AN: I really wanna thank those who have been following this, favoriting and reviewing. As well as send out a thanks for the PM's that I've gotten about this little fic. You guys are the greatest.

I really want to apologize if there are typos. I do try to use spellcheck, but sometimes my fingers auto type a word that is spelled correctly yet totally wrong for whatever I'm trying to say so.. meh. One day I'll get around to fixing it. But I'll try to keep it to a minimum. ( Crosses fingers. )

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Chapter 4.

The slow sway of the large furry body under her soothed her distracted mind. Hibiki's nearness and familiar chakra filled her with a new sense of belonging and strangely, a purpose.

Even if she didn't understand what was going on, he and his pack mates around her, was a constant reminder that there were others now that depended on her.

It was a good feeling.

She had spent so long feeling like the burden of Team 7. It wasn't until she trained under Lady Tsunade that she had found a place for herself in the village as a medic. And she was damn good at it.

But this was different. This is was Sasuke must have felt like. The last of his Clan. Only to later find out there were others.

Too bad for her there was no others of her Clan, only cousin clans.

There were so many questions. Some she knew she would probably never have answered. Some she wasn't sure if she wanted the answer to.

The couple that she knew as her parents had passed on a couple years ago. A mission gone wrong, as they often do. So she couldn't even ask them how she had come into their lives.

Next was the Hokage, did she know, and if she did… Did she hide it on purpose or did she not know at all, and how would she react?

She sat up then and chanced a look at Kiba. He was on Akamaru's back next to her. Taking his new duties to heart. She had to smile a little at the seriousness of his face as his eyes darted around their surroundings. Inhaling deeply she could only sense the pack and the Inuzuka escorting them back to the Village. She noticed then, his scent. It was a fresh clean scent like dew intermingled with distinct male undertones, and a hint of cookies. She giggled drawing the boy's attention.

"What's so funny Princess?" He raised a brow as he asked.

She frowned at being called Princess, not quite use to it and not sure if she liked it. Then shook her head.

"It's nothing. You just smell like cookies. It's not very manly." She grinned at his scowl. Which only deepened when the sound of others chuckling around him could be heard.

He watched her look forward again, her smile softened as she leaned forward to scratch and ruffle her companions head.

"I like it though, it kind of makes me think of home."

He urged Akamaru forward so she couldn't see the coloring on his cheeks. He didn't know why it made him react that way. And he didn't want her to see him in a moment that might make him look weak or vulnerable. So he tried to cover.

"You probably actually smell the village. It's just on the other side of that tree-line."

She sat up and smiled in relief urging Hibiki to move faster. Home. It was both a depressing and happy feeling.

This was a place that she belonged, and yet it wasn't where she had truly been meant to live. Her parents, or adopted parents were no longer there. So all she had were her friends. But now she had a family. Albeit they were dogs. But they suddenly meant so much to her and she would do whatever she could to protect them and care for them. Even if it meant seeing this through, and reclaiming her birthright. No one could say that Sakura wasn't a determined woman.

She worried for a moment what her other friends would think or say. She couldn't even imagine. And then there was her Master. She better pick up a bottle of Sake before they report in.

"Kiba."

He looked over his shoulder at her, "Yea?"

"I need to stop at my apartment to grab a bottle of sake before we report in." she scratched the back of her head impishly.

Kiba paled in understanding and then nodded. "I'll grab one from my house too."

It was late, almost time to call it a night. The blond woman stretched her arms up above her head and yawned. Maybe she could go to the gambling house for a few hours to relieve some stress for a little bit before she went to bed. It's been a while since she'd been there anyway.

Straightening up the piles of papers on her desk and getting others ready for her perusal when she got back in the morning, she was just about to leave when she felt several chakra signatures approach. A few were familiar, but there were a few that weren't. She sat back down a worried expression on her face. 'Why was he here without Sakura?'

Before the knock came she bellowed out "GET IN HERE!"

There was a pause before the door slowly pushed open and several people filed in. Tsume, Kiba, and their dogs and then Sakura, and another large russet wolf hound.

Tsunade was instantly relieved until she took a good look at Sakura's appearance and then she narrowed her eyes and flicked her gaze to the boy.

"Am I gonna have to hurt you?" she said with a protective malice as she punched a fist into her open palm.

Kiba looked confused as looked around. His mom was laughing quietly and Sakura was blushing but her eye was twitching at the same time as she clenched her fists. Akamaru then yipped quietly and understanding filled him. He put his hands out in defense. "I didn't do it! I swear! It's not what you think!"

"Then why does she look like an Inuzuka now, and why does her chakra seem to be laced into yours?" she drummed her red fingernails on the desk as she looked pointedly between the two teens.

"Oh leave them alone." Tsume said with a hint of mirth in her voice." They didn't do anything like that." Her face relaxed and took on a slightly more serious expression that seemed to be mixed with sadness. Sakura could tell it was for her situation.

"I can see by your surprise to the situation that you were not informed about Sakura's true origins." She let the statement settle in the air. And saw the Hokage's demeanor change instantly to one of worry and concern.

"Her original origins?"

"It seems our Sakura here is actually the last living member of the dog-nin Clan the Inuaoi."

The blondes eyes widened then her voice bellowed out again. "SHIZU…." But before she could finish two bottles of sake were set on her desk and two sheepish looking teens were stepping back. She had to smirk at their brazenness, but didn't complain as she opened one of the bottles and drank directly from it.

"Okay, tell me what happened."

An hour later found the blond woman holding a crying pink haired girl.

Sakura had promised herself that she wouldn't cry. But all of a sudden the reality of it all just hit her, and the tears had begun to flow. Hibiki sat leaning against her while her Master held her. Kiba and Tsume telling the woman what had happened while she stood there letting silent tears flow.

"Okay, Sakura is off active duty. Six hour shifts at the hospital during the week days unless there is an emergency that she has to help with." She pulled back to look at the girl in her arms. "That doesn't mean that you can use any emergency to get out of your clan training. If the staff can't handle then you can stay but if they can you better be high-tailing it to the Inuzuka compound to take care of your responsibilities. Also, " she turned to look at Kiba. " Your new mission is a class A. As of now your guard to Sakura. Now that she is a V.I.P to the dog-nin clans and your already her guard, you can't exactly go on missions that take you away from that duty. If it comes to a point that you need help, let me know and ill assign others to your team."

Feeling the girl stiffen in her arms she looked down to her, "No arguments Sakura, this is an order so deal with it." And then she hugged her tightly and whispered in her ear, "I'm sorry that this happened to you, but you know that we will help you get through this."

Sakura hugged the woman back tightly. Despite everything that had happened. She was glad that she had come to know this woman.

Growling she opened her eyes and turned to see that the clock on her nightstand read 2:30 a.m. 'What the hell?!' she thought. It's so loud!

There were creaking noises and muffled voices all around her, coupled with what she could only describe as snoring that could quite possibly be heard throughout the entire village. The sound was grating on her nerves. No matter what she did, it didn't' get better at all. She tried taking some headache medicine, and cringed when she turned on the faucet. Because what should have been a trickle of water sounded like a raging rapids. She was starting to panic, as the sounds seemed to get worse. She heard the pitter-patter of tiny feet within the walls, the chirping sounds of crickets from outside that she decided might as well be living inside her head. That's how loud they were. She started to cry, pulling on her hair in frustration.

Her anxiety alerted the sleeping bodies around her apartment that something was wrong.

Kiba couldn't sleep, something didn't feel right. No matter how hard he tried he just kept tossing and turning. Suddenly a strange feeling overtook him and he sat straight up.

There was something wrong with Sakura. He didn't know what or how he knew, he just knew that she needed help. Getting dressed he dashed out of his house, followed closely by Akamaru. When he got to her apartment he jump up to her balcony and opened the sliding glass door. She was curled up in a ball on the floor surrounded by her pack.

"What's wrong?" He asked them.

"I don't know, she just keeps saying that it's too loud." Hibiki whined. His worry evident.

Kiba looked down at the girl and understood. He sat down and pulled the weeping girl into his lap. "Hey. " He whispered. " I didn't even think about how this might have affects. You're not used to your senses."

Kiba hated to see girls crying. Especially the ones he knew were strong.

Sakura inhaled deeply and was overwhelmed by his scent, the slight peppery masculine smell laced with cookies.

"Sakura" He continued to whisper. "Just focus on one thing. " he felt her head nod against his chest. Not knowing what else to do he stroked her hair in an attempt to soothe her.

'Focus on one thing' she told herself. That's what he had said to do. She gripped his shirt as the sounds continued to grate on her.

Da-dump, da-dump.

She squeezed her eyes tighter and pressed herself closer to his chest.

Da-dump, da-dump.

She tried to drown out everything but the sound against her ear. The steady beat of his heart filled her mind and soon all she could hear was that.

Da-dump, da-dump.

She let it surround her and ease the ache in her brain, until all she was aware of was that beat and the warmth that emitted from the chest she rested against.

Da-dump, da-dump.

And then all was silent as she drifted off to sleep.

Click.

Her eyes opened. She was in bed. Her arm wrapped around a large furry body. Hibiki.

She stretched out then cuddled into her pillow, her hand under her cheek . She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

Cookies.

The scent startled her as her eyes flashed open once again, as the memories of last night flooded her. Kiba had been there. He had helped her focus.

Blushing profusely at the memory of falling asleep in his arms no less Sakura groaned and sat up.

That clicking sound must have been the door. He probably just left. Right before she woke up. Which meant…..

He had stayed the whole night to make sure she was okay.

He must have left because he knew I'd be embarrassed…..

"Yeah right Akamaru, If I stayed she would have punched me. No thanks. She would have woken up like 'WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY HOUSE!'" He walked down the street with his arms folded behind his head. "I might be her protector, but who's going to protect me from her?" The boy yawned.

"I better get a nap in before she gets to the compound. She was starting to wake up before we left. I figure we got at least two hours before she get there." He sighed and then began to run. "We better hurry back home."

An hour and a half later Sakura found herself in front of the Inuzuka compound, followed closely by Hibiki and the rest of her pack. Taking a deep breath she steeled herself. "Here goes nothing." And she knocked on the door.

Tsume opened it and ushered her into the house with Hibiki, but halted the rest. "you lot stay on the porch, and keep others away. Kuromaru will stay with you." The large dog walked past her and sat in front of the door, while Sakura's pack took up flanking positions and sat on the porch next to him. Tsume had to admit that Hibiki had led them well.

She closed the door and turned towards Sakura.

KIba was just coming down the stair yawning looking bleary-eyed and a complete mess. She noticed the guilt in the girl's eyes before she got her attention again.

"I've called for an emergency meeting that starts in half an hour. There is an inkling as to what's happened. And only our clan knows that a Royal is alive. It couldn't be helped. When you chose Kiba, all the dogs on the compound began howling. "

"They did?" Kiba said surprised.

"Yup. Kuromaru said they could feel the change in the chakra in the air. The dogs can sense things way before we can. And soon the rest of the clan will too. Just not quite yet."

"What do you mean the clan will sense things?" Sakura asked, her voice laced with worry.

"Well, your transformation isn't complete. As is your bond to Hibiki. As soon as that happens you'll probably start to exhibit your true gifts as an Inuaoi, as well as your clan markings becoming permanent. The ones you gave Kiba will likely become somewhat more prominent as well. Right now, while they are clearly visible, the pale in comparison to full blown guard marks. But I suspect that's because you haven't fully come of age and because you're not bonded."

"This seems really complicated." The pink-haired girl rubbed her temples.

"It's gonna be okay Princess." The older woman grinned and ruffled the girl's hair. Which made the pink-haired girl scowl and the woman laugh.

"Alright, Kiba bring her to the meeting in twenty minutes. I'm gonna head over there and get things ready. Bring Kuromaru, and send him in when you get there so I know your there."

Kiba nodded and the woman left the two teens.

"You okay Sakura?"

The girl shrugged. " I'm not sure I have a choice."

He nodded in understanding. " I know it's a lot to take in, but our clan will help you get through this, and I'll protect you."

She didn't answer, she just sat there staring out the window while she stroked Hibiki's head.

The minutes slipped by until it was time to go.

"Come on Princess, it's time." Kiba turned and opened the door, and as he started to lead the way out, a small hand grabbed ahold of his. He turned to see Sakura's worried expression.

"I'm scared." She said softly.

He squeezed her hand reassuringly , "Don't worry. I'll help you get through this."

"Kiba…"

"Yea?"
"Thank you….." she blushed. "For…everything." She gave him a pointed glance. And he knew that she wasn't just talking about now. She was thanking him for last night too.

"If…something like that happens again…just, .. " she chewed her lips slightly. "Just sleep on the couch, okay?"

"Deal." He grinned "Now let's go Princess! Time to create a little mayhem with the geezers!"