Shino couldn't help but stare at Kiba every time he ran past. He was sure Hinata noticed, she was giving him a silent but understanding look. He wouldn't be terribly surprised if Kurenai-sensei noticed as well.

Shino set to work training with Hinata, her Byakugan against his bugs. It was an interesting battle, as it always was, but Shino couldn't help but be distracted the whole time.

Of course, Kurenai noticed. She stopped the battle and pulled him aside for a one-on-one chat.

"Alright Shino, what's going on between you and Kiba? You've both been too distracted today and I demand to know why." She crossed her arms over her chest, giving him a look.

"It's nothing I cannot handle, Kurenai-sensei." Shino answered vaguely, his face and voice devoid of emotion.

"Don't give me that, Shino. Get the knot out of your panties and tell me the truth." She snapped.

Shino knew she was only concerned for her two favorite boys, but he wasn't sure he wanted to share everything. "...I angered Kiba yesterday. There may be tension between us for a while."

Kurenai sighed, giving up for now. She'd interrogate Kiba later to get more information. "Get back to training."

Shino nodded and returned to the spar between Hinata and himself.

Kiba continued running, finishing his five laps as soon as Shino and Hinata were done sparring. He jogged back over to the other three and he sighed. The brunette fell back onto his behind, panting heavily, his lips parted slightly.

He looked at Kurenai, Hinata, and then Shino. Of course, his eyes stayed on Shino more than the other two. After a while Kiba pulled his eyes away from him and looked at Akamaru, who had finally woke up and was sniffing the air. He smiled a little bit.

He swallowed a little when Kurenai asked to have a talk with him. The male nodded and stood up, following Kurenai to a spot a ways away from the other two. "What is it, Kurenai?" He asked, still a little irritated that she made him do laps around the school.

Kurenai gave Kiba a disapproving stare. "That's Kurenai-sensei to you, Kiba." She snapped. "Now, tell me what happened between you and Shino."

Shino watched the two anxiously, and Hinata noticed. She walked up to him and placed a gentle hand on his arm, drawing his attention to her.

"Shino..." She started, and the Aburame knew it had to be serious if she wasn't stuttering. "Whatever happened yesterday, you should do what feels right." Her voice was lowered to a small whisper, but the Aburame could still hear her.

Shino just nodded, not saying anything.

Kiba nibbled on his bottom lip a little when she said that. When Kurenai says it, it's an order, not a request. A small sigh escaped Kiba's lips as he got ready to answer her. He looked at her. "Shino and I got into a fight. That's all that happened," He said, his eyes not even looking like he was lieing.

There was no way that he was going to tell his sensei that he and Shino almost went all the way. That would be a shock to her, and not to mention if it ever got out to anyone else. Kiba couldn't even imagine what would happen. He probably wouldn't be able to see the other after that.

Kurenai narrowed her eyes at the teen. "No. That is not what I want to hear. I want the whole story on this fight of yours, now." She demanded.

She softened her voice as well as her eyes, trying to show that it was for Kiba's own good that he tell her. "Kiba, you should know that if I don't feel like it's something your parents should know, I won't tell them. It will remain confidential."

Kiba sighed and he crossed his arms. "Fine, but you better promise not to tell my mom and sister," The brunette said, a serious look on his face.

"I'm..." He paused taking in a deep breath and letting it out. "I'm gay. And I'm in love with Shino." A small smile appeared on his face as he looked at the Aburame boy.

"You hear that Shino! I love you and I don't care if anyone knows!" He yelled over to the other boy, his own eyes shaking as tears started to form. He was so happy that he finally forgave himself for what he said yesterday and that he really did love Shino. "I don't even give a damn if my mom and sister know or if your parents know!" The tears streamed down his cheeks as he kept his eyes on the other.

Shino couldn't say anything. He really couldn't. He felt his heart leap up to his throat and all the pain and guilt he'd supressed the day before came back in waves, taunting him, making him feel like the scum of the earth all over again.

They couldn't do it... They just couldn't. Didn't Kiba understand that? It could not happen, no matter what their emotions.

What really disturbed Shino, though, was that the two women with them did not look surprised at all. Both Hinata and Kurenai looked rather expectant, actually. All eyes were on Shino, waiting for his response. For once, Shino was at a loss for what to do. The three most important people in his life were in front of him, watching him make a decision that would change their opinion of him forever.

"Kiba..." Shino's breath escaped him in a sigh. "I've already explained this to you... We can't. It may not matter to you right now, but it will later and you know that."

Kiba looked at Shino and his eyes shook even more. "How can you say that?" He went over to Shino. "How can you even say that?! You feel the same way. I know you do." The brunette set his hands on Shino's chest. "Please...please." He looked at Shino, his eyes all red from crying.

"Just forget about your father and what your clan will think of you. Forget about it." He was shaking now as he talked to him. "It's just you and me right now. No one else is around us. Just please...don't think that way."

Kurenai crossed her arms as she watched them. After a while she led Hinata away to give them some privacy. They'd need it after what was happening with them.

"I can't forget about it, Kiba. Just because I'm not thinking about it doesn't mean it's not there." It hurt to see Kiba like this; the sight made him close his eyes behind his glasses.

"You know better than this, Kiba. What our families have to say is very important, and you know they won't approve." He was trying to explain it rationally, or at least in some way that he would not hurt Kiba, but that seemed completely impossible.

Kiba sighed. "Haven't you ever defied your father once? Shino please," He told him and wrapped his arms around the other's neck, getting close to him. "Please, Shino. Please." The last part was a whisper.

He didn't like to be like this, but he really liked Shino and he wanted to be with him forever. He didn't care about a family at that point. All he wanted was a life with Shino, and no one else.

Shino could feel Kiba's warm body, so close to his, and wanted to get closer. He wanted this, he knew that. He wanted it so bad, but it felt like it was something he wasn't allowed to have. Something unattainable, a goal that would only bring you pain in the end.

"Kiba... We can't hide this forever. They will find out, whether we tell them or not. What are we supposed to do about that?"

Kiba looked at the ground and sighed. "Nothing. We don't do anything," He told Shino, looking back up at him. "They can't keep us away from each other. Besides, most people know how it feels to be in love." Kiba leaned in and kissed his cheek lightly. "Please just trust me on this, Shino." He whispered into the Aburane's ear.

Shino knew it wouldn't work, he knew that this could only end in tears, but Kiba was just too damn convincing. At least, that's what he told himself.

"Fine... Fine, Kiba. ...Let's take this slowly." He said softly, taking a preemptive strike before Kiba jumped him again. He wasn't ready for sex... not yet.

Well, at least slow is better than not having him at all, Kiba thought as he nodded in agreement. "Agreed," He told him and smiled. He was happy that Shino had finally come around.

"So...what're we gonna do now? Kurenai-sensei and Hinata left. It's just you and me," The brunette said, smiling softly at the other.

"...What do you want to do?" Shino couldn't help but ask. He'd never been good with this kind of thing; the only thing he could think of to do was train, and he was sure Kiba wouldn't be happy with that answer, so he decided to just let Kiba pick. Or at least lay out options.

Kiba shrugged a little bit. "Well, we could always just go down to a private little stream and hang out. I know a great one in the Inuzuka complex that no one else knows about. Not even other Inuzuka's know about it," The brunette said, smiling a little bit.

Shino nodded and smiled back at Kiba. "That sounds good."

Hopefully, Kurenai-sensei wouldn't scream at them later for letting "personal problems" interrupt training.

Kiba then proceeded to lead him towards the Inuzuka complex, making sure that they avoided the Aburame complex on the way there. Truth was, Kiba really didn't want Shino's parents to find out about it either. He thought that maybe Shino's mother would be understanding about it, but he wanted to completely avoid his father.

Shino followed the brunette to the stream, surprised at the total lack of chatter from Kiba. 'Quiet' and 'Kiba' just didn't belong in the same thought.

He couldn't help but notice Kiba avoided his house altogether... not that Shino could blame him. The longer until their families found out, the better.

Kiba had dropped Akamaru off at his house, making sure his mother and sister didn't see Shino. Though, he knew that they could probably recognize his scent by now.

After than, he took Shino to the stream. When they got there, he took off his shoes, pulled his pants up and sat on the bank. He let his feet slip into the water, sending a chill up his back. "Cold..." He muttered.

Shino chuckled softly, taking off his own shoes and joining Kiba. "Hm."

Shino leaned back, looking up through the trees to the clouds. "How many people know about this place?"

Kiba sighed and stared at the water as he moved his feet around in it. "Me and Shikamaru. Though, he doesn't really come here, unless we need to talk about something," The brunette said, smiling a little bit.

Shino couldn't stop the short pang of jealousy. Shikamaru knew about this place? Shino hadn't even known the two were talking at all! Sure, he hadn't really been paying attention to who Kiba talked to, he figured it wasn't his business, but still...

"You talk to Shikamaru a lot?" Shino asked, trying to keep his tone casual.

Kiba looked at the Aburame. "Only when we're discussing missions. I haven't talked to him in a week because we've all been so busy with training and stuff," The brunette said, sighing a little bit. "Which reminds me, the next Chuunin Exams are coming up soon. Maybe we should enter again?" He asked, tilting his head.

Oh. Of course.

Shino felt stupid now, and he tried to hide the fact that he'd been jealous. It was ridiculous to feel that way, after all.

"Yes, we should. I'm sure Kurenai-sensei would want us to as well."