Kiba Inuzuka one shot - Calming Waters

Hey! So this is longer than what I usually do, but i think it turned out ok :) Also I'm considering doing a sequel for this like i did with the "wanna dive with me?/wanna swim with me?" Rin Matsuoka one shots. Shoot me a comment or message to let me know what you think or if you have any ideas on a one shot of your own that you'd like.
Read, Comment and Enjoy!

.x.Hidden.x.Winter.x. 

                “You look lost.”

                Kiba and Lee swirled to see who was addressing them and Kiba froze while Lee jumped to attention.

                “How observant of you! My name is Rock Lee and this is my partner Inuzuka Kiba!”

                Lee introduced them loudly to the girl while Kiba couldn’t take his eyes off her. She was in ninja gear, but none like he had ever seen. Her shorts showed the smooth expanse of her muscular legs. The belt of ninja gear and weapons hung loose and low on her hips. Her flak jacket showed her toned stomach and left her tan shoulders bare, Kiba couldn’t see if she was wearing a shirt under it. He gulped and moved his eyes elsewhere. Her hands were encased in black gloves that matched the material of the rest of her clothes. Her light blue hair was tied back at the nape of her neck and the ponytail draped over one shoulder and her bright blue eyes seemed to twinkle in amusement.

                She laughed, “so you two are partners huh?”

                Lee yelled “Yes!” at the same time that Kiba snapped into action and exclaimed “NO!”

                Lee looked at him with big hurt eyes and Kiba coughed, “we’re shinobi partners, not partner partners. We’re on a mission together.”

                She chuckled, “right, a mission.” She winked at them, “come on, I’ll show you to where you’ll be staying.” Lee sped to her side and began to walk with her and after a second, Kiba and Akamaru rushed to catch up.

                “Are you a ninja ma’am.”

                “Oh lord don’t call me ma’am!” she laughed, “my name’s Yukiro. I’m the ninja on this mission but we don’t have anyone else to come with me, hence why we called you.”

                “Don’t you have a team?” Kiba asked.

                “Yeah, we started this mission together but…we underestimated them and I wasn’t there to save my friends.” She hung her head slightly but Kiba saw her jaw clench. He didn’t know what to say, he placed a hand on her shoulder as Lee had the same idea. She shot them both appreciative glances.

                “Do not worry Yukiro-chan, we will help you avenge your comrades.” Lee said with conviction.

                “That’s the spirit.” She said with a slight smile. “Well here we are.” She unlocked the door to a small house. “It’s not much but…” She seemed timid as if waiting for their criticisms.

                “It’s great.” Kiba said.

                “I’ve only got one spare bedroom but the couch isn’t too bad… or if someone wants my bed they’re welcome to it and I’ll take the couch.” She rubbed the back of her neck and didn’t look them in the eye. Wait, this was her house??

                “We could never take your bed Yukiro-chan!” Lee exclaimed. She obviously felt uncomfortable in the situation, it was obvious she didn’t meet strangers very often. This was a small village and she probably had never worked with anyone but her two team members.

                “So how ‘bout a tour of the village?” Kiba suggested to clear the air. She looked relieved and grateful at the suggestion.        

                “Sounds great, just drop your stuff anywhere and we’ll set out.”

                They walked through streets before reaching the forest and walking on the dirt path that led out into the forest. “Our village isn’t much, our ninja population is small and dwindling. We mainly have residential areas and a market or two but there’s one place that’s worth seeing.” They walked into a large clearing where a number of people were kneeling around a clear pool, but that’s not what drew the leaf shinobi’s eyes. The waterfall feeding the pool seemed to glow with a radiant blue light.

                “The chakra falls.” Yukiro said in a hushed whisper.

                “What are they doing?” Kiba whispered after a second, motioning to the kneeling villagers.

                She grew a soft smile, “they are praying. Praying for the kekkai-genkai of our people to return to their bloodline and protect them.”

                “I did not know this area had a kekkai-genkai.” Lee commented, and was about to ask more when the villagers seemed to notice their hushed whispers. They turned and then bowed even lower.

                “Yukiro sama.”

                “Yukiro hime.”

                “Yukiro sempai.”

                They all murmured praises to Yukiro who looked uncomfortable at the situation.

                “Everyone, please get up, I’ve asked you to stop this.” None of them rose, but a few turned back to the pool. Yukiro walked past the remaining villagers as if she was trying to avoid seeing their eyes on her. She motioned her head for Lee and Kiba to join her, and they each took a place beside her as she knelt by the pool. She closed her eyes and visibly relaxed. Kiba looked over at Lee and saw him in the same pose, his face more relaxed than Kiba had seen it in a long time.

                Looking back at Yukiro he could see her eyes laughing at his quizzical expression.

                “Having trouble?”

                “I don’t meditate too well.” Akamaru wagged his tail to emphasize Kiba’s point.

                She chuckled, “here, let me help.” She reached over and took his hand and slowly dipped it into the water. Kiba was shocked at the feel. It was warm, like his hand was engulfed in his covers before he got up in the morning. The water passed through his fingers, but it was more solid than water, fluid like silk. “Relax.” Yukiro breathed before closing her eyes again.

                Kiba closed his eyes and felt a calm wash over him. He felt Akamaru still beside him as he felt the effect pouring over his master.    

                Kiba didn’t know how long they sat there but when Yukiro shook his shoulder the forest was dark and stars shone down on them. His eyes glued to the falls, now lighting the clearing.

                “What is this?” Kiba whispered.

                “Legend says that the founder of our village, the origin of the kekkai-genkai, was laid to rest in this water. His spirit and chakra are supposed to reside here giving strength to those who need it.”

                “What is this kekkai-genkai? Why do the villagers treat you with such reverence?” Lee asked.

                She got up and bowed to the pool, gesturing that they should do the same. “I am the first in generations to be born with it, that’s why they treat me like this. They think I am an answer sent by the founder. They think I will restore the village to its rightful state.”

                “No pressure or anything.” Kibe muttered, grinning as he saw her grin at him.

                “I am able to manipulate chakra, and not just my own. It is a great power that could be used for untamed evil if placed in the wrong hands.”

                “Whoa, hold on.” Kiba held up his hands, so you could take away all of my chakra, right now? Just like that?”

                She nodded, feeling uncomfortable. “I wouldn’t, but yes.”

                Kiba looked down at Akamaru who shared the sentiment.

                They reached her house in silence and she locked the door behind them. “Here’s a key for each of you, there’s blankets and pillows on the bed and the couch. The bathroom’s the first door in the hall, and my bedrooms the next door if you need me.”

                She disappeared quickly and Kiba looked at Lee seeing his confused expression mirrored there.

                “Rock paper scissors for the bedroom?” Lee asked but Kiba shook his head.

                “You take it, I want to be by the door in case Akamaru gets restless.”

                “Alright, I will see you tomorrow Kiba.” Lee disappeared into the spare bedroom and Kiba just stood there. He walked to the room he assumed was her bedroom and softly knocked. He heard scuffling and the door opened moments later.

                “Is everything ok? Does Akamaru need somethi-” He pulled her to his chest in a tight hug and held her there. She seemed startled at first but then relaxed into him. Her arms wound around his waist as she held him tightly. He felt so bad for her, she must be so lonely. The village treated her as a saviour, and refused to realise that she was human too. She hadn’t spoken of a family. Her shinobi team had been killed, the two people who probably knew her best, had been with her through everything. She had no one.

                He pressed his cheek into her hair and breathed deeply, slowing his breathing to try and calm her too. She had an enormous power inside her, and it was obvious by her hesitation to speak about it that the knowledge of what she could do had driven people away before. He felt her release him and so he stepped back, giving her a smile before walking back down the hall to the couch. He could see Akamaru’s expression. “Oh shut up, she’s just lonely, I was being nice, that’s it.”

                Akamaru seemed to pull his lips back in a grin that clearly said yeah right.

The next morning.

                “Their trail ends here, there’s no mark further.” Yukiro said, “I can’t even follow their chakra, they must have been repressing it.”

                “Well let’s see what I can pick up.” Kiba said, calling Akamaru as they began to search the area. “Here, we’ve got a trail!” The four of them followed the trail and by midday ended up at a rundown set of huts. Kiba’s nose perked in the air. Akamaru barked loudly and turned to look back the way they came. “There’s another trail, fresh. I’d guess this morning. They went that way!”

                Her face paled, “The village, they’ve gone to the village.” She whispered. Without waiting for any of them she turned around and raced back through the forest. The three pelted after her and almost caught up when they broke the forest border and saw the remnants of a fire. Black smoke curled into the air from crushed broken houses. Yukiro ran from ruin to ruin, her face falling at each when she found the bodies of her people.

                “Anyone, please tell me someone’s alive!”

                “Hi-Hime?” A broken voice came from under a stack of wood. Kiba was closest and he had the rubble off the person just as Yukiro got there.

                “Elder Ishira! Elder Miro! Are there any others?” She asked desperately. The old men shook their heads sadly, “we don’t know hime.”

                “Don’t call me hime! What right do I have to be your princess, your saviour! I couldn’t save my teammates, I couldn’t save my people, my village! I have failed you all!” She ran her fingers through her hair and turned away from them, overlooking the wreckage. Kiba went up to her and rest his hand on her shoulder, “let’s keep looking.”

                In the end they found only three children hiding in a cellar, everyone else was dead.

                “Let’s go.” She said, “we can’t wait around here in case they come back.”

                “Where are we going Yukiro sempai?” a child asked.

                Yukiro kneeled and took the scared child’s hands in hers. “we’re going on a trip, to a big village. There’s lots of other little boys and girls there to play with, and it’s sunny all the time and everyone is happy and friendly. Does that sound ok?”

                The child nodded but held one of Yukiro’s hands as they walked.

                “The leaf village is about a three day walk from here, and that’s for us. With them with us it’ll take about a week.” Kiba said. She knew it was true, the two elders were frail and weak to begin with, not counting the injuries they had sustained from the attack. The children seemed a bit bruised but ok, but they would get tired easily.

                “We can’t wait here.” She said.

                “Hime, what about the falls, we have never left since the Founder built us here.” An elder said.

                “Forget the falls, they don’t exactly seem to have brought us luck or hope have they?” Yukiro bit back.

                There was a pause before the elder responded, “they brought us you.”

                Yukiro didn’t answer but Kiba could see the thought in her mind, and look at the good I’ve done you.    

                Kiba felt a pull on his jacket and looked down to see the other two children. “Mr… can we um… can we…” they cast shy glances at Akamaru and Kiba understood. He lifted the two onto Akamaru’s back and belted them on best he could before he saw their eyelids start to drop. When he turned back the little girl was latched onto Yukiros back and her eyes were closing quickly.

                “How are you doing?” she asked the elders, they would not be able to be carried.

                “We can go for a bit longer Hime.”

                She nodded and continued walking, Lee beside her at the front and Kiba walked at the back with Akamaru with the elders in the middle.

                They stopped as night fell and made camp on the forest floor. “We leave at dawn.” Yukiro said bluntly as she settled the three children in a blanket and then set herself against the base of a tree.

                Kiba tossed and turned for an hour before simply staring at the sky. Yukiro’s face refused to stop rippling in his mind, her face as she saw her village, broken and hopeless. Glistening tears that she refused to let fall. She had lost so much in such a short time. Whoever these bastards were, she was going to make them pay.

                “Kiba?” he looked over at Lee who was also awake. “you cannot sleep also?”

                “Yeah, I keep thinking of everything she’s been through. I can’t imagine it.”

                “I agree, she should not have to face such sadness. But at least she is no longer alone.”

                Kiba looked back over at Lee again, and saw the boy staring at the sky. “What do you mean not alone? She’s completely alone, everyone she ever knew is dead.”

                “She has you now, it is obvious you care for her and she cares for you.”

                “I’ve known her for a day, Lee. One day.”

                “Sometimes that doesn’t matter. She needs someone and you seem to naturally fill her need. Even Akamaru can see your attachment to her.” Kiba looked around, noticing that Akamaru was not curled up with the children where he had fallen asleep. He was pressed against Yukiro, her fingers embed in his fur and her face hidden behind him.

                “Think on it, you will see I am right.” Lee said smiling before he closed his eyes.

                Kiba closed his eyes but couldn’t stop seeing her heartbroken expression and his throat tightened to even think of it crossing her face again. He remembered her hand on his and placing it in the chakra water back at the waterfall. He tried to recreate the sense of calm he had felt there with her, and didn’t remember falling asleep.

                What he did remember was the dream. The weight of her body atop his, the throaty texture of her voice as she called his name, the heat of her skin. Her hands, bare for once, buried themselves in his hair and he remembered how she pulled and tugged it.

                “Kiba wake up, time to go.” He heard her voice above him and opened his eyes to see her bright blue ones leaning over him. Before he could stop himself his gaze darted to her lips and back to her eyes. She seemed to notice his distraction as the lightest of blushes dusted her cheekbones. Kiba got up and coughed awkwardly. “How’d you sleep?” he asked to break the silence between them.

                She smiled, “Akamaru’s really warm, thanks for sending him over.”

                Kiba chuckled, “I didn’t, I looked for him and saw him already over there.” She turned back to where the oversized dog was sat watching them.

                “Well aren’t you just the sweetest?” she crouched down and rubbed behind his ears. Akamaru’s eyes closed as his huge head leaned into her palms. Kiba watched the interaction as she thanked Akamaru. He had to admit, seeing her get along with Akamaru so well made him happy and it made him smile that the dog was banishing her sadness for a second.

                “Everyone ready?” she asked, standing, “alright let’s head out.”

                The two children walked with the elders today, but the little girl resumed her place by Yukiro’s side and held her hand. The walk went by uneventfully and before he knew it, it was nightfall and they were setting up camp again. Tonight he went and sat by Yukiro and saw Lee give him a thumbs up and a huge grin from the background.

                “How are you holding up?” he asked.

                “Alright I suppose, given the circumstances.” He could see that a weight was on her back, a weight that she hid during the day for the children’s sake.

                They stayed silent and just let the night darken as their eyes closed.

                Kiba woke first and felt her gloved fingers intertwined with his. That was all that connected the two of them but it somehow felt more intimate than his previous encounters with women. He wasn’t a stranger to sex, or women in general, and he certainly did enjoy himself when he was with them but he’d never managed to make it last longer than that. Maybe Lee was right, maybe there was something here. He looked at her face and although it was calm now he could see tear marks where weakness had taken her in the night. Not thinking, he brushed a thumb over her cheek to banish them and was met with slowly blinking blue eyes as she woke.

                “Hey.” She said quietly with a smile.

                “Hey.” He responded. The two of them hung there in a beautiful calm silence until Kiba felt a weight on him and Akamaru was licking their faces.

                She laughed, a real laugh. “Morning to you too buddy!” She hauled herself up off the ground and set to make breakfast. He watched her bend over the supply bag and noticed that she was no longer wearing the flak jacket. Giving a quick glance around their makeshift camp he saw that it was unzipped and the three kids were squished together and using it as a pillow.

                “So, if you don’t mind me asking, what’s with the outfit?” He walked over to where Lee was helping her build a fire.

                She blushed, her shirt now consisted of a thin strapped black shirt that was tight to her body and left her midriff bare. Her shorts seemed to start lower than they used to and in her crouched position they seemed to leave her entire thigh bare.

                “My chakra manipulation is delicate and it works best with skin on skin contact but I can’t control what happens when my hands touch someone so I keep them gloved. I need the rest of me able to make skin contact in case someone’s near me and I need a big pull of chakra. I don’t just dress like a whore, there’s reasoning behind it.” She grinned.

                “Indeed, it is tradition of the Founders descendants to dress in the style of baring skin.” An elder mentioned, “it shows the power they contain and their fearlessness of wounds in battle. It shows who they are.”

                Yukiro chuckled, “like the blue hair isn’t clue enough.” She twisted the end of her ponytail in her fingers.

                Breakfast was over too soon and they kept walking. Days later they finally made it.

                “So this is the Leaf village?” She mused, and Kiba automatically felt nervous for her to see his village.

                The gates opened and the leaf shinobi grinned as the others’ eyes widened at the sight of everything. The village was bright and bustling like always, people were everywhere. Yukiro crouched down and the little girl scrambled onto her back. Kiba and Lee followed suit with the other two children.

                “Think they’re ok? They look terrified.” Kiba muttered to Lee.

                “This is probably the most people they have ever seen in one place. This street most likely contains more people than their entire village.” Kiba nodded, he hadn’t considered that. They started to move through the crowd and people turned to look at the newcomers, particularly the scantily clad girl with blue hair…

                Yukiro’s hand gripped Kiba’s forearm as she was jostled and almost lost sight of him. She cast nervous glances at the curious looks coming her way.

                “Kiba” she whispered. He chuckled and moved his arm so his fingers intertwined with the leather of her gloves. He felt her give his hand a grateful squeeze and he led her towards the hokage building.

                They arrived there eventually, and were soon all stood in the office facing a tired looking hokage.

                “Lady Tsunade, may I present Yukiro and her village elders, Elder Ishira and Elder Miro.” They all bowed at the introduction but Tsunade noticed the more pressing matter. “But why are they here? You were sent to assist Yukiro with a mission if I recall correctly.”

                Kiba went to answer but Yukiro beat him to it, “they were my lady, but the same people we were hunting came to the village and razed it to the ground. The two elders and the three children were the only survivors of the attack.”

                Tsunade was shocked, “I didn’t know you were in such danger, had you mentioned it I would have sent you Anbu.”

                “We didn’t know the danger was coming. All I knew was that my comrades were dead and I needed help to hunt them down.”

                Tsunade thought, “what is their goal? What are they attacking for?”

                The villagers shared a look before Yukiro said “me” in a small voice.

                Kiba looked sharply at her. “I believe you failed to mention that.” Lee said, obviously hurt that she hadn’t said that before. Kiba admitted to himself that he was hurt too, but looking back on it he realised that it was obvious.

                “The village was poor, with nothing to offer. The only thing of any worth stealing in it would be our kekkai-genkai. I am the only bearer to be born in several generations.”

                “And your kekkai-genkai is…?” Tsunade pushed. 

                Yukiro hesitated before admitting, “the ability to manipulate chakra. Anyone’s, chakra.”

                Tsunade’s face was set in stone, “that’s quite the power.”

                “I know.”

                “Can you use it?”

                “I cannot control my hands from draining anyone’s chakra on contact yet, but yes, I can.”

                “Lady Tsunade! Scouts say enemies are approaching, rogue ninja!” A man said, and everyone burst into action, running to the village wall.

                “How many?” Tsunade asked.

                “At least fifty.”

                “Fifty??” Yukiro exclaimed, then her face set in determination, “all coming from this direction?”

                “As far as we can tell yes.” The scout answered.

                “What’s going on? Is everything ok?” Naruto had joined them atop the wall and Kiba saw Yukiro’s eyes flicker to him.

                “Yukiro NO!” Kiba yelled, but he was too late. Yukiro had her forehead pressed to Naruto’s and everybody stilled as a wall of chakra shot up around the entire village. Kiba pressed his hand to it and looked at the one person on the outside of it.

                “Yukiro, bring it down.” He said, his voice hard. “I can’t let you fight this alone!”

                “You can and you will! Too many people have died for me, this ends today.” She placed her hand up close to the chakra wall so it was right on top of his. She gave him a brief apologetic look before jumping down to the ground.

                “YUKIRO!” Kiba yelled, banging his fist against the barrier.

                “Guys what happened?” Naruto asked, utterly confused.

                “There are rogue ninja after Yukiro for her bloodline ability to manipulate chakra.” Lee answered, “It appears she has taken advantage of your large chakra reserves to use your chakra to build this wall. As long as she is alive,I do not believe this wall will break.”

                Naruto looked at Kiba who was fuming, still pounding away at the barrier.

                Kiba could see her, stood with one hand stretched behind her to steady herself, her fingertips pressed against the village wall. She didn’t look up, but he knew that her eyes were narrowed into hard lines, all doubts or weakness had been pushed behind her. This was the fight for her village, her people, her friends. She could not fail.

                One by one the rogue ninja emerged from the forest. That was more than fifty. They eyed the barrier caging the leaf ninja and grinned. They would be unable to help the blue haired one.

                “We’ve gone through a lot of trouble to get to you.” The one in front called.

                Yukiro moved a few steps from the wall and opened her arms. “I’m right here. Come and get me.” The men grinned and pulled out their weapons, slowly advancing until they stood in a semi-circle around her.

                “Why isn’t she getting out weapons?” Naruto yelled.

                “She has never fought with them. You will see.” Kiba looked behind to see the two elders watching. “It was not a mistake that they killed her teammates and village before confronting her. It will be a tough fight to beat her alone, they could not risk her having her people stand behind her.”

                It was only then that Kiba noticed the scrap of black cloth hanging from Akamaru’s mouth. Impatient, he reached over and pulled them out. Her gloves. He turned back and saw her bend her knees slightly as if to prepare for an impact. He could not help feeling that she didn’t stand a chance, she wasn’t wearing armour, she had no weapon, and she was surrounded by armoured, armed enemy ninja.

                They began to lunge towards her, a pile of weapons and bodies and somehow it was as if she became water. She twisted and turned, her body bending in ways he couldn’t imagine. That’s why she doesn’t wear armour, he realised, so she can move like this. He watched as one man behind her ran for her and she bent out of his way. Her palm came down and touched his bare arm for a brief second before he crumpled to the ground. This pattern continued, a few had manages to get shallow cuts on her but somehow she managed to keep dodging. For a moment they retreated and reformed the semi-circle around her and Kiba’s hope withered again. She had beat so many but now there seemed to be more than before.

                She seemed to realise this too because she ran towards the village wall and bounded to the top. She pressed her bare hand close to the barrier of chakra and Kiba immediately clicked into her plan. “Stall some time, I’ll get them to help you!” He said through the barrier. She gave a small nod.

                   He heard her begin to accuse the rogues of the crimes they had committed and the hurt they had caused her and Kiba set to work behind the wall.

                “She’s going to draw on chakra from this barrier, everyone put your hands on the wall! She’ll be able to draw on your chakra.”

                “What? I’m not doing that!” someone yelled, “I saw what happened to those guys down there!” He pointed to the heap of rogue ninja who were in heaps on the ground.

                “It’ll be ok, that’s what happens when she takes from only one person, and right now she’s only taking from Naruto. If we all do it, then she won’t need to take much from each of us!”

               Hesitantly he saw ninja all around him place their hands on the barrier and he did as well. Locking eyes with her as she glanced back at him before turning to the rogue’s once more.

                “You did all this to get my bloodline? Well here you go, you can have it.” Her voice was steady and strong. Her bare hand pressed to the barrier and immediately Kiba felt a pulling sensation within himself. It grew stronger and stronger as weaker ninja let go of the wall, but he held on and never took his eyes off her.

                Her blue chakra burst in waves from her and it looked as if she was immersed in the chakra falls from her village. Kiba wasn’t sure how long he stayed with his hands to the wall, giving his chakra to her but eventually it was over. Exhausted, she turned around and laughed.

                “What’s so funny?” he asked. She gestured to her gloves in his hand, “I can’t end the barrier without touching it, and I can’t touch it without draining Naruto.”

                He had to laugh.

                In the end they had knocked Naruto out –much to his displeasure. He had never been good at disrupting his chakra flow. The barrier came down almost instantly. Lee and Sakura kneeled down to check on Naruto but Kiba crossed to Yukiro in large steps and crashed his lips to hers. This was better than any dream he’d had, any other girl he’d had, this was real. This was Yukiro.

                “Never do that again.” He growled between kisses. Her lips tilted up into a grin as she responded, looping her arms around his neck as his hands still clutched the back of her neck. They broke apart to catcalling and whistling but Kiba didn’t seem to mind because he kissed her again and again, softer and softer each time until he simply pressed his forehead against hers.

                “Stay with me?” He breathed. Her eyes searched his for something, but all she found was everything she’d seen there before. He was asking her to not go back to the site of the Founder, to abandon the chakra falls, the site of her family’s home for generations.

                “Yes.” She kissed him softly, “besides, we’ve only known each other for a week, we’ve got some catching up to do.”

                Akamaru jumped on the two in joy upon hearing that she was staying, and as Yukiro looked up and saw the barking dog and his masters laughing eyes as he wiped slobber from his face, Yukiro couldn’t remember ever being happier.