As Kiba pushed open the door, a cloud of smoke pooled out and swirled around their bodies. The sounds of someone's horrible singing mingled with the smoke and Ino raised an eyebrow, giving Kiba an incredulous look. "What kind of restaurant is this?"
Kiba gave her a sheepish smile, his fangs glistening in the dim light. "By restaurant, I meant more of like a karaoke bar."
Ino shook her head in disbelief. "You hang out in karaoke bars? Do you even sing?"
He shrugged, leaning against the door frame. "Only if everyone's left the bar. Or when I get wasted. That's only happened a few times."
Ino couldn't believe it. When Kiba had offered her dinner, the idea had seemed beautiful to her aching feet. She couldn't stand another minute wasted standing over a hot stove to make a dinner for two, when only one ended up eating. Now, she almost wished she had stayed home.
"I'm not singing," she said with finality, hoping her tone was enough to prevent Kiba from requesting a duet. "And you won't be getting me wasted tonight."
There was a gleam in his eyes. "Aah, but the night is young."
Ino glared at him and he raised his arms in defeat and laughed. "Fine, fine. Whatever you say, princess."
Ino shouldered passed him and into the rowdy atmosphere of the bar. There was so much smoke that Ino was sure she had developed lung cancer just from standing there. She took in the bars, each lined against a wall. In between the bars sat about twenty tables. The place was packed with people. Directly across from Ino stood the stage where people would stand to belt out tunes. It was there that Ino discovered the source of the terrible singing. It came in the form of a very large, very hairy, very drunk man.
"I'm a Barbie girl, in a Barbie world!" he sang into the mic, his voice cracking as he mimicked the pitch of the female singer.
Ino held her hand over her mouth to stifle the laughter that was bubbling up inside of her. It was then that she felt the warmth of the shinobi standing behind her as he pressed against her back. She turned to face him and was surprised to see that his face was mere inches from her own as he leaned over her shoulder so he could speak to her without having to yell. She felt her face growing hot.
"You like what you see?" he teased with a grin. She felt his breath caress her cheek as he spoke. Her blue eyes met his black ones and she noticed how the vertical iris of his eyes seemed to dilate as he looked at her. She had to admit, looking at him up close like this, she did like what she saw.
When she realized they had just been standing in the door way staring at each other, she quickly snapped her attention back to the bar and folded her arms over her chest. She scanned over the room, giving it an uninterested look. "It looks like somewhere you'd go."
The young Inuzuka snorted, straightening back up and shoving his hands in his pockets. "Sorry it's not the Red Lobster, princess."
Kiba maneuvered around her and began walking towards the bar. Ino continued to feign disinterest until he was further away. She then let the smile escape onto her face as she took in the bar once more. There were older men drinking, smoking, playing cards, and joking around with one another. It reminded Ino of her dad and his friends. Shikamaru's dad and Choji's dad were her dad's closest friends. She could see all of them meeting up in a place like this and having rounds of drinks.
Soon, she began to think of Shikamaru and how he had also lost his dad. She wondered if maybe that could be part of the reason why Shikamaru had been acting so down in the dumps. She hadn't really stopped to think of how he had lost someone too. Maybe he was hurting just as bad.
Suddenly, she was glad Kiba had brought her here. Maybe he really could help fix a marriage. She looked over to where Kiba was now shamelessly flirting with the bartender. The poor girl was eating up every word he said, giggling and blushing the whole time.
Is it really possible that this spiky haired gigolo could know a thing or two about love, let alone marriage? Ino watched as Kiba scored some free drinks. He gave the girl a wink and walked back over towards Ino. Crazier things have happened.
"On the house," Kiba plopped a beer into her hand.
"You get free drinks just for being attractive?" Ino had to admit, she was impressed.
He grinned. "So you admit I'm attractive?"
Ino rolled her eyes and popped open her beer. She took a few sips and pretended not to notice Kiba staring at her expectantly.
"You know, you could do it too."
Ino turned to face him. "Excuse me? Do what?"
Kiba chugged some of his bottle before continuing. "You could get free drinks too, if you wanted. You're attractive enough."
Ino smirked. "So you admit I'm attractive?"
Kiba choked a little on his next sip of beer and quickly wiped at his mouth. "I said 'attractive enough'."
Ino scowled. "You're such a jerk, Kiba."
He shrugged. "Seriously, though, if you don't believe me, go over there and flirt with that guy."
She searched for who Kiba had been pointing at. There was a group of guys, all around their age. Kiba had pointed out the most attractive guy in the group; some tanned blond guy who looked like he had just walked out of a movie. He was someone Ino would have drooled over when she was younger. She would have jumped on him and gone after him until he agreed to take her out. But now… "He's gorgeous, but Kiba, I'm married."
"So? It's not like you're sleeping with the guy."
"It's not just that," Ino admitted. She stared down at her feet and frowned. "I'm just not…you know, pretty. I'm not sexy or hot, like I used to be. I don't exactly ooze with sex appeal."
She felt herself stiffen, waiting for the rude remarks Kiba would throw at her, teasing her about how fat she'd gotten after eating to fill the hole inside of her, or how she wasn't as toned as she had been back when she would train every day and go away on missions. When nothing was said, Ino peeked at Kiba. He was staring down at her with that serious look back on his face. He studied her before taking another drink from his bottle.
"You ever see Choji with a girl?"
Ino gave him a quizzical look and nodded. "Yeah, a few times."
"Ever notice how Naruto is all over Sakura even though it's obvious that Hinata loves him?"
Ino nodded again. "Yeah. So?"
Kiba hesitated and kicked at the floor. "Notice how Shikamaru is always with Temari, but not with…"
Ino felt the pain of his words claw down her spine. How could he say that so nonchalantly? "Me?"
Kiba ignored her and continued. "Confidence, Ino. As long as someone has confidence, they are attractive."
Ino stared at Kiba for a moment before looking back at the attractive movie star. She thought of Shikamaru, Temari, and the sting of Kiba's words. She felt an old, familiar flame beginning to burn somewhere deep inside of her. "You don't think I'm confident?"
Kiba gave her a bored look. "You just told me you think you're not pretty. That doesn't sound very confident to me."
"So, I'm not confident?"
"As long as you're confident in your confidence Ino, who am I to judge?"
Ino glared at him. "I am confident."
Kiba started checking out a group of girls. "Okay. Whatever you say."
Ino felt her eye twitch in anger. She wanted to prove this asshole wrong. She wanted to prove Shikamaru wrong. She wanted to prove them all wrong, including herself. Kiba was right. She had forgotten somewhere along the way how to love herself, she had been trying too hard to love Shikamaru and gain his love in return. But how do you love someone else if you can't love yourself? How can anyone love you if you don't even love you?
She made her away across the room where the man was seated with his friends. They seemed to be in the middle of a poker game. Ino looked over her shoulder at Kiba, who had an amused look on his face.
Let's see how confident I look now.
Ino reached up and tugged her hair from the confines of her pony tail. Her mane fell from its perch and fluttered behind her, like Superman's cape. Almost robotically, her hips began to swing with each step she took, an old habit that had died around the same time she had tied the knot with Shikamaru. She felt fierce and strong. Like a whole new Ino.
Heads turned as she came closer to her goal. When she reached her destination, she planted herself firmly onto the man's lap, draping her arms around his neck.
"Hey! What do you think you're-"
The man stopped complaining when he saw the blond vixen who was seated on his lap. She batted her eyes at him playfully. She tried to ignore the slight disgust she felt at the stirring in the man's pants below her. She had to prove herself.
"Well, hey there," Ino purred, cupping his chin with her finger and sitting straighter, allowing her chest stick out further.
The man gulped. His friends gawked at him. "Aito, who is this?"
The man (Aito? Ino guessed) shook his head, his mouth hanging open. "The hell if I know."
"Aito," Ino made sure to breathe his name, "I didn't mean to interrupt your game, but I couldn't help but notice you from across the room. I'd just love to have a drink with you."
Aito's eyes went wide. Ino was surprised. Surely this guy had gotten loads of attention from plenty of women before? "Well, I'd love to buy you a drink."
Ino smiled as Aito called over a waitress and ordered them both some scotch. As they drank, Ino and Aito actually started a decent conversation. Ino had all of the guys hooked on every word she said, so much so that they were begging her to stay and join their poker game. Ino happily agreed, overwhelmed and over joyed with the attention. She beckoned Kiba over to join in on the fun. The other guys weren't too keen on Kiba joining in, but they let it slide since Ino insisted that he join them.
Around 1 a.m., the bar was becoming as empty as Ino's head. She knew she was getting drunk from all of the rounds of scotch, but she didn't care. Drinking, once a depressing hobby for when she was sad and alone, was now becoming a fun pastime with these strangers. She liked how it felt to finally let loose and not have to worry about anyone else but herself. All that mattered in that moment was poker, the guys, and Kiba.
At some time throughout the night, she had decided to sit with Kiba. She had sat down on his lap and had since made herself at home there. Kiba didn't seem to mind, and unlike most men, he wasn't getting aroused or trying to cop a feel so Ino guessed she wasn't crossing any lines as a married woman. After all, she had done the same thing with Choji a million times.
Ino looked back at Kiba, she was laughing at something one of the guys had said and Kiba was grinning back at her, leaning back in his chair and listening intently to the poker game. He seemed to be relaxed simply to be there and watch Ino have fun for a night. Ino swung her leg over so that she was straddling him and she leaned forward, whispering into his ear.
"There's hardly anyone here. Aren't you going to sing to me?"
Kiba shook his head and laughed. "I'm not drunk enough."
Ino pouted. "Sing for me, Kiba."
Kiba smiled. "You first, princess."
"I can't sing."
Kiba smiled. "Confidence, Ino. By now, we've all drank enough liquid confidence to think that your voice will sound like fucking Celine Dion."
Ino hesitated.
"Come on, Ino. Guys like girls who take risks. It impresses them. Impress me, Ino."
She pulled away and stared at him head on. His cheeks were a little red from all of the drinking, but his expression was serious. It was almost as though the alcohol hadn't affected him at all, and here she was falling all over herself.
"Kiba, I don't think I can-"
"Who thinks Ino should sing?" Kiba shouted, raising his glass high above them.
A chorus of cheers rang out from around the room.
"Sing to us Ino!"
"You must have the voice of an angel!"
Ino shoved Kiba back against the chair and Kiba winked at her. "See? The crowd loves you. Go sing for them."
Ino rolled her eyes as she sloppily peeled herself from Kiba's lap, stumbling over to the stage and latching onto the mic for support. The small crowd before her cheered.
"Gimme a good song, you guys."
Kiba nodded. Ino watched him toss aside the booklet that listed off all of the songs one could sing at this bar. He must have memorized the songs by now. He picked up the remote to the karaoke machine and began clicking through the songs. Soon, a fast song began to play. Taking in the sounds of the guitars and drums, Ino realized she had never heard the song before. Her hands began to get clammy. Why had she agreed to this? She stared up that the screen and prayed she'd be able to keep up.
"Why do you care what people think?
Are you hooked up to their leash?
You know anklebiters
Ate up your personality."
What was this song? The crowd cheered her on as she sang.
"Try to remember how it felt
To just make up your own steps
And let anklebiters
Chew up, spit out someone else."
Had Kiba picked this song on purpose? She glanced over at him, he was staring at her intently, as though he were waiting for something. She felt a little annoyed. Was he trying to tell her something?
"Fall in love with yourself.
Because someday you're gonna be
The only one you've got.
Someday you're gonna be
The only one you've got."
Damn, this song is catchy. She began to bob to the rhythm of the beat. That seemed to stir up the crowd a little more. She laughed.
"Why you wanna please the world
And leave yourself to drop dead?
Someday you're gonna be
The only one you've got."
He definitely picked this song for a reason. She began to use the rest of the space on the stage to dance and sing. Her voice would shriek a bit at the higher notes, but no one seemed to mind. Fun. This is fun.
"What do you actually expect?
A broken mirror to reflect?
You know, anklebiters
Gave you a false perception.
And why do I defend
(C'mon, c'mon) your ignorance?
Oh, why do I defend
(C'mon, c'mon) the state you're in?"
Why do I defend Shikamaru? Why do I tell myself it's all my fault? Why?
"You should fall in love
With yourself, oh, again.
Fall in love with yourself.
Because someday you're gonna be
The only one you've got.
Someday you're gonna be
The only one you've got.
Why you wanna please the world
And leave yourself to drop dead?
Someday you're gonna be
The only one you've got."
The song broke down into a chorus of clapping. Ino leapt from the stage and forced all of the guys to stand-even Kiba-and clap along with her. Soon enough, everyone was singing along. She felt her heart take flight and soar through the air, escaping into the smoke of the empty bar.
"Anklebiters! Anklebiters!
Someday you're gonna be alone!
Anklebiters! Anklebiters!"
Through the commotion, Ino locked eyes with Kiba and he winked at her. She smiled back, not letting herself look away from him this time.
Thanks, mutt.
A/N: I do not own any of the lyrics used during this chapter. All lyrics belong to Paramore and Aqua. And yes, Liquid Confidence is a reference to youmeatsix. All of these things belong to the bands. Not raycatdo. Don't sue me for all I own. You won't get much anyway. Hope you enjoyed the chapter :) R&R please. Or PM me. Always nice to hear from you guys :)