The shadow princess

Chapter 13

[Inuzuka Kiba P.O.V.]

"So anyway" I lean against Akamaru, as I place one hand in the pocket of my leather jacket and with the other hand I take the pendant on the necklace around my neck before looking at Shikamaru. "I'm worried" I say. Shikamaru places his hands on his hips. "You know she's going to kill you, if she learns you're talking to me" he says. "I don't care" I say. Shikamaru smiles. "You're one of my first friends Kiba, making you one of the only ones I trust with my twin sister" Shikamaru says, as he looks aside. "I appreciate you telling me this. You're not the only one who's worried. Maybe it's a good thing we're doing this group thing. Maybe it'll distract her" he says. "Yeah maybe" I sigh, following his gaze and wave as Neji and Lee walking in this direction. "I bought her this, you think she might like it?" I hand him the little box I take out of my pocket. It contains a necklace with a dog pendant on it. "Why did you buy her this?" Shikamaru asks. "She always reaches toward her necklace which I'm wearing. I thought she'd like it" I say as he hands it back. "She'll love it" Shikamaru says and I smile. Not long after Tenten, Hinata, Shino and Chōji have joined us. "They're late" Neji says. "Did something happen?" Hinata asks. "Probably not" I say. "I bet they had trouble getting Shizuka to come with" Shikamaru says. Not a second later Ino and Sakura walk around the corner pulling Shizuka with. "You're late!" Tenten shouts waving. "Gomen ne" Sakura says as they reach us. "Shizuka didn't want to come with" Ino adds. "Glad you came, it'll be fun!" Choji says. "Yeah" Shizuka says softly. I wrap my arm around her shoulder, pressing a kiss onto her cheek as I pull her with to the entrance after the rest.

I sigh deeply as I sit down into the hot water. "It's been a while since we all got together huh?" Chōji says as he and Shikamaru step in the water also. "Guess we've all been busy" Neji says. "I guess" I say. "You're one to talk" Shino says as he sits on the edge with just his feet in the hot water. "What is that supposed to mean?" I ask. "Aren't you spending your free time with your girlfriend?" Lee asks grinning. "Since when is that a crime?" I ask, getting slightly annoyed. "Its not, but that does mean you're spending less time with us" Choji says. I cross my arms. "Maybe you should get girlfriends yourself" I say. "Nobody is attacking you" Shikamaru says as he steps in the water. "And please stop talking about Shizuka. I don't want to imagine what you're doing when you're alone together" Shikamaru says. Smirking I lay my elbows on the edge. "Oh so you don't want to know to which bases I got?" I say teasingly. "No!" Shikamaru says, making me laugh. "I do" Lee says. "Me too actually" Choji says. "I'm just teasing, it's nobody's business" I say. "Thank you" Shikamaru says. After a moment of silence the topic turns to girls again, and especially how they've changed the past two years, in curves they mean. Among them of course Shizuka too. I smile as I lean my cheek on my hand. "I know... they're my favorite part of her body. Its like they're pillows so soft" I say dreamily. "So....you've...touched them?" Shino asks. "Oh dear god" Shikamaru says laying his fingers on his forehead. "Hmm not touching perse, but I lay my head on them quite often" I say. Judging from all of their faces they don't believe me, making me smirk. "to be honest, I never expected you to like someone like Shizuka" Choji says. "Why is that?" I ask. "I got to say it surprised me too" Shikamaru says. "Because she is so smart" Choji says. "So you're saying I'm dumb?!" I ask annoyed. "Well no...but anyone would feel dumb next to her. Except for Shikamaru. It would be something that'd scare men away" Choji says. "It's actually one of the things I like about her." I say honestly.

"You had fun today?" I ask Shizuka as I walk with her. "Yeah, it's been a while. So I had fun" Shizuka smiles. We took a different route then Shikamaru and Choji, so we had a moment alone together. "I'm glad" I say. "So..Shizuka..I got you something" I say. Shizuka stops walking and looks at me surprised. "Kiba-kun?" She asks. I take the box out of my pocket and hesitantly hand it to her. "Why did you buy me this?" She asks surprised. "Well I notice you keep reaching for your necklace. And to be honest I don't want to give it back." I chuckle as I take the pendant around my neck In between my fingers. "And you can't take the stuffed animal everywhere you go. You hate it don't you?" I sigh. "No..no I love it, I just didn't expect it. It's really cute. Thank you. Will you put it on?" She asks. "Of course" I take the necklace from the box and put it around her neck. She takes the pendant in between her fingers. "Thank you" she says again before hugging me. "Of course" I say hugging back. Shizuka presses her soft, sweet lips against mine. I kiss back wholeheartedly. "I love you" I whisper softly as I tuck her hair behind her ear. I've felt it for a long time, but it's the first time I actually said it out loud. Maybe it'll give her the push she needs. Shizuka blushes and smiles as she kisses me again. "I love you too" Shizuka whispers against my lips before kissing me, asking for entrance and our tongues play a round of tag. Shizuka smiles before pressing her lips against mine again, before taking my hand and continue to walk home. "I'll see you soon" Shizuka says softly, stroking my cheek as we reach her house. "Yeah. Sleep well" I say softly. Shikamaru opens the front door, signaling Shizuka she has to hurry. Shizuka smiles at me again before hurrying op the path to her house. Shikamaru waves and I wave back before waking to my own house with Akamaru.