Koji regretted taking the late shift, rather than the first one, because that meant he had to sleep for a few hours right after dinner. And he really wasn't feeling like he would be able to do that.
He also couldn't believe how lucky he was.
Sure, having to give up this camp wasn't a good thing, and it would require a lot of time to set up a new one. That part sucked.
But beyond that? He felt like the luckiest guy in the whole damn world.
Why? Well, because of Yuki.
She was just so amazing, so damn perfect. Everything about her was just great—the way she sat, the way she spoke, the way she always looked at him, the way she looked at other things, her eyes, the way she just saw everything. And still, it felt like her eyes never left him.
Even when she teased him—especially when she teased him—it made his heart pound like back when he first entered the kennels to find a partner.
But that wasn't all, also the way she was so accepting of him, so open with him. Even when he fucked it all up, and started to touch her right out in the open, she didn't push him away, she accepted him, the good and the bad.
She was perfect in every way; he couldn't stop thinking about her.
Every time he closed his eyes, he didn't see the camp or the rivers or any looming Suna threat. He saw Yuki sitting in his lap, leaning back against him, calm as anything, like it was the most natural thing in the world. Like he was her natural place to rest.
However, before he had to worry about sleeping, there was something else he had to do first.
"Please Kuro! I need you to help me out here," he begged, hands clasped like he was praying to some ancient canine spirit.
Kuro lay stretched out near the firepit, head resting lazily on his front paws. His ears twitched, but he didn't move.
"Kuro…" Koji leaned in closer, lowering his voice. "Come on, don't make me beg harder. I'll owe you. Extra snacks, better grooming, the good jerky."
Still nothing.
Koji sighed dramatically, flopping forward onto his knees beside him. "Please. Buddy, partner, I can't stand this, you know how bad I got it, and Yuki agreed to do it tonight, but only if you are awake to keep watch."
Kuro cracked open one eye and gave him the most unimpressed stare an Inuzuka ninken had ever delivered.
"Oh, I know exactly how bad you got it," he said, his deep, growly voice laced with smug amusement. "You've been radiating desperate puppy energy since she sat on your lap."
Koji groaned and slapped a hand over his face. "Don't say it like that."
"I will absolutely say it like that," Kuro replied, finally lifting his head and giving an exaggerated yawn. "You froze like a squirrel in a lightning storm. I'm shocked you didn't pass out."
Koji pointed a finger at him. "That's not fair. She took me by surprise, I mean, who would have guessed she would suddenly do that?"
"I could have told you." Kuro said smugly. "I know Yuki even better than you do; she tells me everything."
Koji narrowed his eyes. "Big talk, but I know how she feels, inside! Something you can't top, so I win!"
"You win?" Kuro's grin widened—well, as much as a wolfish snout could grin. "Guess I will sleep well tonight, all night long."
Koji would have tripped over himself if he had been walking, because, damn, that couldn't be allowed! He needed Kuro to help him out, or his night would be ruined!"
Kuro saw the panic set in and let it stew for a delicious few seconds before casually licking his paw, as if the fate of Koji's entire evening wasn't hanging on his next words.
"You wouldn't," Koji said, voice strained.
"Oh, but I might," Kuro drawled. "I've earned it, don't you think? After all the emotional support I've given you. All the delicious details I have given you about Yuki."
"You mean all the times you let me make a fool of myself so you could laugh later," Koji muttered.
"Semantics," Kuro said, lounging back with smug serenity. "Besides, you've got it good. She sat on your lap. She leaned back. She gave you food. You got hand-fed and didn't even pass out from excitement. I should be proud. I should reward you."
Koji brightened slightly. "So you'll do it?"
Kuro paused, savoring the moment. Then he said, "No."
"WHAT?" Koji forgot to keep his voice down, shouting loudly enough to have both Haruto and Arata look over at where he was sitting.
Thankfully for him, they quickly looked away again, giving him a tiny bit of privacy.
"I said no," Kuro repeated, clearly enjoying himself. "Not unless you agree to a few things at least."
Koji stared at him, slack-jawed. "You're blackmailing me?"
"Emotional taxation," Kuro corrected, with the air of a wise old monk. "Payment due for services rendered, and future stress endured on your behalf."
Koji buried his face in his hands. "You're impossible."
"Ah, but she likes me more than she likes you," Kuro said, stretching with a lazy grin. "So really, I win."
"You're not even competing!"
"Then why are you so upset that you're losing?"
Koji growled under his breath. "Fine. What do you want?"
Kuro rolled onto his back and raised a paw. "I get to mess with you as much as I want, and I get to mess with Yuki as well."
"Leave her out of it," Koji said quickly, jaw tightening. "Mess with me all you want, but she's not a toy."
Kuro rolled lazily his eyes. "Oh please, we are all one big family, aren't we? So I should get to tease her, unless you don't think we are all that close?"
Koji grit his teeth, he didn't like the idea of allowing Kuro to play around with Yuki, but… messing with family was normal for his clan, so, if he wanted Yuki to be family, she would have to endure it from the entire clan, more so since she was a Hyūga.
Just the thought of becoming family with Yuki, marrying her, and starting a family made his neck turn red and his heart skip a beat.
"Fine," he finally gave in. "But only because Yuki seems to be the type that wouldn't mind it." And he didn't think she would. She seemed so open to everything, constantly teasing him, and not minding his actions in return, so he figured it would be okay.
Kuro's ears perked up. "Good answer," he said with a slow, satisfied nod. "You're learning. See? This is how you survive a relationship—equal parts devotion, sacrifice, and strategic surrender."
Koji grumbled something incoherent and dropped onto his back beside the fire, arms folded behind his head, trying to act casual. But in truth, he wanted to curse Kuro for acting all wise, even though he had never been in a relationship either.
"So, you agree to help then?"
"I didn't say that," Kuro quickly denied.
"What? But you promised!" Koji cried out.
"Not fast, I have one more requirement, and if you agree, your night will surely be unforgettable."
Kuro let the silence hang heavy and dramatic, his feral eyes glinting with impish satisfaction.
Koji sat up slowly, warily. "What… kind of requirement?"
Kuro stretched luxuriously, clearly enjoying dragging things out. "It's simple," he said at last. "If I have to stay awake and around while you and Yuki have fun, I get to watch, and comment, and you can't say anything about it, you need to have my back."
Koji looked like someone had just threatened to set his entire clan compound on fire.
"You want to what?"
Kuro grinned, his fangs flashing just slightly in the firelight. "You heard me. Full commentary privileges. I want the freedom to make observations, real-time narration, and post-watch reviews. Think of it as… enriching the experience for everyone involved."
"You're not a nature documentary!" Koji hissed, voice strained and panicked. "That's creepy! That's—"
"Creepy?" Kuro scoffed. "I am your most trusted partner, and Yuki trusts me as well. She even exposes herself before me, don't forget that I was the first one to see her tight little pussy."
Koji couldn't help but growl possessively at his words, even if they were true. "There is something so wrong with you."
"Oh? Is that a no, I hear? I guess we will all have a peaceful, boring evening then, and don't forget, Yuki asked me to be awake, you think she won't know I might look, hell, I'm sure she wants it." Kuro said with a teasing tone.
"Fuck" Koji cursed. "Why do you even care?"
Finally, Kuro went all serious, making Koji sit up straighter himself. "Two words." He said, pausing, the tension making Koji swallow hard. "Pack mates."
…
Koji felt like he had entered a deal with a demon, yet he had no other choice; either he agreed to Kuro's demands, or he would regret it for a lifetime. Still, he didn't like it, but a small, tiny part of him couldn't help but repeat those two words again and again as he tried to fall asleep.
Not far from him, Haruto and Arata were keeping watch, and the two of them kept quiet; they never spoke much, often just chatting among themselves. Now, however, they said nothing, just looking into the fire to give the rest of the team a chance to sleep.
It was kind of them, but Koji couldn't sleep, not with Yuki so close by; he couldn't help but sneak peeks at her. Even under her blanket, he could still see her long white hair, like a snowy background always framing her.
…He couldn't help but focus on her steady breathing and heartbeat, her soft scent drifting just barely on the wind. It calmed something in him, even as it stirred something else.
Koji rolled onto his side, clutching his blanket tighter.
He knew he needed sleep, to get as much rest as he could before it was their time to watch, once more, he cursed himself for taking the second watch, if not for that… he would already be enjoying himself together with Yuki.
…
Eventually, Haruto nudged him awake with a quiet grunt and a jerk of the head.
His turn.
Koji blinked, groggy, and sat up slowly. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and reached for his vest. The fire was burning low, the forest beyond it quiet. Calm. Peaceful.
Yuki was already waiting for him near the edge of camp.
She sat there, her back turned towards him, the white hair covering her back, next to her, Kuro said, his back fur a sharp contrast to her whiteness.
As he watched the two of them, a hand suddenly landed on his shoulder, drawing his attention. Causing him to look back, seeing both Haruto and Arata looking at him.
"Listen here, Koji," Haruto started, "We like Yuki, we do, she is a good girl, she deserves to be happy."
"We wouldn't want her to be sad." Arata took over. "We think you can make her happy, but keep in mind, you need your head in the game out there, you do that, and we don't have any problems, you do that, and we will support you, because, the path before you won't be easy, but, we support you."
Koji stared at them, both surprised and touched. He opened his mouth, but it took a second before anything came out.
"I… yeah. I won't screw it up. I swear," he said at last, voice low but steady.
Haruto gave a quiet nod. "Good."
Arata patted his shoulder once more, then turned to follow Haruto back toward their bedrolls.
Koji stood in silence for a moment longer, the words we support you echoing in his mind like a solemn promise. It meant more than he could say. Maybe they weren't the closest team, but moments like that… they were everything.
He finally made his way toward Yuki, feeling a little more grounded than before.
"Sorry if I kept you waiting," he said softly as he approached.
Yuki didn't turn, but she spoke just as softly. "Seems like you made Kuro agree, so let's give the others a bit to fall asleep, okay?"
He swallowed hard, already feeling his pants getting tight as he nodded his head. "Yeah, I can wait."
"You aren't fooling anyone, Koji, you smell of desperation already." Kuro barked at him, earning him a scratching behind the ear from Yuki.
"Sit." She said, petting the ground next to her with her remaining free hand.
"It's a trap, Koji, That's not your seat." Kuro barked just as he was about to sit down, causing him to freeze for a moment.
Indeed, he was allowing himself to fall into her rhythm, and he couldn't allow that, not if he wanted to prove himself to her, prove himself worthy of being the alpha. So instead, he reached down, lifted Yuki up, and sat down, placing her in his lap. "Thanks, I think I will." He said, trying not to sound as nervous and embarrassed as he was.
Yuki stiffened for a moment, clearly taken aback by my surprise at his action, even he was surprised by his own boldness. Yet, she did nothing to stop him, she didn't try to move, she just accepted it.
Eventually, Yuki just relaxed against them, and the two of them sat like that, just enjoying the closeness.
(End of chapter)