It was now close to around 4 in the morning. Anyone remaining in the bar was either passed out on the bar or they were stumbling out the door. The excitement of Ino's performance earlier had evaporated along with the sea of young men who had left soon after. Ino had received handfuls of napkins-each had the name and number of all of her suitors. Kiba had watched as each of the guys handed her a napkin, a content smile on his face. He couldn't even bring himself to feel jealous. He was just too happy to see the look of pure delight on Ino's face over every napkin given to her that night.
Now that things had died down, he leaned back in his chair, his arms folded across his chest and his eyes low. He felt exhausted from all of the night's festivities. He just wanted to take Ino back to his home, curl up with her, and fall asleep.
"Kiba," Ino murmured into the table where she lay.
"Ready to go home, princess?" Kiba teased.
She said something that Kiba couldn't quite make out. He pulled his chair closer to her and pushed her hair from her face gently, curling the golden tendrils behind her ear and leaning closer to her face.
"What did you say?"
Ino sighed sleepily and Kiba felt his heart melt. The sound was reminiscent of when Akamaru had been a puppy and he would sigh in his sleep. It was just adorable. "You said you'd sing after me and when everyone's gone. We're not leaving until you sing."
Kiba snickered. "But I'm not wasted yet."
"Kiba!" she meant to shout it but it came out a whisper. The way she breathed his name made Kiba's ears perk up and sent shivers down his spine.
He examined her, noticing how she seemed to be fighting to stay awake. Her eyes were closed and her breathing was even, yet she kept forcing her eyes open every few minutes. Calmly, he stood up and walked over to the stage. He fidgeted with the remote before reluctantly choosing a song. It was a little loud and a tad upbeat for this time of night in the bar, but he didn't care. It said everything he wanted to say.
"Where is your boy tonight?
I hope he is a gentleman.
And maybe he won't find out what I know,
You were the last good thing about this part of town."
He sang the opening line. He saw Ino's eyes flutter open and she stared him down. They locked eyes and he continued.
"When I wake up
I'm willing to take my chances on
The hope I forget that you hate him more than you notice
I wrote this for you, for you, so-"
Kiba prayed she knew that this was more than a song. Just like the song he had picked for her, this one had heart. This one had meaning.
"You need him
I could be him
I could be an accident but I'm still tryin'
And that's more than I can say for him"
He hoped the truth in the lyrics cut into her. The relevance of this song…of the meaning. She'd have to be an idiot not to notice, right?
"Where is your boy tonight?
I hope he is a gentleman
And maybe he won't find out what I know
You were the last good thing about this part of town"
I could be him…
"Someday I'll appreciate in value
Get off my ass and call you
In the mean time I'll sport my brand new fashion
Of waking up with pants on at four in the afternoon"
He felt his palms sweating. Why did this song seem to go on forever? Why did Ino seem completely uninterested?
"D'you need him
I could be him
I could be an accident but I'm still tryin'
And that's more than I can say for him
Where is your boy tonight?
I hope he is a gentleman
And maybe he won't find out what I know
You were the last good thing about this part of town"
Thank Kami this is almost over. I'm an idiot. Of course she wouldn't notice. This is just a song. Just a goddamn song.
"Won't find out
He won't find out
Won't find out
He won't find out
Where is your boy tonight?
I hope he is a gentleman
Maybe he won't find out what I know
You were the last good thing about this part of town
Where is your boy tonight?
I hope he is a gentleman
Maybe he won't find out what I know
You were the last good thing about this part of town."
Now he officially felt like shit. He only chose such an honest song because he figured Ino would be able to decipher his feelings hidden somewhere in the lyrics. But she seemed to drunk and sleepy to notice or care. As Kiba exited the stage and mad his way back to Ino, he saw that she was still very much half asleep.
"That was beautiful," Ino muttered. "You're a really good singer, Kiba."
Kiba peered down at her solemnly. Her head was resting on her arms as she leaned against the table for support. Half empty scotch glasses littered the table along with the hundreds of napkins she had acquired throughout the evening. She was totally trashed and still looked as gorgeous as ever.
Eat your heart out.
Kiba pulled out his wallet and dropped a tip onto the table. He then tugged off his jacket and draped it across Ino's bare shoulders. "Come on, Ino. I'm gonna' take you home."
Ino groaned loudly and pushed against his chest as he pulled her towards him. "I wanna' stay!"
"Ino, I've got to take you home. Shikamaru will kill me," Kiba forced her arms to her sides and lifted her bridal-style. She lightly punched his chest a couple of times before giving up and resting her head against his neck.
"He doesn't care about me. I could die and he wouldn't care. Let me die, Kiba."
Kiba pulled her closer to him and buried his face into her hair, breathing in the sweet scent of flowers and berries it unleashed. She was so warm and soft…How could Shikamaru ignore her? Was he gay? "Stop it, Ino."
He carried her out of the bar and into the street. Although it was still dark out, Kiba knew the sun would be up in another hour or so. Would Shikamaru miss her at all?
Kiba snorted. Doubt it.
Kiba's mind began scheming a million different ways that he could convince himself that it wouldn't be in poor taste of him to offer Ino to stay at his house for the night. He wasn't being selfish, just helping a friend. He didn't have any ulterior motives, just wanted Ino to get a good night's sleep. Still, Kiba didn't want to do something that might upset the slumbering girl in his arms. Like a dog, he aimed to please, and if she wasn't happy, nether was he.
"Ino," he shook her gently. She stirred ever so slightly and nuzzled up closer to him. "Ino, do you want to go home?"
Her eye brows furrowed and she shook her head. "Uh-uh."
He swallowed and looked straight ahead, hoping he wouldn't get rejected too harshly. "Do you want to come home with me?"
He winced a little, waiting for some sort of physical attack or a slew of insults. He flinched a little when her hand grazed his neck.
Shit! She's going to strangle me!
He braced himself, ready to toss her to the side and make a run for it when he felt her other arm meet his neck too. Somewhere at the nape of his neck, Ino's hands intertwined and he realized she was hugging him.
"I'm so tired," she whispered.
He beamed, letting himself enjoy the sudden affection. "Don't worry. We're almost home."
He opened the door to his house and saw Akamaru lying on the floor. Akamaru lifted his head as the humans entered the room and his tail began to thump against the floor.
"Hey, Akamaru," Kiba whispered. "Close the door behind me, would ya? I gotta put the princess to bed."
Akamaru got up, shook himself from head to tail and waddled over to the door, closing it as Kiba passed through the living room and into his bedroom. Kiba tiptoed to the side of his bed and carefully placed Ino onto the messy mattress.
She's in my bed! His mind was cheering for him. For once, he didn't care that a girl wasn't in his bed to have sex with him. He felt blessed just having her wrapped up in his sheets.
He watched her curl up into a ball as soon as her body touched the soft fabric of the bed. As gently as possible, so as not to wake her, Kiba peeled off her sandals and set them onto the floor. He tugged at the raggedy blankets, pulling them up and over her body.
When he was finished, he stood over her, admiring his good work. Heh, sleeping beauty. She really is a princess.
The soft sound of paws on wood interrupted Kiba's thoughts and he turned to see Akamaru peeking around the corner at him, his head cocked to the side. He gave Kiba a warning growl.
"Oh, please, Akamaru. Gimme' some credit. I know I'm a horn dog but geez. Like I would ever-while she's sleeping?"
Akamaru continued to watch Kiba until Kiba forced himself to put space in between him and his bed. He left the room, closing the door as softly as he could behind him.
"There. Happy now?" Kiba muttered. Akamaru's tail beat the ground furiously. "What do ya' say we get some sleep? I know I'm beat."
Akamaru yipped with appreciation and rushed to the couch. He climbed onto the cushions and patiently waited for Kiba to join him. Kiba slid out of his shirt and kicked off his pants and shoes. He lay down next to Akamaru and Akamaru rested his head on Kiba's chest.
The room was silent, save for the sound of the ceiling fan spinning above their heads. After a moment, Kiba whispered. "What do you think, Akamaru? Is she a keeper, or what?"
Akamaru looked at Kiba in the corner of his eye and his tail wagged slightly. Kiba knew Akamaru had been worrying about him for some time now. Seeing his owner taking new girls to bed almost every night and acting so cold towards everyone probably had the canine feeling like he had to babysit Kiba at times. He was sure that Akamaru felt hopeful that Kiba was finally changing for the better. He didn't want to disappoint him, but-
"She's married," Kiba admitted. Akamaru snorted in annoyance, spraying snot into the air. Kiba could almost feel the disappointment radiating from his dog. Typical Kiba, right? Going after married women… "It's not like that. She's married to a guy who doesn't deserve her, but I'm helping them."
Akamaru finally turned to face him. Kiba could guess what he was thinking: why help the woman you love be happy with another man?
"I think," Kiba paused and took a deep breath. "I think she's my mate."
Akamaru's ears perked up and his eyes slowly began to flood with a look of understanding. Kiba saw through his eyes that he was beginning to understand all of the signs: all of the blond one-night stands, the drinking, moving into his own home, distancing himself from everyone… Akamaru rested his head back down onto Kiba's shoulder, his cold nose poking at the young shinobi's cheek. Kiba chortled appreciatively as Akamaru began cleaning his face with his tongue.
"I love you too, boy," Kiba gasped in between laughs.
As the two settled back down to finally get some shut-eye, Kiba couldn't help but wonder aloud, "I wonder what Hana and Tsume would think of Ino."
Akamaru trembled at the mention of Tsume and Kiba roared with laughter. "Yeah. Tsume would probably think I was crazy."
Kiba awoke to a door slamming. He shot up quickly, scaring Akamaru awake as well. They sat up just in time to see the furious blond storm across the living room and land her hand on Kiba's cheek with a mighty slapping sound. Kiba was almost sure she had knocked the pigment out of his skin.
"What the hell, Ino?" Kiba demanded, holding up his hands to his injured cheek to ease the pain. She sure knew how to hit.
Damn, did she just rearrange my face?
"What do you mean 'what the hell'? I should be saying the same to you! What do you think you're doing?"
Kiba sneered at her. "Sleeping! Or, at least, I was until your crazy ass woke me up."
Ino balled her hands into fists and began clenching and unclenching them. "Why the hell am I at your house?"
Kiba gaped at her in disbelief. "I asked you last night if you wanted to go home and you tol me no!"
Ino put one hand on her hip and squeezed the bridge of her nose with her fingers on the other. Kiba couldn't help but think that if this moment wasn't so heated, he would have thought she looked really sexy. Her attitude was so fierce, it was hot. Her hair was still down and was lightly tousled. If this was her bed head, Kiba would gladly find ways to keep her in bed all of the time. "You listened to a drunk girl?"
"Well, shit, Ino. If you're not beating me up when you're drunk, you're beating me up when you're sober. Nothing I do pleases you."
"Just forget it, mongrel," she hissed, going through the process of putting her hair back into a ponytail. "You just don't understand what it's like to have someone at home worrying about you."
Kiba glared at her. Did she really just pull that shit on him? He felt her words prick at his heart like a thousand tiny needles. "I'd rather come home to an empty house than live with someone who doesn't care about me."
Ino had finished putting her hair up. She let her arms fall to her sides and she gazed outside the living room window, a blank expression on her face. Kiba felt bad now that he had said it. He wished he could take it back, but now, it was lingering out there. It hung heavy in the air like a thick fog. It weighed down on each of them.
"So what?" Ino finally said. "At least I'm doing something to fix my situation."
She walked over and tugged open his front door, letting a blast of afternoon air fill up the room.
"I'll see you later for my next lesson. Don't let this happen again."
Kiba waited until she had left to throw a bottle against the wall. Akamaru snapped at him and he rolled his eyes.
"She's infuriating," Kiba growled. "She's confusing and scary and ridiculous and crazy and vicious-"
He paused for a moment to catch his breath. Akamaru was watching him intently, waiting for what Kiba would complain about next.
"And…and she's…she's so…damn…sexy," he heaved a sigh and let himself fall back onto the couch. Akamaru shook his head and curled up beside Kiba, ready to fall back asleep. Kiba stared up at the ceiling fan, watching it go around and around and around. "Tsume would like her."
A/N: hope you guys liked the newest chapter :) I barely work this week so I'll probably have chapters up again soon :) Lyrics belong to Fall Out Boy, not me. Don't sue me, etc etc.
Please R&R :) Love you guys :)