Ink/Ceremonies

Shibi arrived at the restaurant first and was seated at a table in a quiet section, away from all the other tables. He had a bad feeling about this. He looked over the drink menu and ordered a bottle of sake for them all to drink. Tsume showed up a few minutes later, looking around as she had never been in this restaurant before.

“Hey, Shibi, this is a nice place. The boys have good taste.”

“Indeed. But don’t you find it a bit odd that they aren’t here yet?”

“Oh, you know kids. Speaking of kids, I think this is your son’s.” She reached into her jacket and brought out a small jar with air holes poked in the top and handed it to Shibi. Inside was an Aburame insect.

“A spy, no doubt,” he had pulled the same trick in his youth. He put the jar into one of his coat pockets and looked at Tsume. “The boys do indeed have something planned.”

“What do you think it is?”

“Knowing them, it’s something trivial and unimportant.”

“I hope so. I hope they didn’t find out about us.”

“How could they have? For the last two years they have been clueless. Why would they catch on now?” But just then Kiba and Shino walked in the door spotted them and came to the table and sat down. They both looked a bit annoyed.

“May I have my insect, father?” Shibi wordlessly took the jar from his pocket and slid it across the table to Shino. Shino opened the jar and his insect flew up, buzzed around his head twice and flew in his ear.

“Please don’t do that again. It’s a little… freaky.”

“Apologies, Kiba.” The waiter came with the sake and menus for everyone. When everyone had their sake and had ordered their food they were left alone again.

“Kiba, why are we here again?”

“Umm, well, Ma, ya see…”

“We know.”

“Know what, boys?”

“Father, we KNOW. Kiba smelled your insects in his mother’s room and I found her shirt in your room!” Shino hissed at his father, angry that they were still trying to hide it. “How long have you been keeping this from us?”

“Quiet down, Shino! You want the whole place to hear you?” Tsume couldn’t believe that they had chosen such a public place to confront them about this.

“You don’t understand, boys. It is considered... immoral for two clan leaders to become involved with one another. We couldn’t risk it getting out.”

“You couldn’t trust your own children? That’s fucked up!”

“Kiba! I am still your mother! I know you are angry but you still don’t get to talk to me that way!”

“I agree with Kiba. It’s fucked up. What’s the worst that can happen? New clan leaders will be appointed?”

“No, son, exile. We would be sent from Konoha and live the rest of our lives away from you.” After Shibi’s quiet interjection, the boys sat looking stunned. Their food came and they ate in silence. The only words that were spoken were to the waiter. After the meal was over Shino and Kiba paid and all four of them walked toward the Inuzuka compound. Kiba led them to the pool house so they could speak without being overheard. Once inside Tsume served sake and everyone settled onto the couch. Shino spoke.

“Could you not step down? Pass leadership on to another?”

“It takes time to do so. Hana is prepared to take over once the paperwork is finished and Tsunade approves. Shibi and I can’t both step down at the same time, it would look suspicious.”

“One question, father. Your tattoos…”

“Are gone. Have been since your mother died.” Shibi stood up and shed his coat to reveal his scars. Shino gasped and Kiba pulled him a little tighter against him. Shibi draped his coat over the arm of the couch and sat back down, content to be in just a shirt.

“So, once both of you have stepped down, you can be together out in the open?”

“Indeed, Shino, once Kiba’s mother has completed passing leadership onto Hana, I can begin the process.” Shibi stretched out on the couch and put his head in Tsume’s lap. She smiled and removed his glasses. Shibi’s eyes were very similar to Shino’s but they were green instead of blue. “However, it is traditional to pass leadership to your eldest child…” Shino knew where this was going.

“Father you can’t be serious! You know how the clan elders are about homosexuality!” Shino began to panic and Kiba pulled him into his chest and rubbed his back. “I’ll have to leave Kiba!” Came out quite muffled from the space between them.

“You didn’t let me finish.” Shibi sighed and settled into a comfy position to wait out Shino’s panic attack. Kiba murmured words of comfort to Shino, and he soon calmed down. Tsume caught ‘rather die than let them take you away’ coming from her son’s mouth as well as ‘I don’t care if I have to take on Tsunade herself’ and smiled. She had often worried about Kiba finding someone to love and accept him. She had Hana to give her grandchildren, and Kiba could always adopt kids. If his father could see him now, he would be so proud. Lost in thought, she didn’t see Shibi watching her think. She jumped when he spoke.

“Are you ready to hear the rest now Shino?” Not moving from his place burrowed into Kiba’s jacket, he nodded. “As I was saying, it is traditional to pass leadership to your eldest child, but seeing as you are marrying Kiba and will take his name, you are no longer clan leader material. I have conversed with my brother and your cousin Anika will be taking over for me. She is quite capable.” Shino’s muffled reply came a moment later.

“So, I won’t have to be without Kiba?”

“No, son.”

“But Anika is so young...”

“She is just a few months younger than you. She can do more than you would think.” Tsume glanced at her watch.

“Alright, I hate to break this up, but I have a lot to do tomorrow, so I am going inside. Shibi, you need to go home as well. Boys, I expect you to be out of here in under an hour. No fooling around, either! Don’t forget I can smell it on you.” Shino colored against Kiba, glad he hadn’t turned around.

“Goodnight, boys. My love.” Shibi gave Tsume a chaste kiss and made the hand signs for a teleportation jutsu. With a poof he was gone. Tsume walked out the door after giving Kiba a look that just screamed ‘obey me!’ and pointing to her watch.

“Shino, they’re gone.” Kiba poked him. “Come on, let me see you.” Shino tentatively lifted his head and was at once pinned under Kiba on the couch. “Gotcha” was all that was said as Kiba latched his mouth onto Shino’s. Shino responded instantly, harshly, shoving his tongue into Kiba’s mouth. They made out for a few minutes until a sharp rapping on the window startled them. Hana was standing there.

“Mom wants you inside now!”

“Yeah, yeah I’ll be in!” Hana turned around and went inside. Shino sat up and put his clothes to rights.

“See you tomorrow?”

“Yep.” With a hug and quick kiss, the two parted ways and headed to their respective homes.