Neither slept much that night. Naruto paced for so long that there was an indentation in his wooden floors and Kiba had bags under his eyes from not sleeping. The sun had barely risen when he'd finally broken and called Naruto.

"Kiba?"

"We have to talk. Meet me at the tree in an hour."

"Okay."

An hour later a confused and slightly scared Naruto waited near the tree that just yesterday he and his best friend had a picnic under. He turned and say Kiba walk slowly out from behind a tree, the very same tree he had appeared from the day they met. "Hey." "Hey yourself." Naruto frowned, "You didn't sleep either?" Kiba shook his head, "No. I tried, but my mind wouldn't stop racing." Naruto nodded, "Same here." Kiba sighed, "Listen Naruto...I know...I know this is really weird...but...I don't want...I don't want anything to change between us...You're the best friend I've ever had...and I want to keep it that way...If you'll let me..." He couldn't look Naruto in the eye. He flinched when he felt a hand grasp his, "Kiba...You're the greatest friend anyone could ever have. I don;t want anything to change either...but it has. N matter what happens now, every thing's changed." He paused, "You don't mean it when you say you don't want anything to change between us. Even I can tell that you're lying." He reached over and tilted Kiba face up so that he was looking at him. He smiled, "I was serious when I said you haven't creeped me out. I really was just surprised. I guess I should have seen it comming." He shrugged, "All I want form you right now it the truth. Tell me how you feel." Kiba sighed and pulled away from Naruto. "Thats the problem. I don;t know how I feel. I mean...I know I have feelings for you, sometimes, but I'm just not sure what they really are."

Naruto frowned, "And you think I'm any better off. I've been forcing all the feelings I've had to the back of my mind and refusing to even admit they are there. At least you've been able to accept yours. I still feel like a freak for having them! It's bad enough that I'm already so different from everyone else..." his voice hitched with the statement, they both knew what he meant, "...and now this!" He sighed, "I just don't know anymore." Kiba face held a look of complete dismay. He hadn't realized how much this was affecting Naruto untill that moment. "Naruto...I...I'm sorry..." he hiccuped, a tear flowing down his cheek. Naruto looked at him, surprised, "For what Kiba?" Kiba shuddered, "For everything. For hurting you so much. For not telling you. For telling you. For letting this get so out of hand. Everything... It's all my fault..." He out his hands to his face in an attempt to his the tears.

"Oh god Kiba..." Naruto stepped forward and hugged Kiba tightly. "It's not your fault. Don't blame yourself for any of this. It's just as much my fault for not realizing what was happening as it was yours." With that they both broke down. Kiba cradled his head in Naruto neck and cried while Naruto held him tightly, his head resting on Kiba's hair. He held Kiba while he cried, letting him rid himself of a burden he'd carried for years. Finally, tired and drained, Kiba slumped against Naruto, unable to support his own weight anymore. Naruto slowly sat down as best he could without dropping Kiba or falling over. He sat with his back once again against that old tree and pulled Kiba close. They stayed there for along time.

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It was dark when Naruto woke up. He didn't remember falling asleep, so he was slightly disoriented by the darkness. Kiba had fallen asleep sitting on Naruto's lap, leaning against his chest, head on his shoulder. Naruto smiled and glanced at Kiba's watch. It was after ten o'clock. He nudged Kiba awake as gently as he could. "Hmmmm..." mumble Kiba sleepily. "Come on Kiba..." said Naruto softly, "we have to go back now." "Wha...wha time is it?" "After ten already." Kiba yawned, "Let's just stay out here tonight. I don' wanna go back yet." "Come on Kiba, we gotta go back." He rolled Kiba off him gently and stood up. Kiba groaned and looked up at Naruto. "You're beautiful under the moonlight..." and fell back asleep. Naruto smiled and bent down to pick the sleeping boy up and carry him home.

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Kiba woke up in his own bed the next morning, with no clue how he got there. He looked around confused, "What the..." He sat up and saw that his door was open. He stood up and looked out. Naruto was snoring peacefully on his couch. Kiba smiled and tiptoed over. He snuggled up next to the kitsune and fell back asleep.

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Kiba woke up again when he felt Naruto shift behind him. "You awake?" muttered the blonde. Kiba turned around to look at him. "You're heavy, ya know that..." joked Naruto, smiling. Kiba returned the smile, "What can I say...I enjoy my food." They giggled and Kiba snuggled closer to his blonde love. "I guess we have to tell them they were right now." Naruto smirked, "Make um wait a few more days." And that's exactly what they did.

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It was three days before anyone saw they boys again. It was obvious from the moment they layed eyes on them that something big had happened. The wry smiled on Saskue's lips was all they needed to figure out what had happened. "Took them long enough," he said as the boys passed by on their way to Kiba's mom's house to break the news to his mother.

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They didn't officially announce it for another week. By then everyone knew, the grapevine being very efficient when it came to matters of dating. They teased the boys and joked about them for awhile before finally moving on and letting the boy get on with their lives. Probably the biggest surprise for them was how well Kiba's mother was taking it. Both had expected a major fight, and prolly to be disowned, or killed, either way they had expected something painful. Insted they got a happy smile and Naruto got a hug. Both left the house stunned.

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They found out just how serious Saskue had been about a comming out party a week later. He'd planned everything out, right down to the letter. Naruto and Kiba had been opposed to it at first, but loosened up as it got closer and by then end of the night were very glad they had it.

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After all that it was business as usual in Konoha. The boy were happy, and after a few months of teasing and joking around the others finally dropped the subject of them dating for good and let them be, which suited the boys just fine. The continued to have their picnics in the woods, although now instead of Naruto leaning against the tree and Kiba sleeping on the blanket, it was Naruto leaning against the tree and Kiba asleep in his lap.

They wouldn't have it any other way.