Lonely Faces (*aka. -Roommates) | Chapter 23

Beta: abnegation218

Lonely Faces (*aka. Roommates)


Chapter 11

“We’re back!” called Ms. Inuzuka from the doorway, raising her voice over the perfuse barking of the exited dog.

Kiba bounded down the stairs, a broad smile on his face, and opened his arms wide to the dog. The canine immediately jumped into his owner’s chest and Kiba embraced him lovingly.

“Akamaru! How’ve you been buddy?” he said, ruffling the dog’s fur.

Akamaru replied by wagging his tail and barking happily.

Naruto reached the bottom of the stairs and waited to be introduced to the newcomers.

“So this is Kiba’s boyfriend!” said the tall man, now entering the house.

The man, he assumed to be Richard, was medium build, lanky for his height. He had green eyes, flaming red hair, and sported several wrapped presents and duffel bags under each arm.

“Naruto, this is Richard.” said Ms. Inuzuka, gesturing towards the man.

“You can call me Rich.” he said, putting down some of his load so he could extend his hand.

“Hi.” said Naruto, shaking it.

He looked over to Kiba, and found him starring at Rich with a wary face.

“Rich.” he said, nodding.

“Hi Kiba. How’s the little man?” asked Rich, a hint of condescension in his voice.

“I told you to stop calling me that.” he said, crossing his arms and looking away.

Richard laughed and picked up his things from the floor. Naruto moved as Hana and Rich made their way upstairs.

Once the couple had reached the landing and rounded a corner, Kiba sighed deeply. “Prat.”

“Kiba, don’t start.” said Ms. Inuzuka, heading towards the kitchen, a grin barely concealed on her face.

-

Kiba and Naruto sat across from each other on the living room floor, rolling a toy to one another, teasing the playful Akamaru who bounded from boy to boy, trying to get the ball. Naruto knew that one of the things he missed the most about home was his dog; pets weren’t allowed in the dormitories. He could understand why Kiba missed him so much; he could feel the great bond between them.

“Supper’s ready!” yelled Ms. Inuzuka from the kitchen.

Kiba and Naruto hefted themselves from the floor and made their way into the dining room. They joined Hanna and Rich at the table, and were each handed a bowl of soup by Ms. Inuzuka.

“I hope you like cream of leek.” she said, placing a plate of toast on the table.

“I love cream of leek.” said Naruto, taking in the enticing aroma.

“Good, then tuck in!” she said, grinning as she took her place at the head of the table.

As they ate, Richard began to speak boastfully to Hanna about his many exploits in his new career as a contractor. She clutched his arm and looked adoringly at him, making many compliments and telling everyone how great he was. Kiba kept trying to make Naruto laugh be impersonating one of them while they weren’t looking, Naruto had to bite his tongue to keep from snickering as Kiba laced his hands and made puppy dog eyes at him.

“– Enough about me, I want to hear about this whole thing with Kiba.” said Richard, turning to face him. “I never would have thought you were gay.”

“I’m Bisexual actually.” replied Kiba, his previously cheery demeanor evaporating in an instant.

“Hmm, still, you like men. My uncle is gay, and he is quite effeminate. Aren’t most people who like guys like that?” he asked with a tone of stating a fact.

Kiba looked up, anger in his gaze. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“Oh, nothing. It’s just that most of the time, they’re girly.” he said knowledgeably.

“Well good for them!” yelled Kiba, rising from his seat, the resentment clear in his voice.

Kiba threw his napkin on the table and left the room.

“Kiba, where are you going?” asked Ms. Inuzuka.

“I’m taking Akamaru out!” shouted Kiba.

Naruto got up walked to where Kiba was in time to see the door close. As Naruto pulled on his boots and coat, he heard Ms. Inuzuka and Hanna arguing loudly in the Kitchen.

He departed the house and stepped out onto the fresh inches of snow that covered the Inuzuka’s walkway. Following the prints left in the snow by Kiba and Akamaru, he ventured up the walkway and down the street, the moon illuminating his path.

The cold wind whipped at his face as he crossed a field and found the place where Kiba had secluded himself.

“There you are!” he said, running to the large willow tree to which Kiba was leaning. “Are you okay?”

Kiba glanced over, a guilty expression paying across his face.

“I’m sorry about that.” he said, looking down. “I should have known he would do something like this!”

“It doesn’t matter, I don’t care, and neither should you.” said Naruto, reassuringly.

“He’s always making fun of gays. His grandfather’s a minister; he disowned his son because he was gay. Rich is under the impression that he did the right thing.” he explained, starring at the ground.

Naruto embraced him, and kissed him tenderly on the forehead. Kiba looked up and gazed into his blazing sapphire eyes.

“I thought we’d established that we don’t care what people think.” he said, tilting his head and smiling softly.

Kiba ran his hand over Naruto’s arm, still looking upset. “I know, it’s just that he’s so ignorant. I hate people like that.”

“The world is full of ignorant people, it’s not like we can just get rid of them.” sighed Naruto, looking up into the sky.

Kiba thought this through. It’s true, ignorant people are everywhere, and he himself had been ignorant on occasion. He could remember his childhood, everyone rejected him because of his intelligence, his only friend in the world was Akamaru, he couldn’t be ignorant, or pass judgment. Who are we to decide if us as humans can pass judgment on others.

Akamaru barked impatiently, snapping Kiba out of his musings.

He grinned and bent down, patting the dog on the head.

“I see what you mean …” he said, standing up again. “It would be our own ignorance to wish these people away.”

“C’mon, let’s take Akamaru around, you can show me some places.” said Naruto encouragingly.

“Yeah, I can bring you to my spot.” he said, becoming slightly more cheerful.

They walked around the field and through a forest until they reached a small lake, frozen and covered with snow. The canopy of trees around them drowned out any noise from the town, which, combined with the beautiful landscape of mountains beyond the lake, became a sense of serenity and divinity.

“Wow, it’s gorgeous.” said Naruto, momentarily stunned at the sight.

“Yeah, I come here whenever I feel lonely or depressed. You’re the first person I’ve ever actually brought to this place.” he said, still staring off into the distance. “Other than Akamaru of course.”

They stood there for a while, enjoying the way the moonlight sparkled off the crystalline flakes of snow. Naruto had never seen a view so peaceful and calming, having lived in the city for most of his life. But there was something about winter that always held great attraction to him; the silence. If there was one person in the world he could share this with, he was glad it was Kiba.

“We should be getting back, it’s been over an hour …” said Kiba, stretching.

Naruto nodded in agreement. “Yeah, you’re mom’s probably having kittens. Can I walk Akamaru on the way back?”

“Sure.” he said, handing Naruto the leash.

-

Kiba and Naruto turned onto the street where the Inuzuka’s lived, still chatting about the way of the world. Kiba and Naruto didn’t often get into philosophical discussions, but when they did, it could drag on for days.

“- Take Tibet for example, in a democratic society, that would, or should at least, never happen. But the way the country is run, they are now completely dependent on that style of government.” said Naruto, still being pulled along by Akamaru.

“Yes, that’s why there is such debate over its freedom, other than the fact that China has no real claim over the land. Communism should be equality to the people, but the way they use military rule over the people, it’s more like a dictatorship.” he said, nodding wisely.

“Yes, but several campaigns to over- Akamaru, stop it.” said Naruto, interrupted by the dogs loud barking and dragging; a dog across the street had caught his eye.

The dog yanked at his chain and the leash slipped from Naruto’s grasp. Akamaru bounded down the street, straight for the other dog.

“Akamaru!” yelled Kiba, giving chase.

Akamaru jumped into the open road as a car neared its position.

“Akamaru, get off the street!” screamed Kiba, his voice cracking in terror.

The driver of the car applied his breaks and the wheels slid over the icy road.

There was a sickening thump, followed by a loud yelp. The white stained crimson as the warm blood melted the snow around Akamaru’s prone form.