CHAPTER 2
"So do you want me to take you to the clinic?" I asked Kohaku over breakfast.
"Would you? That would be great, let me just get ready." Kohaku smiled getting up.
I waited for Kohaku at the door; something just didn't seem right about her. There was something missing.
"Fuckin hell!" came Kohaku's voice. "I will fuckin tear this open if it doesn't god forsaken fuckin open, bastard!"
Ah yes her colorful language that was what was missing. I grinned as Kohaku came towards me trying to get the pouch around her waist to open.
"Goddamn zipper." she muttered. I reached for the zipper, my fingers brushing against hers. Suddenly it was all silent; Kohaku moved her hand away as I opened the zipper for her.
"Thanks Kibi" she said brightly cutting the silence.
"Come on lets get going then." I put my hands behind my head as Akamaru followed me.
"So what are you doing today?" Kohaku asked.
"Why are you asking me out?" I grinned. She playfully punched my shoulder. I winced. Ow. That hurt.
"No." she snorted. "I want to know where I should go afterwards."
"I'll just come pick you up." I shrugged.
"Why are you taking me out on a date?" she shot back.
"Ha-ha, funny." I said sarcastically.
"Yo kiba!" oh dear god. Naruto? Why now?
"Hi Naruto." I muttered. Naruto was staring at Kohaku who was looking at me
Kohaku gasped lightly.
"Wait…Naruto? Is that you?" she wondered.
"Um yeah, but I don't know you. I'm sure I'd remember someone with your looks." Naruto grinned.
"It's me Kohaku. Takashi Kohaku."
Naruto's eyes widened as he gaped at Kohaku.
"Haku-chan?"
"Yep." she grinned. She and Naruto hugged.
"Whoa girl, you look amazing! You look so grown up!"
"Aww thank you Naruto, you look good too."
"Kibi why is that boy all alone?" Kohaku asked the seven year old Kiba.
Kiba looked over to the swing sets where a blond boy was slowly swinging.
"That's Naruto. Nobody around here pays attention to him."
"But why, he looks sad." Kohaku pouted.
"I don't know. They always call him a monster or demon."
"But he doesn't look like a monster. He's just a kid like us." Kohaku then walked over to Naruto sitting on the swing set next to him. The child Naruto looked at Kohaku, eyes wide.
"Lets see who can swing the highest!" Kohaku giggled, Naruto grinned.
"I bet I can beat you!"
"Nu-uh!"
"Uh-huh!"
Kohaku and Naruto began swinging on the swing set as high as they could go, laughing.
"See I beat you!" naruto punched the air.
"That wasn't fair, next time I'll beat you." Kohaku crossed her arm. Naruto put on the most adorable face ever.
"Really? You'll play with me next time, for real?"
"Of course, you're my friend now." Kohaku smiled.
"Friend?" Naruto breathed.
"Yep. My names Kohaku by the way."
"I'm Naruto."
"Naruto? Like the ramen?" Kohaku laughed, "I love ramen! I love your name."
Naruto laughed "I love ramen too."
"Come on lets go play some more." Kohaku started running, with Naruto laughing behind her.
"Where are you two going?" Naruto asked.
"Kibi is taking me to the clinic. I'm going to be helping out there from now on."
"Kibi? Still using his nickname I see. Well I'll join you guys." Naruto laughed.
He and Kohaku began talking and catching up as we all walked towards the clinic.
"So how's everyone else? Sakura, Hinata, Shikamaru, Choji, Shino, Ino, you know the whole gang."
"They're doing great, everyone's chunin now." Naruto grinned.
"That's amazing. I remember when we were all just little kids. Oh I can't wait to see everyone." Kohaku gushed.
"Here's the clinic." I said then. Naruto said goodbye to us and Kohaku, Akamaru and I went inside. Kohaku's cheery expression changed then as she made her way to the back of the clinic. She opened the doors, bursting in.
"Sanjo!" she said running up to the giant grey dog. "How are you, girl?"
"Hey Sanjo, remember us?" I said softly petting her head and Akamaru whimpered. Sanjo barked and reached up to lick my hand, I chuckled.
"See Sanjo. Kibi and Akamaru are here. Everything is going to be okay." Kohaku snuggled against the dog. Both Akamaru and I could sense Sanjo's sickness and she was in a weak state. I felt bad for Kohaku, but surely Sanjo would feel better soon.
Hell, I don't know what I would do if Akamaru fell sick like that.
"Oh hey Kohaku." Hana came in.
"Hi Hana-san. So how is she?" Kohaku asked her eyes sad.
"She's one brave girl, that's for sure." Hana smiled. To me it seemed as though she were avoiding the real question.
"Why don't you go put on a coat and we can get started?" Hana suggested.
Kohaku nodded lightly kissing Sanjo's fur before she left.
"How is she really?" I asked frowning.
Hana sighed "Not good. Not good at all. She's developed some sort of disease. It's not contagious or anything, heck I'm not sure what it is, but I know that this is only the first stage. If this continues…we may have to put her down."
"No!" I growled.
"I don't want to. I know how important Sanjo is to Kohaku. We all love Sanjo; we were the ones who gave her to Kohaku along with Akamaru for you. But we might have no choice."
"Well make some choices. I won't stand around and let Kohaku suffer anymore." I gritted my teeth, my fists clenching.
"Hey Hana, there are a few patients outside that just arrived." Kohaku came in just then.
"Right." Hana nodded, shooting me a warning look before she left.
"You okay Kibi?" Kohaku asked.
"Yeah, fine. I have to go to training with Shino and Hinata. I'll pick you up afterwards; we can go to Ichiraku Ramen. Naruto will be there and I'll try to get some of our friends."
"That would be great. Thanks Kibi." Kohaku beamed. I smiled at her and waved goodbye.
"Kiba-kun is something wrong?" Hinata asked me during practice; even Shino came up to us.
"No, sorry you guys just a bit out of it today." I shook my head. "Kohaku is here by the way. You guys remember her right?"
"Kohaku? Indeed." Shino answered
"Oh, kohaku-chan? That's great I've missed her. She's been gone for so long." Hinata smiled softly.
Hinata stood shyly away from the other kids, shuffling her feet and twirling her fingers.
"Hi, you're Hinata right?" asked a dark haired girl.
"H…hai" Hinata answered timidly.
"Why don't you play with us Hinata-chan?" she smiled.
"I…I d…don't want t…to bother y…you." Hinata blushed, Kohaku giggled.
"Silly, you could never bother me or the rest of us; we'd love to have another person to play with."
"O…okay."
"My names Kohaku were going to be good friends Hinata-chan."
"Thank you." Hinata smiled. She realized that she didn't stutter on her words for the first time.
"She's helping out at the clinic with Hana. I told her that I would try to gather some of her old friends around for dinner at Ichiraku. What do you guys think?" Kiba asked.
"Definitely." Hinata nodded her head.
"Sure." Shino answered.
"Whoa that was so cool!" the child Kohaku came jumping towards the boy standing next to a big tree. Kohaku looked at the small bug on the tree.
"You're not scared of bugs?" Shino asked in wonder. Every other girl he'd met would usually run away from him, or look at him in disgust calling him names like bug boy.
"Of course not. They don't harm us." Kohaku answered as she watched the bug land on Shino's hand.
"Some bugs do." Shino pointed out.
"Yeah but you'll protect me from the evil bugs right?" Kohaku laughed, Shino smiled.
"Yes, I will."
After practice, my team and I went to the clinic where Kohaku had just come out.
"Hey kohaku!" I waved grinning.
Kohaku smiled walking up to us. Her eyes widened.
"Hina-chan!" she hugged hinata.
"Haku-chan. We've all missed you so much." Hinata smiled hugging her friend back.
"Me too. Oh shino!" Kohaku turned to hug Shino, who was caught by surprise but slowly, returned her hug. I grimaced slightly but quickly hid it.
"It's nice to see you Kohaku." Shino nodded.
"Look at you guys! You've changed so much." Kohaku was grinning as we all begun walking to Ichiraku Ramen.
It turns out Naruto got the rest of the gang to come as well. Sakura, Ino, Choji, Shikamaru and even the weirdo Sai was there along with Tenten and Lee. Introductions were made and Kohaku talked with everyone. I couldn't help but grin. Kohaku looked so happy as she chatted with the girls; she sat next to me then.
"This is great Kibi. Seeing everyone again just made my day."
"Well everyone's missed you a lot." I told her. She smiled resting a hand on my arm, squeezing. She then went over to talk to Hinata. I sighed, petting Akamaru lightly.
"Its great that Haku-chan is back, huh Kiba?" Naruto asked with a grin.
"…yeah…"
"Kohaku-chan seems like a very nice girl." Lee joined the conversation.
"She is." Naruto, Shino, Choji, Shikamaru and I answered in unison. Lee sweat dropped.
"That was strange." Sai smiled.
"I wonder if she still likes cloud watching?" Shikamaru said, looking thoughtful.
"What are you doing up here?" the child Kohaku asked Shikamaru. They were on a hill and Shikamaru was lying on his back, hands behind his head. He sighed.
"I'm watching the clouds."
"Oh…can I join you?"
"Sure." Shikamaru shrugged. Kohaku grinned and lay down next to Shikamaru looking up at the clouds. She sighed contently, and the two lay there in silence observing the clouds. It wasn't an awkward silence it was peaceful.
"That cloud looks like a bowl of ramen." Kohaku said all of a sudden pointing to the sky.
Shikamaru chuckled, "Yeah well that one looks like a kunai."
Kohaku laughed, "You're right…wait I didn't get your name."
"Shikamaru."
"Shi…it's too long I'm gonna call you shika." Kohaku pouted.
"How troublesome."
"I'm Kohaku."
The two went back to cloud watching.
"Hey you have temari!" Naruto pointed out.
"What a troublesome woman." Shikamaru shook his head. The night went on and I realized that this sort of seemed like a reunion. I mean most of us barely ever see each other anymore, and it's always been this way. Kohaku bringing us all together. Slowly everyone started to head home. Kohaku and I also went back to my house.
"Well that was great." Kohaku smiled yawning a bit.
"Glad you had fun." I said. I was happy that she could take her mind off Sanjo for a while.
"Kibi." she said softly.
"Hm."
"I'm really worried about Sanjo."
"I know." that was all I could say. It hurt me to promise her that everything was going to be okay when it clearly wasn't.
"Hana is going to try a surgical operation on her during the afternoon, to try and force out the disease."
"Akamaru and I will be there." I nodded.
"Thanks Kibi." she said quietly as we reached home. I went to my room after saying goodnight, and Kohaku stayed with Hana talking for a while.
I hated this. I really, really hoped that this surgery would work. I couldn't stand to see Kohaku lose anything else. Especially not Sanjo, she was just too precious to her. I sighed in frustration trying to fall asleep.
