A/N: I'm typing this while I listen to my son read Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls out loud. If you've never read it, do so, it's brilliant! Also, so far as my studying goes, The Japanese Way: Aspects of Behavior, Attitudes and Customs of the Japanese by Noriko Takada and Rita L. Lampkin is an excellent teacher! Anata-How a wife refers to her husband when speaking to him…no they're not married, but in my eyes five years together is close enough. Mochiron-of course!, Gomen nasai-most respectful way of apologizing
Disclaimer: Same as before, I'm not Kishimoto.
Chapter 2
Despite being cleaned by the nurses, when Sakura first saw Kiba's face all she was able to make out of his features were his eyes. He had a wide gash beside his left eye and a broken nose, his torso was a mess of torn flesh and thick red fluid. Kiba had been sliced from his shoulder to his navel; which at a first glance appeared to have missed all his vital organs, but Sakura knew better than to put her faith in first impressions. However, the way his leg stuck out at an odd angle left no question in her mind that it was broken. If a skilled jounin was this injured, she wondered how bad off the genin must be.
"Has he been given anything?" She asked exhaling slowly, trying and failing to forget just who was on the operating table.
"Hai Haruno-san, .68mg of fentanyl, and 68mg of versed. Due to the damage we thought a twilight sleep would be best."
Sakura nodded taking another deep breath and concentrated on directing chakra to her hands. When her power was almost at it's max, she felt something touch her hip. Looking down she saw Kiba's fingertips grazing her shirt.
"I'm here, anata." She whispered laying her chakra-infused hands onto his wounded chest.
o-o-o
Hours later, an exhausted Sakura appeared in the waiting room to find a large group of people anxious for news on Kiba's condition. Kiba's mother, Inuzuka Tsume sat with his sister, Hana. Their eyes were red-rimmed, and Tsume's normally fierce expression was replaced with one of agony. Next to them sat Kiba's former sensei, Sarutobi Kurenai and her young son Asumaru. Across the aisle huddled Kiba's former teammates, a stone-faced Aburame Shino and a devastated looking Hyuuga Hinata who was clutching the hand of her fiance, Uzumaki Naruto.
It was Shino who first noticed Sakura's entrance. His gasp alerted the others who also stared at the medic waiting to find out how the Dog-Nin had fared.
"Sakura-chan?" Naruto's blue eyes were searching hers looking for good news.
"He's going to be out of commission for about a month, but he'll be fine," Sakura smiled dazedly.
A cheer erupted from the group and hugs were passed around, Shino collapsing with relief into a chair, Hinata burying her face in Naruto's chest. Tsume stood and walked shakily towards her son's girlfriend.
"I wasn't sure at first you know," the older woman admitted taking Sakura into her arms. "But Kiba kept telling me over and over that you were the one. Gomen nasai," she choked. "I never should have doubted."
With that, the otherwise formidable kunoichi collapsed into tears on Sakura's shoulder. Her daughter Hana came over and put her arm around Sakura hugging her tightly.
"You're part of the family now, so as soon as a pup's available it's yours. Don't worry," she laughed at Sakura's wide eyes. "We don't expect you to become an Inuzuka overnight. Now," she asked the question on everyone's mind. "When will we be able to see my brother?"
Sakura smiled and patted Tsume's back.
"He's being moved right now, so give him about fifteen minutes to get settled. If he's awake he'll be really groggy, so don't expect too much from him for a few hours."
"I need to go home first anyway," Tsume sniffed. "There's something I need to get, something he's been asking for."
"I'll sit with him," Hana volunteered. "When he does come 'round he'll be wondering about Akamaru." She nodded her head at Sakura. "You should probably get some rest too, you look like you're about ready to drop."
Sakura agreed, knowing only too well how close she was to collapsing.
"Tell him I'll be by to see him soon."
o-o-o
When Sakura opened her eyes, it was with a great deal of shock that she read the clock on the table.
"3am?" She breathed.
How could she have slept for seven hours? Did Shizune know? She'd be furious!
"Shimatta," she grunted sliding her feet into her sandals.
Opening the door, Sakura very nearly trampled the one person she'd hoped most to avoid.
"So you're finally awake," Shizune smirked while Sakura picked her jaw up off the floor. "It's okay, I called in Ino-san to cover you , I know that was exhausting. What you did taxed you not only physically but emotionally. It's always hard with a loved one, you needed your rest."
Sakura blushed slightly as she bowed.
"Arigatou gozaimasu, Shizune-san," she said gratefully. "I was hoping to stop in and see Kiba before I start my rounds, if it's okay."
There was a sparkle of something Sakura didn't recognize in the dark haired woman's eyes.
"Mochiron," she smiled patting Sakura on the shoulder. "I think that's a wonderful idea. He's in Room 119, I already stopped in earlier to tell him about his team. Don't worry, they're fine." She laughed and Sakura sighed with relief. "Though none of them will be up to training anytime soon."
Sakura bowed feeling sad for the group of genin. Kiba had been training them hard for almost two years, he'd promised them they could take part in the next Chuunin Exam. It now looked like another six months before they'd be up to competing. Fighting the urge to run, Sakura walked as quickly as she could through the corridors to room 119. Inhaling deeply she knocked on the door before sliding it open.
