Kai. Mrs. Nakamura threatened Kai's life unless Yukari could get evidence that proved that she'd had sex with him. His little guys inside her would prove it amply. But what makes Mrs. Bitch think that he'd be that easy to manipulate? A simple DNA test on the baby would prove his innocence.

"Yukari and I did have sex, but her baby is definitely Kai's."

Kiba. Kiba, are you serious? You slept with Yukari? Akamaru's evident disbelief upset Kiba further. What about Ino? How could you? Didn't you choose her?

"Akamaru!" Stress cracked his voice. Defensive words leapt out. "I didn't consciously do it. You guys had left and I thought she was Ino!"

And your nose was screwed up so…

"I didn't know otherwise."

Was that when you…?

"Left the apartment, yeah." Kiba rubbed his forehead. The headache didn't abate. "Let's not get into that right now."

Shi waved a hand. "Hello? Who are you talking to?"

Kiba ignored the remark. "Shi, what made you go hysterical?"

"I wasn't hysterical," Shi said immediately. He continued as Kiba rolled his eyes. "Mom had Roach take Kai somewhere on orders to kill him if you didn't collaborate with Yukari's story. That's all I know."

Mrs. Bitch's got something up her sleeve, I can smell it, Akamaru said, growling softly.

"We'll have to force her hand." That's all they could do. This was the time lines were drawn. "Shi. Can I count on you?"

"Wh-what do you mean?"

"I mean, are you on Yukari's side or yer mom's? Who're you gonna protect?"

Shi looked stricken for a moment, but then his features hardened. "I'm tired of my mom's shit. I wanna help my sister be happy."

That at least was a relief. Kiba nodded. "Good to hear it. We're leaving. You'll be riding on Akamaru's back. Just hang on."

In short order, they exited the flower shop and sped across rooftops. Kiba's emotional state was in flux; he went from anger to fear to guilt to shock and back again. The coldness had not left him; he was clammy and shaken. Mentally, he tried to remain logical, but he couldn't help freaking out.

He could guess that now Yukari had what she needed from him, he'd be expected to play ball and marry her. With a sick twist, he thought perhaps Mrs. Nakamura wouldn't take chances and so would act on her threat to end Ino's life. That's why Ino'd gone unscathed when she'd assisted him before…Ino would be the leverage Mrs. Nakamura would need for her moment of triumph.

The three of them landed at the front door of the Nakamura manor, bypassing the front gate entirely. Instinct urged Kiba to flee, but he jammed his hands in his pockets and stayed, refusing to be intimidated by a pregnant girl and her sociopathic mother.

Ino's earrings, forgotten, pricked his knuckles. They gave him a small comfort in this time of crisis, but what they really did was remind him of who he was. His mean side wanted to let Yukari lie in the bed she'd made, to hell with the consequences, but his sense of duty to her as a civilian was stronger.

What's the plan? Akamaru asked. You oughta bring in me in with you.

Kiba shook his head. "If something goes wrong, I need someone on the outside."

A fear-scent clung to the house. All the servants were anxious; he heard the hesitation in their movements, the quiet breathing. Mrs. Bitch and Yukari were in the office; Yukari's scent was the same, but different, her body gearing up to become a life-support system for her child, and terrified. Above all, terrified.

"Okay, Shi," Kiba said, ignoring his own tumultuousness, "I'm gonna do whatever I can to get you and yer sister out of yer mother's reach. Akamaru's gonna stay out here. You get by yer sister and you stay there. If somethin' happens to me, yer responsible for gettin' her out. Lemme handle yer mom and Roach. Is that clear?"

Shi nodded. "Yeah."

Kiba took a steadying breath and entered the house, where he was sure he was stepping into a trap.


A/N: So, did you like that? I hope you did; you can let me know in the reviews. =) Look forward to the next chapter on Sat. Aug, 21st. Until then!