Title: "Things We Do"
Author: blurredoasis
Fandom: Naruto
Pairing: Kiba/Shika (with a splash of Sasu/Naru cuz i could)
Rating: PG-13 (for this chapter)
Warnings: Shounen ai, swearing, some kinks (about that, i have odd quirks, so often i slip odd things into my stories. it actually works, in my opinion, for these shinobi, because if you're running around killing people all day, you can't be that normal. but yeah. can't say i didn't warn you.)
Summary: Kiba screwed up. Royally. To make it up to his boyfriend and prove that he does actually care for Shikamaru, he sets up a scavenger hunt of sorts for him.
Notes: THANK YOU LJ demondreams for beta-ing this for me!
Disclaimer: Don't belong to moi.
--------------seperating the beginning and the end of the note
Atop the Hokage monument, nearly shocking Shikamaru out of his socks for the second time that day, stood Sasuke, a bored scowl plastered on his face. He was facing Konoha, eyes narrowed, no doubt running through the reasons he had left this place nearly seven years ago. A dramatic changing point in just about everyone's lives, it was actually one of the events that sorta threw Kiba and Shikamaru together. After the fight to retrieve Sasuke, the hurt leader made sure to check in with Naruto, Neji, Chouji, and Kiba as often as their busy schedules would let him. A paternal instinct, he guessed, to make sure that they were still doing well and there were no complications from the injuries. Naruto and Chouji had been the official matchmakers in the relationship, but it was still an odd feeling that if Sasuke hadn't run away then Kiba and him probably wouldn't be together.
Sasuke's head barely shifted toward Shikamaru's direction when the latter came into view. Instead his left hand popped out with a bundle of red and white chrysanthemums. Even though Shikamaru knew the flowers were from Kiba it still felt odd to be taking flowers from Sasuke. Any more wild idiots I need to bump into? Where's Lee? And Sakura? Might as well bring Ino too. Maybe if they all attack me on one day, I'll be loud, crazy, and idiot free for a month.
"Thanks." The Academy teacher mumbled, rotating the flowers in his hands until he found the card that was bounded around the stems.
Sasuke snorted that typical "hn" of his, drawing Shikamaru's attention away from the card and back to the ex-Avenger.
"What?" He asked before he realized he probably didn't want to know.
"Nice deer." Smirking, Sasuke turned to face him.
Shikamaru raised an eyebrow, smirking right back. "Really? I'll make sure Kiba teaches Naruto to sew. Maybe he'll make some clothes for you." That comment didn't fazed Sasuke and Shikamaru didn't expect it to. "I also hear Naruto has a doctor/patient fantasy." Shikamaru sent a wink towards the Uchiha, whose lower jaw was slowly falling open."Maybe he can make you a cute little doctor's outfit. I hear you have the stethoscope and other tools already at home." Sasuke blushed faintly, turning away from Shikamaru and back to looking over Konoha. Ha, take that! Your boyfriend's got a big mouth and mine's got a bigger one! You can't possibly have expected something like that to be kept quiet?
"Watch it Nara," Sasuke said coolly, "I know things about you too." If it had been seven years ago, before Sasuke had left, maybe Shikamaru would have backed down. Not that he believed the girls' that professed Sasuke as a god, but back then he couldn't be bothered. But in the past two year, as Naruto and Kiba got to be better friends, Shikamaru found himself acting as parents to the two, while Sasuke always somehow slipped through the duty. For instance, when Kiba's landlord refused to let him have any guests over anymore because one party too many that got out of hand, the two turned to Shikamaru to have the next one at his apartment, instead of going to the one Naruto shared with Sasuke. Even if the Uchiha was scary when he was pissed, he could at least share the responsibly of taking care of the two. Kiba explained it beautifully once in a rare drunken moment of brilliance. It was like Sasuke and Shikamaru were divorced parents in a constant custodal battle, trying to pawn the "kids" (Naruto and Kiba) to the other parent. Which, when it came to poker night and drinking with the boys, it was just like that. And even thought Kiba had his own apartment and Sasuke shared one with Naruto, it always seemed like the two ended up at Shikamaru's door step, giggling in a drunken stupor as they leaned on each for support. It was a struggle Shikamaru knew he wouldn't win, his nature was too relaxed that they took advantage of him. So, to make up for this added responsiblity of having Naruto under his wing sometimes, he looked for moments of victory over the Uchiha in other ways.
"Ah, maybe Uchiha, but I have two words that would trump anything you have on me."
Sasuke grunted, his way of saying "continue".
"Pink. Boxers."
Sasuke said nothing but blushed a little deeper. It wasn't quite a measure of admitting to anything, but Shikamaru had heard the infamous story enough to know the saga of Sasuke's Pink Boxers was true. Things were whirling around in Sasuke's head and for a second Shikamaru thought he saw the Sharigan be activated. Oops. Guess I pissed him off. This is going to be awhile, eh? Let's see, what else as Naruto told me... gotta have comebacks ready...
"Why don't you read your damn note, Nara, before I kick your ass?" Ah, that was the closest to "I give up" he will ever get out of Sasuke. And it felt great.
Doing a little dance in his head, he turned his attention back to the mission at hand.
---------------------
Shika-koi, P.S. By the way, to answer the question I'm sure you are going to ask, a little of both my Shika-koi. You can blame Hinata suggesting I use that thesaurus thingy for the big words. She said it would sound more romantic. ---------------------------
Coming from anybody else this might not be a huge compliment, but from an Inuzuka, the connoisseurs of smells ("where the heck did he learn connoisseur?" Shikamaru whistled, impressed Kiba knew a word with more than two syllables), it is bestowing one of our highest honors. You smell breathtaking, so much so that when I leave for long missions I make sure to wear one of your undershirts so I can have a constant reminder of you. It comforts me like a child with their teddy bear, knowing that it is only a matter of time until I'm back in those arms again and can smell the origin of that intoxicating aroma ("ok, he either had help or found out what a thesaurus was, because 'connoisseur', 'bestowing', and 'intoxicating' is not normal Kiba vocabulary" Shikamaru mused). I'm gonna smell you like crazy when I get you up to that monument before I throw you down on the flowers and have my way with you.
I smell nice. How... sweet, I guess. Well, he does have a point, for an Inuzuka smelling is probably their favorite sense and the one they rely on the most. Hmm, for most people it wouldn't be much of an honor, but I bet for him it meant a lot to say it. Romantic... in a Kiba kind of way.
But, he feared encouraging Kiba to be more romantic was asking for trouble. If Kiba was willing to do this for an argument, what would he possibly do for something that called for more romance, like Valentine's Day or their anniversary? He could only hope that this would be enough to satisfy whatever urges the man was having. Huh, if I accept his apology from all this, that would be encouraging him. But if I don't, then, well I don't like being pissed at the Mutt Boy; it takes too much energy and there is always tension in the room. Plus, Akamaru even gets into the act, sending me glares for upsetting his owner. That dog can be evil when he wants to be. I'll just have to promise him that it'll never get this... crazy again.
That he could worry about later on, right now he had to figure out where to go next. His eyes scanned the page again, picking up on one word. Flowers? He stopped reading, looking around the top of the monument. There wasn't a flower in sight, not even a stub of one that someone might have smashed. Naruto, Shino, Neji, and Sasuke, he must be convincing our friends to help with this hunt. When I think of flowers I think of Ino and her shop. Must be where the next letter is.
Shikamaru took a hesitant step towards the stairs, his face falling into a frown. He was half tempted to just jump down off the edge and hopefully find a way to land softly instead of taking the endless stairs to get back to ground level, but he knew the chances of surviving such a fall would take a talent even he didn't have. Grumbling choice words to himself, his hands shoved into his pockets, stuffed deer and flowers under his arm, he walked toward the stairs.
Kiba grinned, coming out from behind the bushes to Sasuke's side. "Thanks man. Tell Naruto he doesn't owe me that money from our last poker game."
Sasuke nodded faintly, eying Kiba.
"What?" Kiba asked, realizing he made the same mistake Shikamaru did. When would they learn not to question the Uchiha, espectiually when he's pissed off?
"Does Naruto talk about me often when he's drunk?"
"Uh, no." Kiba said with an attempted smile, trying to fight the urge to run. Sasuke was very predatory sometimes and to him a running man would only look like a prey he needed to track down. But it didn't help Kiba squash the burning desire to bolt when he noticed the Sharigans were spinning wildly now. Obviously the pink boxer comment didn't go over well. Thankfully (some god was taking pity on him) Sasuke just spun around, leaving the area.
Kiba let out his breath slowly, whistling. "Poor Naruto is going to have a headache once Sasuke gets done with him." He paused, thinking this over for a second. "Oh well. He's gotten me in trouble before too."
The white dog at his feet barked, drawing his owner's attention back to the task at hand. Kiba giggled. "Oh you're right Akamaru, the best one is coming up! He's gonna love it. We have to get a good spot outside the shop, I can't wait to see his expression when he walks out!"
TBC...