Much time had passed before Akamaru returned. He had been walking backwards the whole time, dragging Kiba with his teeth. He stopped when Kiba lay in his bed. Or more accurately, the pile of furs he used as a bed. Okuri walked into the room and stood over him. He shook his head, muttering “I can’t believe you let some girl beat the shit out of you.”
“She didn’t.” Kiba stammered.
“Oh, really? Then tell me what happened.”
“Well, I knocked the sword out of her hand…and she was just sorta…..standing there….and I went up to her and I hugged her….and then I kissed her….”
Okuri burst out laughing. “Talk about jumping to first base! Anyways, continue……..”
“She wriggled and we fell down…then I got on top of her….and asked her….to marry me.”
Again, Okuri laughed. “Damn you Kiba, when you want something, you want it fast don’t you? Well, that doesn’t explain the blood on your face.”
“Well, then I smelled blood. I guess I had accidentally made some cuts on her somewhere and didn’t see it because she had that red dress on. So asked her if she was bleeding….and that’s when she punched me in the face.”
Okuri didn’t laugh this time. Instead, he pulled furs over Kiba the same way he used to pull covers over him when they were still both humans in the Leaf. “And neither of you…said anything?”
“No, she just stood there for 5 minutes, holding onto her sword. Then she burst into tears and ran away.”
Hearing the sadness in his brother’s voice, Okuri remembered why he had forgotten how to love. He stroked Kiba’s forehead the same way he would Akamaru’s and left the room. “Don’t worry Kiba, you may get another shot at her yet. Everything will be fine in the morning.”
Akamaru yawned and lay down on the fur pile. Kiba pulled his pinup from its secret hiding spot. He looked it over, and remembered what it felt like to kiss Inuko on the lips. He had probably hurt her so much tonight…..
Someday, he wouldn’t need this pinup. He’d go to bed with and wake up next to the real thing everyday. He’d kiss her everyday, and help raise the kids he had with her. Someday…..
