A/N: Gah, I know that this chapter is short. The next one will be longer, though.

Chapter Four: Visitors

"There will be a change of pace today, Shino," Sakura informed her patient, as she entered the room. "You have a visitor-"

Two figures dashed into the room before Sakura could even finish her sentence. In the rush, one of the figures had knocked the pink haired nin aside, but she was on her guard, so she managed to keep her balance. Hey! screeched Inner Sakura. This is a hospital! However, her patient soon became her main concern, because the smaller figure grappled Shino into a death-grip hug.

"Shino! You're alive! You're okay! You're alive!" gushed Shino's best friend and teammate, Inuzuka Kiba. His gigantic dog Akamaru panted at his side.

"Kiba. . ." choked Shino, struggling to breathe. Suddenly aghast, Kiba released the Aburame heir.

"Wait a minute, it wasn't. . . something I said, right?" Before Shino even had the chance to respond, Kiba panicked. "Shino! Whatever I said, I seriously did not mean it! I take it back, I swear! You know me, Shino, I'm always kidding around; so you need to never take me seriously ever again!"

"Kiba, it wasn't you."

"What?" Kiba began to feel relieved. "You didn't try to kill yourself because of me? So I didn't say something wrong?"

"No," answered Shino as he gently massaged his temples, "you are a mere annoyance in some occasions, and a good friend in general."

"Wow, Shino, do you mean it?" said Kiba, a wide grin stretched across his feral visage, "That was-"

"Don't hug him!" Sakura yelled, stepping between the two shinobi. Apparently, some of Inner Sakura's caustic personality had leaked to her outer ego.

"Well," Kiba said, backing away slowly, "you certainly are acting like a bitch protecting her young pup." Kiba faltered under Sakura's icy glare, and he hastily added, "By bitch, I mean female dog!"

For the next hour, the two teammates caught up with each other, and reminisced about the "good times." Of course, Kiba tried pestering Shino into telling him about his "problems," but Sakura would have none of it. Nevertheless, Kiba was happy to see that Shino was smiling more often (three times versus none) and participating more in conversations.

"I don't know what you did to him," commented Kiba, leaning his chair back on two legs, "but it's working, Sakura."

"How sweet of you, Kiba," Sakura responded cheerily, as she pushed Kiba's chair into its upright position.

"I think," said Shino quietly, "that it was the fact that people are showing concern for me." Smiling warmly, Sakura sat down in her wooden stool, and she scooted it closer to Shino. Suddenly, Akamaru appeared between the two ninja and placed a kiss on Shino's mouth. Sakura laughed heartily, and in response, Akamaru abandoned Shino to lick Sakura's face. The gigantic dog bounded upon the unsuspecting kunoichi, knocking her off the stool. Kiba let out bark-like laughter as Akamaru licked her cheeks.

"Ha ha, I would call him off, but this is too much fun," chuckled Kiba, wiping away tears of mirth. Sakura heaved the humongous canine off of her lithe body and stood up.

"Well," sighed Sakura, as she straightened her clothes, "Shino has another visitor coming here in approximately fifteen minutes, but I didn't catch her name."

"Another visitor?" inquired Shino. "Is it-"

"Nope," Kiba interjected, "she's on a mission with her cousin."

"Then who. . ." Shino stopped in mid-sentence. Both men slowly turned their heads towards each other, their features ridden with fear (Kiba's to a greater degree, by far). Sakura furrowed her delicate brows. Who are they thinking about? she wondered.

"Not her!" groaned Kiba, scowling. "Well, if it is her, then I'm gonna leave!"

"Lucky," growled Shino, "you actually have that option." In response, Kiba childishly stuck out his tongue. Sakura deftly grabbed Kiba's wrist to halt his exit.

"Hold on a moment!" ejaculated Sakura, "Who are you talking about? Is she really this bad?"

"Oh," Kiba snickered lightly, "we're referring to Shino's fiancée." The dog lover noted the Sakura's perpetual confused expression. "What? Didn't Shino mention his 'wonderful' fiancée?"

"He did," said Sakura, her voice still stained with confusion, "but all he said was that she was 'interesting.'" Kiba let out a harsh laugh.

"Oh yeah, she's interesting, all right. Of course, there are much better ways to describe her."

"Excuse me for being vague," sighed Shino with an exasperated shrug. Kiba headed for the door, signaling for his trusty companion Akamaru to follow. He gripped the handle of the door, but he turned back around to the others for his salutation.

"A better word for her is man-eater."