chapter 18: Torrents
'Will he ever shut up?', Kyuubi covered his ears, not that it helped block out the noisy chatter that Kiba is doing.
'Nope, I don't think he will', Naruto is enjoying every moment that Kyuubi is annoyed with the boy. It's not so hard to annoy the fox but it sure is funny since he can't do anything much about it but complain.
'Please, my ears are going to fall off if he continues to talk about his 'achievements'', Kyuubi made a quote unquote with his fingers and rolled his eyes. He never would understand whats the use of bragging about his track and field records.
'Don't forget about the dogs', Naruto reminded him, he knows how much Kyuubi hates dogs and the nuance it brings.
'AND THOSE DOGS! Those godawful dogs!', Kyuubi started to rant and inwardly Naruto laughed while mainting a fragile composure on the outside. He just wasn't aware that his face was showing a small smile that Kiba noticed.
"Well, glad to see you are enjoying this.", Kiba trekked down the path and waited for Naruto to follow. The boy did not need any help since he was sure that Naruto seemed fully capable of himself.
"Its a nice change of view.", Naruto simply said. Jumping down along side Kiba, a mistake since the ground wasn't exactly even. Hence upon landing he can't help but lean on the boy's muscular shoulder for balance.
Kiba's shoulders were lean but muscular. Tight and firm, it betrays the strength beneath the thin skin that covers it. There was a light sheen of sweat that he can see, sense, and smell. The smell is somewhat, intoxicating.
"Hey careful, we don't want to be tumbling down to this one.", Kiba steadied Naruto with his hands on the boy's waist. Unconsciously blushing a little with the gesture. 'What the heck?'.
"Thanks." Naruto mumbled. Who seem to be lost for words with the gesture that Kiba did. The feeling of Kiba's hands on his waist seemed too good to be right. So with an awkward glance at how Kiba was blushing seemed to make matters worst. So Naruto jumped off again on the path just a little below them and walked on, scattering dead leaves.
"That was weird.", Kiba thought to himself. What's more weird is that he never even felt like this with any other before. Jumping down on the path that Naruto was trudging on he thought hard about the matter at hand. Sure he had crushes, sure he had dates, sure he had girlfriends. "Scratch that last one,", he muttered. Well he did had a girlfriend but then he later finds out they are only after his junk. So he breaks up with them and gets blue balled right after. Double the pain, twice the disappointment.
One of the many reasons he never wanted to hook up with anyone else nor give them the impression that he's well endowed. The moment they hear about it they just can't keep their hands to themselves. "Or I could just be gay..." he never did entertained the thought. Perhaps he's bisexual? or curious maybe? But he never felt anything like this towards any other guys, save Naruto.
"That's another problem I have to think about later.", He said to himself as he caught up with Naruto who already found his last working haunt. So out of all they visited, only two of which is still 'alive'.
This one is simple, like all the others, it is a Sequioa Tree trunk that has fallen down, carved and made use a secret hideout. The beaded curtain on the entrance invites them to see the mystery behind it.
Dusty from all the absence of human occupants. The place is unlike the previous ones they visited, it only held a few notable furniture. It never even seemed to house a lot of people but one.
"Out of all that me and my friends created, this one is mine alone.", he proudly motioned with arms wide. Flashing his stupid smile, and coughing because of the disturbed dust floating in the air.
"Impressive.", Naruto mockingly patronized Kiba but can't help laugh because of it. 'Great another doghouse', Kyuubi rolled his eyes and scoffed.
"Not much as the others we've seen but definitely better.", Kiba said while disappearing deeper in the huge trunk.
Naruto decided to explore the supposed living room. The windows were also carved out and then plastered up glass. Some of it were broken in, others didn't seem to have glasses on it in the first place.
Walking towards the only furniture in the room, he admired the miniature carvings that were set on the table. It was a litter of puppies set about, with two adult dogs just nearby.
'You never told me you already wanted your own litter of mess', Kyuubi teased.
'No, but I think you do. Must be getting lonely because you're getting you know.', Naruto smirked.
'I'am not,-', Kyuubi started.
'-getting old.', Naruto snorted at the thought.
'ugh, that again.', Kyuubi gave him one of his infamous eye rolls.
'but it never gets o~ld.', Naruto chortled at the pun.
'Enough about me getting old.', Kyuubi made a sniffing motion. Ears perked up and nose flaring.
'It's going to rain.', Kyuubi predicted.
Naruto went out of the huge trunk and saw nothing but sunny cloudless skies. 'Are you sure you are not getting dementia as well?'
Kyuubi gave a gutteral laugh, he remembered the times they betted on who got the weather right.
'Wanna make a bet then?', Naruto asked his alter ego.
'Suuuure', Kyuubi made a very toothy grin.
'It's not gonna rain, there's not even a cloud miles away', Naruto reasoned. 'I win'.
'Nope, not yet. But there will be, in a few hours if you and dogbreath stay here.', Kyuubi countered. 'And it's going to be heavy I tell ya''.
'Yeah right.', Naruto snickered and went to where Kiba was.
"Kiba?", Naruto pulled the beaded curtain and was immediately hit by an all familiar scent. A scent he can't help but like and disdain.
"Yo!, I was trying to clean up the room." Kiba is shirtless and all sweaty. Dirty from all the dust that clung to his drenched body.
On top of the room is a stained glass. There was no image on it but the various colors pieced and glued together make an enough art on itself.
But Naruto knew better. It did not need to be understood. The light shining down on Kiba was beyond words. Every color heightened Kiba's body in different flavors of light. Each accentuating his body and bringing more perspective into view. Most of all his face. It seemed peaceful. Serene. Calm. Naruto knew what would perhaps suffice despite it being insufficient.
'Beautiful',
"Beautiful",
Both inside his thoughts and his normal self spoke the words.
'Kit!', was all the Kyuubi could say.
"Uhhh, I'd rather be handsome thank you." Kiba scratched the back of his head because other than that he doesn't know what else to say or do.
"I meant the stained glass," Naruto momentarily blushed having realized what he just said.
'Nice save,!', Kyuubi approves apparently
"Of course! But I'm better", Kiba suggestingly raised his eyebrows and made flexing moves.
'He killed the mood right off the bat, another nice save,' Kyuubi jeered inside Naruto's head. It was Naruto's turn to be annoyed this time.
'At least he didn't notice it', Naruto made a deep and slow sigh. 'Never thought he was such a meathead either.'. Naruto wondered why Kiba was fixing the room when they are just there to visit.
Kiba sweatdropped and was thankful that the moment passed without them being anymore awkward than it already is. 'Maybe this is what they call bromance?'
"Why are you cleaning up?", Naruto asked.
"It will rain soon and we can't make the walk back since we will be caught in the rain halfway the travel." Kiba said as a matter of factly and proceeded to dust off and move what little furniture the room held. The bed was in tiptop bad shape so he is moving it out lest they contract a mold infection.
"Seriously? It's very sunny outside-", before Naruto could finish what he was saying a loud thunder was heard from a distance.
'aaaand who won the bet?', Kyuubi teased. Oh he's having a field day with the turn of events.
'no one, you said hours, it has just been a few minutes,' Naruto cooly reasoned out.
'Fiiiine, I'll accept your surrender to my superior senses, handsome fur, and intellect.' Kyuubi puffed his chest like a proud peacock once more.
'Who would even want your fur', Naruto grimaced with the thought of him growing furs all over his body. Sure a tail would be interesting but he doesn't want the consequences of having fur and the maintenance it entails.
"Told you so, wanna help perhaps?" Kiba lifted the bed and dragged it towards the entrance going outside of the trunk.
"Here let me help." Naruto offered.
"You might want to take off your shirt if you don't want it to get all dirty and dusty.", Kiba said.
"Uhh, I'm not comfortable sorry, besides I can live with that.", Naruto answered.
"Your funeral,", Kiba shrugged his shoulders and dragged that bed together with Naruto.
"Where do you wanna dump this?", Naruto was kind of regretting not taking Kiba's advice as some of the unwanted dust and mold already clung on his shirt.
Naruto sneezed twice when he tried dusting himself off. Which received a well placed 'I told you so' look from Kiba.
"Let's leave it beside that tree, it's moldy now so i guess it will crumble up if we leave it for the rain later." Kiba looked up and peered at far west.
"Looks like it's gonna be a heavy one, no worries though." Kiba walked back towards the fallen trunk. "This old cave of ours will hold up. I already checked the windows and cracks. Everything is ok."
"You sure about that?", this time, Naruto didn't need an answer for that when another loud ominous thunder. Without looking at where Kiba is staring he already knew that this will be a long night for the both of them.
Several more thunderous blows were heard. Naruto has grown up now but he never did outgrew his fear of these stupid thunders.
'Want me to dull your senses?', Kyuubi offered. He knew doing that would seem weak but its the only thing he can think off to help his host.
'Not so much, I want to be aware when that thing is around again', Naruto said.
'Sure, sure, sure, I know.', Kyuubi began to numb Naruto's sense of feeling so he wouldn't be cold, then followed by sight so he woudn't see the lightning's flash, lastly his sense of hearing. Everything will seem muffled as if a bag was put on your head.
Kiba seemed to be mouthing something to him, but he can't quite clearly hear it.
'Kyuu, let's just dump the numbing strategy for now. We can't risk Kiba noticing', Naruto reasoned.
'You sure about this?', Kyuubi seemed worried but this is what his host wants. He can only follow Naruto and suggest paths, never direct it. Not what after what happened before. He can't bear to see Naruto suffer when they can do something about it.
'Yes, and Kyuu, trust me. Ok?', Naruto seriously said to Kyuubi.
'Fiiiine, I hope nothing goes wrong.', Kyuubi returned Naruto's senses one by one and curled into a ball.
'Thanks', Naruto smiled. Not one of those fake smiles he often show but a genuine one which made Kyuubi raise a non-existent eyebrow.
"I said, let's get in before it starts raining." Kiba told Naruto, who is awfully close and within his personal bubble.
"Sure.", Naruto followed Kiba back into the dead trunk they would now call house for the meantime.
Kabuto was safely perched a good few meters away from Naruto and trashdog. Making sure to keep notes all the while observing them. Once he thought he might need to go away again because Naruto stopped still and seemed to be honing into something. Turns out he found out that for a moment, Naruto's senses seemed to dull.
"Hmmm, a flaw?", Kabuto wondered. But that is impossible since they already gave him the perfected mutagen and such imperfections this late would never manifest or if they did, it would have simply been obvious the first he laid eyes on the boy.
Kabuto thought hard about this and wanted some sort of explanation, so he had no choice but to totally abandon the task at hand for the mean time. When he returns, and return he shall, he will be sure to make an extended examination of Naruto.
From afar, but soon it will all become. Personal.
Besides, a storm is coming, if the weather report were any good, it should be coming after a few and must take shelter or else he will get wet.
If there's one thing that Kabuto despised that is being drenched to the bone by rain water.
Add that dog-boy
Night time fell on the forest.
*thunderclaps*
The sky is steadily becoming dark and as much as they want to make a fire big enough to warm them up, they can't. Unless they want to be baked alive inside a dead trunk and then hosed down by rain.
So they settled for a small camp fire to keep their hands and feet warm and dry.
Kiba decided to take bath outside the rain to wash off the dirt from his body of which Naruto was envious.
One, he doesn't have spare clothe.
Two, he doesn't want to go and join Kiba Three, someone needs to tend to the little campfire they made.
'Four, you're stupid.', Kyuubi muttered while comfortably curled
'Yeah right',
'Five, you don't want to check out his hot body and be caught staring', Kyuubi again muttered.
'Shut up and go to sleep geezer', Naruto pouted.
'Aaaah the cards have been dealt, he is using the legendary lip pout', Kyuubi smiled and eyes narrowing, chuckled at what Naruto is trying to pull off.
'If I take a bath with him now it will be weird, if I don't -', as if a cue to announce it's presence, Naruto sneezed again. Twice.
'This happens,', Kyuubi laughed. 'He did warn you though.'
'What am I supposed to do?', Naruto pouted once more.
'Go take a fucking bath!', Kyuubi literally whined it.
'Language', Naruto waved a finger at him.
'Yeah right, like that would stop me.', Kyuubi rolled his eyes, knowing that by now Naruto should've been used to him cussing.
'Look, he won't care. I mean, he's seen you drenched before, remember?', Kyuubi reminded him of the first time they met.
'And if he does stare at you, or you at him, what is it there to worry about?', Kyuubi reasoned.
'Fine...', Naruto agreed. 'What about this though?', he pointed at the little campfire they made.
'Fucking hell, just go already!', Kyuubi shouted.
Naruto laughed and stood up. Taking off his shirt and pants. With nothing but his boxer briefs on him. Before going out, he readjusted his junk just incase Kiba might notice.
Just before they went out Kyuubi noticed clothes on the chair near the entrance.
It had a shirt, pants, and finally a boxer...
'Oh this would be fun', Kyuubi whispered.
'What's fun?', Naruto asked Kyuubi, seeing Kiba's silhoutte outside he was a bit excited to join the boy. So he parted the bead curtains and just so, a flash of lightning revealed Kiba's naked body.
In full glory, he even get to clearly see how big Kiba is packing under those pants. And it's not even hard yet!
'Weird, I thought he loved the rain.' Kiba was deep in thought about how matters would be after school officially starts.
Kiba scrubbed off with his hand the grime that stuck on his body. It was a good thing he wasn't joined by Naruto since he was butt naked.
If ever that Naruto joined him though the boy would immediately see his ass and then would have the courtesy to just wait it out after him.
Then an itch from heavens came on his backside. Which he desperately tried to scratch, and in doing so, unconsciously turned to face the entrance of the tree trunk.
And like a heavenly declaration, lightning flashed before each boy's eyes, making them aware that one is totally naked and the other is just wearing boxer briefs.
Naruto was just as stunned as Kiba was but more fortunate as the other one slipped from his efforts of trying to turn around just as fast.
'I guess I'll just wait this one out.', Naruto said to himself as he blushing not because he liked what he saw but more on the shame that both boys shared.
Kyuubi is still laughing so hard he was weezing. 'I never thought he would even slip', he breathed in, 'That made things funnier!', Kyuubi resumed his laughing fit.
"Are you ok?" Naruto shouted from the inside.
"Yeah...", Kiba answered back weakly.
He must be hurt because of the slip up, hope nothing's broken. What an idiot.
Kiba peered in the trunk and saw Naruto's back towards him. He quickly towel dried and put on his pants but not without wincing because his butt hurt since it took the brunt of his fall.
"Funny, I forgot how I will dry off." Naruto said as he peered out in the rain. A plastic ziplock was thrown his way.
It contained a medium sized towel which was still in very good condition. It's even a bit fragrant.
"Smart", Naruto said as he went out to do his own showering in the rain.
Deep in his own thoughts Naruto silently mused and ignored the jeers and laughters coming from Kyuubi.
Naruto entered the trunk and dried himself. He was just finished putting his pants on and was about to wear his moldy shirt when he sneezed. Twice.
"You know, that's gonna give you nose allergies in the morning", Kiba said looking a bit concerned.
"It's just dusty." Naruto said.
"And moldy", Kiba laughed. He took off his own shirt and threw it to Naruto.
Catching it he was perplexed. "But what will you wear?"
"It's ok, I always sleep on my boxers anyways." Kiba said. In truth he does sleep like that, but not when they are out here in the forest with a storm raging on and a pathetic little camp fire to keep them warm.
"Sure you do, but not in this weather. Not in this place." Naruto said.
'Let the tough guy have it', Kyuubi coaxed.
'About time you wake up', Naruto squinted at Kyuubi.
'Hey, I don't want to barge in to your brotherly 'conversations'.', Kyuubi reasoned.
'Whatever.', Naruto ended the conversation.
'See you in the morning', Kyuubi said.
The night was spent with them talking about things that happened earlier. About the pizza war they had in the cafeteria and how funny Sakura's forehead looked like.
"Perhaps if we spoon each other we won't be as cold.", Naruto offered.
'That would be a good idea.', Kiba thought. 'Ok, not the right time for awkward shit, he's trusting me so I must act perfectly normal'.
"Sure! That's a good idea.", Kiba said.
"Too bad we didn't brought food with us", Naruto sighed at the thought. But who knew they would be even stuck here in the first place.
"Yeah, that pizza looks mighty nice right now", Kiba laughed as he stared into the fire. Poking it with a stick.
"Let's not get started with that please", Naruto gave a somewhat, genuine smile. Which Kiba noticed.
Inside Kiba's head he was doing a fanfare for achieving another good point on Naruto.
"At least we don't have Sakura to nag at us", Kiba said.
Naruto actually laughed at that and stared at the fire. Poking it with a stick as well.
"I'm a bit sleepy now, how about you?", Kiba asked Naruto.
"Yep, same here." Naruto yawned.
"Lemme just throw in a few more wood so we won't freeze to death." Kiba said as he took a few more good dry twigs to feed the fire they are having now.
Naruto laid down near the fire, facing it he stared as the flames danced when Kiba fed it a few more fuel.
"So uh... I'll be spooning you? That ok with you?", Kiba asked just to be safe.
"Yeah, it's not as if I can spoon you given my height." Naruto stated as a matter of fact.
"Right right", Kiba thought about it once more and felt a little dumb to be honest. Of course how would Naruto be able to spoon him properly given his height.
"So uhh... Goodnight?", Kiba said as laid down next to Naruto. Closing in his body as closely as possible to Naruto. Which is not hard since Naruto practically rolled like a fetus.
"Hmmm... Sweetest nightmares too", Naruto muttered. Eyes dreamy as he continued to stare into the fire in front of him. The last thing he remembered before succumbing to darkness was Kiba's arm, snaking it's way to his waist. Not that he minds it anyway.
It might also be said, that Kyuubi was surprised Naruto have forgotten, no, ignored the thunders booming every now and then. He even fell asleep fast.
"Where did you get that scar...", Naruto mumbled as his eyes grew heavy by the minute.
"Hmm?", Kiba answered.
"Chest...Scar...Where?", Naruto asked once more.
"Long time ago," Kiba stared into the dancing flames. "When I was a kid, bunch of bullies."
"Oh...", Naruto sighed.
"They were trying to beat up Akamaru, my dog.", Kiba's eyes grow heavy with each word.
"So I defended my dog, a fat kid pushed me on one of the broken swings. That's how I got this scar." Kiba closed his eyes.
"Brave..." Naruto sighed and drifted off to sleep.
"Perhaps..." Kiba fell asleep just as fast.
'Well that's a first.', Kyuubi was at the very least, thankful but even so. He is still wary of the man currently spooning his kit.
In his host's mind eye, he saw how protectively Kiba's arm was around Naruto's waist but not enough to actually make the boy uncomfortable.
It's as if they were a puzzle. Imperfectly and perfectly fitting each other.
'Whoa, maybe I need some sleep', Kyuubi chuckled at the thought
'I just hope this ends well.' Kyuubi resumed his ceasless watch over his host's body while it rests.
A/N:
Here's another chapter :)
For that guy who left a review about it being yaoi, why did you even read it in the first place lol it's stated in the introduction it will be yaoi. Dude... read, someday it might save your life lol.