WHOA! It has been quite awhile since my last installment. Don't worry, I haven't given up. I'm still working on my crap. Well, here is the latest in the NaruKiba fanfiction, the second chapter of "I Care". YAY! I don't own any Naruto stuff. Enjoy! (R&R) ;)

Naruto was staring up at the mahogany ceiling, wondering how he had gotten into this situation in the first place. As it was, he couldn't completely make sense of the event that led to this moment. But thinking wasn't his strongest attribute. All he needed to know was that he was safe and warm.

Another minute in the endless void of thought that the blonde had been in passed as the very loyal brunette that he owed his life to walked into the privacy of his room. The sun had set for the day, and the rain was coming down a little harder now. The wind whipped the shades of the Inuzuka residence as Kiba entered the room given to the ailing Naruto. In fact, it had been his room. In his bed, the ill Naruto rested until he would be able to walk again. The brunette wasted no time in running over to secure the shades from being taken away from their relatively weak position in front of his windows.

"Are you cold, Naruto?" the concerned Inuzuka asked his guest.

The blonde managed to muster a weak smile and an even weaker head shake. He cuddled more into the comforter that kept him warm. Kiba watched from a distance, his mind still a ramble of thoughts. As much as he wanted to believe that Naruto would stay with him now that he knew how the brunette felt about him, he couldn't shake the feeling that the hyperactive ninja, now almost comatose, would leave him again. It had been eating away at him since the first kiss.

Kiba walked over the edge of his bed and gently prodded his hand over the curve of Naruto's form, causing the latter to shudder.

"Naruto, are you cold?" the brunette asked again. This time, Naruto didn't answer.

'I wonder what he's thinking.' Kiba thought to himself. He looked over at the nightstand where he found a half eaten meal growing colder.

"Naruto?" again the brunette hoped to get the other's attention, but still the body in front of him did not move.

"Naruto, answer me." he demanded silently. Still the blonde decided not to respond.

Growing impatient and concerned, Kiba decided to crawl into bed with his sickly beloved.

As he sunk his knee into the bed's edge, the mattress squeaked and fell lower to adjust to his weight, this time the sudden movement caught Naruto by surprise as he felt his body fall closer to the stalking Inuzuka.

It hadn't been a physical illness that gripped the smaller boy now. it was a pain that struck him hardest in his heart. His best friend betrayed him, almost killed him, and left him to die in a strange place. It would've been enough to murder even the strongest warrior inside.

In that regard, Kiba had all the sympathy in the world for his friend. If Akamaru did that to him, he would be devastated.

The blonde's careless and dangerous obsession with bringing the Uchiha back scared the canine-nin. He knew that Naruto would never give up until he either brought Sasuke back, or died trying.

"Naruto?" Kiba nudged the body curled in a tight ball. He knew Naruto was awake. There was no sense in him denying it, although he was sure the blonde wanted to make it seem that way just so he could avoid answering him.

"Come on Naruto, answer me." Kiba started to nudge his body into the blonde. His hand gently caressed the chilling teen to respond.

"Naruto…I know you miss him." for some reason it hurt to say that.

"But he'll come back. I'll help you look…if that's what you want." Kiba reassured.

Nothing. No response whatsoever from Naruto. His breathing started to change. It became steadier. Kiba's exploring hand stopped over the other's hip, fisted the comforter and yanked it away for the briefest instant to allow him to slip under its canopy and cuddle closer to the hurting teen.

"I promise." Kiba whispered before placing a puppy kiss over Naruto's neck.

He hated Sasuke, like most of the other rookie nine. He hated what he did to the village. Kiba hated him because he took Naruto's attention away from him. there was a whole list of reasons why he would hope the Uchiha was gone forever.

"Kiba…" finally the shattered teen muffled against the covers.

The brunette pressed his heaving body further into Naruto's back, afraid that all he had done, all that he had confessed and in turn earned from his coveted blonde was all for nothing.

"…thanks." Naruto squirmed his way free of the brunette's embrace and stepped onto the cold wooden floor. He gathered all of his belongings, dressed himself in his normal orange jumpsuit and searched for his headband.

Kiba sat up in his bed, now cold, staring at his companion and wishing he could just forget about Sasuke for two seconds and come back to bed with him.

Kiba watched intently as his friend stood securely and fastened his clothing over his body and tried to tighten his Konoha headband, but swayed back and forth trying to do so.

"Hey, where are you going?" Kiba asked.

"I'm going out to find him." the blonde retorted.

The cold air rushed in under the blankets that were missing one body underneath their protective embrace. Kiba eased himself to the edge of the bed, close to the still swaying Naruto as he readied to catch the teen should he need help.

"Naruto, you can't, you aren't well enough stupid."

"I have to try." Naruto started his uneasy trek to the door, his heels colliding every other step. His head spun, his cheeks flared and his body ached with untold illness. Naruto didn't make it far when he felt the full consequence of his illness. His knees quaked and his palms started to sweat.

Kiba jumped from his perch on the bed and immediately entwined his arms around Naruto's lithe waist, cradling his head over the other's right shoulder.

Kiba clung to Naruto, encouraging him to hold him back. He moved the weaker teen's arms around his waist, silently asking him to stay. He didn't know what else to do.

Kiba had never been one to exhibit emotions towards anyone else, his canine instincts forbade him to develop any meaningful attachments with anybody. This was all new to him. he asked Naruto to stay with him the only way he knew how, by physically keeping him in place.

"Don't go." the brunette pleaded.

"What about…?" the blonde stuttered.

"I'll help you find Sasuke. I promised didn't I? But for right now…just stay." Kiba started to pull Naruto away from the door and back to the bed. The half awake Naruto danced backwards, allowing his companion to bare the greater part of his weight. Kiba kept his hands over his stomach as he eased the stifled teen back to the bed.

The door moved further and further away from Naruto's view as he felt his body stiffen under the somewhat forceful manipulations of his Inuzuka dragging him back.

The blonde made his place under the covers again, eyeing the other who stood firmly next to the bed's edge, a sullen expression painted over his face. Naruto was pretty stupid, as far as deciphering emotions went. He couldn't even tell that Hinata had a huge crush on him, but for some reason he could sense some restraint in his friend.

The two shared a stern glare, Kiba's fingers danced along the downy edge of the mattress, waiting patiently for consent. He bit his lip nervously, waiting for Naruto to speak to him. Naruto sat up on his elbows, trying to figure out what his friend was so apprehensive about.

Suddenly, Naruto's mind flowed back to the tree. The tree where Kiba had found him, saved him, hugged him and kissed him. Where the two shared their secrets, where the brunette had painstakingly tracked him down, suffered through the harsh weather at the time just to make sure he was safe.

The blonde blushed and passed a playful scoff at the brunette who still had been fidgeting with the covers. He was waiting. Waiting for Naruto to give him permission to sleep with him, just like a noble dog waits for his master to call.

Naruto opened the covers over his bare legs, Kiba's stare widened and his fidgeting ceased.

"Well, are you coming in or not?" Naruto smiled.

Choosing not wait for another invitation that may not come he crawled onto the mattress again, peaceably falling under the comforter and squirming closer to the fabled blonde idiot.

Stealthily, Kiba raced under the comforter before it would close around them.

The brunette hurried next to Naruto, his hips melding against the other, ushering a playful laugh from the kyuubi.

The sound played through Kiba's sensitive ears, filling him with a sense of accomplishment and invincibility, something only the blonde could make him feel.

Flying on his sensation in the moment, Kiba smiled dashingly and swept his arms under the blonde and pulled him into a quick chaste kiss.

Kiba let his eyes fall under the blonde's spell, his tender manipulations creating a burn in his chest and a dizzy effect in his head.

When you call on me

When I hear you breathe

I get wings to fly

I feel that I'm alive

A minute more of easing touches and unexpressed temptation, Kiba pulled away. He couldn't feel his arms. His heart reached into his ears, deafening him. What he could feel was the wildfire surging over his cheeks.

"Oh…I'm sorry." He excused. Two wide azure eyes burned a hole through him, seeking an explanation.

Kiba dismissed his actions with an uncomfortable laugh, hoping Naruto would forget about it.

"What was that for?"

"Well…I thought I already explained this. I like you." it suddenly became warmer.

When you bless the day

I just drift away

All my worries die

I'm glad that I'm alive

"Yeah….hey, you never told me why?"

"Why what?"

"Why you like me."

Kiba nuzzled closer, his curious hand running through the lush forest of gold.

"Do I need a reason?" the brunette quipped.

"You have to have one, don't you?"

"Well…"

The bed sang its added stress when Kiba lifted his body up from his place next to Naruto and ascended up on his hands, rolling his heavy body over the other. Naruto laid petrified under the Inuzuka, his gaze locked into Kiba's sepia crescent eyes.

The blonde's body tensed as he felt Kiba's chafing his lower body.

"…for starters, you're a good friend. At least that's how it started."

"You're smart, maybe not in practical things, but you can be." Naruto pouted.

"You feel warm, you have the most interesting scent…" Kiba descended closer.

"…and you're pretty…" Kiba had gone close enough for the pinned Naruto to close the rest of the distance between them, silencing the other just long enough the grab a quick kiss.

"…cute." Kiba laughed.

"That is so corny." Naruto spat, a deepening smile gracing his features. He seemed to shine, even in the Inuzuka's shadow.

"So what?" Kiba started to chuckle. It was true. What he just said was something so childish, like something out of a cliché fairy tale.

The two started to laugh together, ignoring the creaking floor boards just outside the brunette's bedroom.

"What are they saying?" Chouji asked.

"I don't know! I can't hear them." Shikamaru pressed his ear firmer onto the door.

"You know, I could just use my Byakugan to see what they're doing." Neji added.

"Hey yeah! Go for it." Chouji cheered.

Neji started making the seals with his hands that would let them all know just what was going on the other side of the door.

Just before he could finish….

"I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE OUT THERE! GO AWAY!" Kiba roared from the bed.

"I CAN SMELL YOUR POTATO CHIPS CHOUJI!"

Neji stopped and the other two looked at him, scared.

"Uh…Shikamaru what are you doing? You shouldn't spy on others." Neji said matter-of-factly before running away.

"Chouji, you and your damn chips." Shikamaru grabbed his friend and followed Neji out the door.

The two laid, one on top of the other, Naruto laughing at his protective companion. Kiba's glare softened as he turned away from the door back to his targeted blonde.

Naruto stopped laughing but still had the dumbest smile over his face. Kiba looked into him, and Naruto did the same.

Kiba slowly started to descend again. This time, his heart started to beat even more rampantly in expectation. He could feel his companion's hands tighten around his shoulders, his nails digging into the fabric of his shirt.

Naruto laced his open legs around the Inuzuka's waist, trapping him. He tied his heels together to ensure that Kiba could not escape.

Kiba's lower body pressed harder into Naruto, feeling a sudden strain below his belt line.

Kiba let his fingers dance along Naruto's lithe waist and down to his legs, lifting him further up the Inuzuka's body. Then they traveled up and behind the blonde's shoulder blades.

The air became heavy around them the closer they became.

Kiba took one final look at his companion's feather-soft lips before letting them shut and allowing his body to do the rest.

The kiss started gently, the brunette writhing under his actions. Then, he pressed desperately into Naruto's open mouth, demanding more.

Naruto's hair stood on end when he felt Kiba's greedy tongue enter him and start to taste him, teasing him to fight back.

The blonde responded with even more pressure exerted over the brunette's shoulders and lower body. Naruto moaned savagely the more Kiba charmed him.

The room became saturated with the scent of the two breathing against one another.

In order to avoid asphyxiation, Kiba had to separate, causing his rambunctious friend to whine in disapproval.

Kiba silenced his friend again with another quick kiss, slowly and gingerly working his jacket off. Naruto watched and waited, hoping his clothes would join Kiba's on the floor.

Just as he felt the jacket fall from under his suffocating grasp, Naruto could feel his waist band loosen, with the biggest smile spread over his lips.

The two laid together in the brunette's bed, their clothes discarded sloppily on the floor closest to the foot of the bed.

Kiba held close to his lover, protecting him from the cold and anything else that would threaten him. He let his heavy head absorb the scent of the blonde he held so dear. He stretched his right arm across Naruto's chest, turning him in his sleep to lay his head against his bare chest.

Everything he had done for his lover, everything he did to him, all the moans and the tender embraces and promises he made, he hoped it wouldn't be the end. He promised he would help him find Sasuke, his long lost friend. That's all he hoped it was, just a friendship.

Naruto was his. And he wanted more than anything to keep it that way. He would fight the Uchiha himself if he needed to.

Naruto tossed in his sleep, curling against the naked form that held him. Kiba embraced him harder, a stray tear forcing itself from his control. He let it dance, down his cheek, to his chin, and finally falling into the pelage of sunshine and sunflowers.

"Naruto...are you awake?" he whispered but got no response.

All for the better. Kiba glanced over at the clock next to his bed. Only four more hours before the sun would shine through his open windows. Then, as per his promise, he would have to help Naruto find his friend.

He fought the urge to sleep as best he could. He didn't want to sleep. Every moment he had left with Naruto, he wanted to be awake to appreciate them before his attention would be stolen away by the Uchiha brat.

What had it meant? All the passion Kiba tried to pour onto his kyuubi while he rested in his arms, while he kissed him. Would Naruto still want to be with him? He hoped so.

"Ugh…" Naruto stirred in his sleep again. Kiba stiffened, trying to coax the kyuubi to stay asleep.

"K-Kiba…" the blonde spoke.

"Hey, Naruto." Kiba whispered back.

"What time is it?"

"Almost three o'clock."

"Oh." And with that, the severity of the situation hit them both.

A deafening silence fell between them.

"Kiba?" Naruto spoke.

"Yeah?"

"You are such an idiot."

"Huh? Where did that come from?"

"You're an idiot for liking me."

"I know. But I don't mind being stupid." Kiba smiled. Naruto pressed his lips against his savior's chest and then again over his lips.

Kiba quickly caught his hand around to the back of Naruto's head to keep him in place as the brunette deepened the kiss.

"Hey…Kiba?"

"Yeah?"

"When we find Sasuke…" the brunette's heart sank.

"…how about we go on our first date afterwards?"

Kiba couldn't help but hold Naruto closer after what he said. The brunette almost started to cry again.

"Deal." Kiba closed with another passionate kiss.

It was still another couple of hours before the two would have to get out of bed. Awake they stayed, entwined in each other's arms, keeping each moment they had together sacred before the dawn of a new day would find them as the night left them, more than friends, more than comrades, no less than lovers.

FIN