The Next Morning

We all sort of woke up around eight in morning. I noticed Sakura had joined us on the floor, but she was still asleep. After we all sort of sat up and got moving, sort of. I peered into the basket that Kuromaru had brought. It contained onigiri, bread, butter, jam, and some other things. Since there was enough for every one I started distributing it. After we had eaten Sakura woke up and sat up. Luckily I had saved some food for her.

"Eh, what am I doing here? Did I fall asleep?!"

"Yeah, you must have."

"Oh no, I can't believe I did that!"

She got to her feet.

"Wait, have something to eat. When did you fall asleep? Has anything changed with Yuri?"

She took the food I offered her.

"I don't know what time I fell asleep, but I'm pretty sure Yuri was ok when I did."

She finished her food and went over to the door.

"Lady Tsunade, its Sakura. I'm rested now. May I come back in?"

There was silence for a bit, then the door slide open to reveal the Fifth Hokage. She looked exhausted.

"No Sakura, its ok. Get some rest; you've done more then enough. Yuri's still alive by the way, before you start asking. Don't ask anything else. I think it's safe to say that she will live."

"Lady Tsunade!"

We heard Shizune shout from inside the room.

"Something's happening! I don't know what it is, but I don't think its good!"

"Then again." Tsunade said as she disappeared back into the room. Sakura managed to slip in after her before the door closed. After two hours of waiting, during which Kurenai-sensei appeared, the door slide open again and Sakura came sailing out, followed by Tsunade voice.

"Out, Sakura. Get some rest!"

We heard another voice too.

"I told you to try and heal her, not poison me! You stupid humans, don't you dare try that again!"

It sounded like the Griffin. The door slide shut again.

"Sakura-kun, what happened? Is Yuri ok?"

"Yeah, I guess some of the medicine we gave Yuri reacted badly with the Griffin. We almost lost her, but suddenly everything balanced out again. Then it seems despite the fact that the Griffin didn't like the medicine, she began to heal at an accelerated rate. It didn't last very long though. But, I think she'll be ok now."

"That's a relief."

We waited another six hours. O_O Scary, I know. Finally the Healers trooped out. They had been coming and going all day. Then Shizune and Tsunade wobbled out and sank down on a bench with a sigh. They both looked exhausted. We all looked at them expectantly. Shizune rubbed her eyes and yawned. Tsunade did the same thing, and then spoke.

"She's alive. She'll recover. She'll live to fight another day. Though she won't be going on missions for a while, and light training at first. The only thing is she can't really eat right now, so solid foods. We have our ways of making sure we have enough nutrients though, so don't worry about that. I'm just warning you not to feed her anything. "

We all sighed in relief.

"When will she be released?

"A week at most, though knowing her and her speedy recoveries, you never know."

"Can we see her?"

"She should be sleeping now, so go home for a bit then come back in two hours or so."

"Ok."

So we all headed home to take a shower, change clothes, and get a bit to eat. And, of course, to spread the good news. My mom was thrilled of course and so was Hana. If I hadn't told my mom Yuri couldn't eat I'm sure she would've me take a five course meal to her, or something like that. Two hours later I headed back to the hospital. On the way I stopped by the Yamanaka's flower shop. Ino was there.

"Hey Kiba! I heard what happened to Yuri. Is she ok?"

"Yeah, she'll be fine in a couple days. I was wondering if I could by some flowers."

"Yeah, sure. What kind?"

"Lilies I think."

"Sure, here ya go."

She handed me a bouquet of lilies.

"Say hi to Yuri for me! Tell her I'll come by later after my shift is done. Ok? The flowers are on me today, by the way."

I blushed slightly.

"Thanks, but how do you know I'm going to visit Yuri, these could be for my mom."

"Yuri's probably the only person you'd ever by flowers for, much less lilies. Her name means lily you know."

"I know. Whatever, thanks Ino."

"Anytime."

From there I headed to the hospital. I wasn't the first there. Neji, Shino, and Hinata were there. I wasn't the only one to bring flowers.

"I don't think Lee, Ten-Ten, or Gai-sensei will be back. They told me to tell her that they give their regards. They didn't want to get it the way." Neji said.

"Shino-kun and I stopped by the Hyuuga Complex to tell father, that Yuri is ok. He didn't seem happy. He said phooey and darn."

"Figures."

"The Bastard."

Sakura poked her head out of the room as Kurenai-sensei arrived. She to had flowers.

"She's awake."

Then she vanished around the corner.

"Yuri, Shino, Hinata, Neji, Kiba, and Kurenai-sensei are here to see you."

We stuck our heads around the corner. Yuri was indeed awake and propped up in bed with some pillows. She smiled when she saw us. She was still covered in bandages.

"Get in here you lot! Visiting hours doesn't last for ever."

That was Sakura. We all crowded around the bed after we had deposited our flowers in the vase. Neji and I were on the left, Kurenai-sensei at the foot, and Shino and Hinata on the right.

"Hey guys, how are you?"

She sounded a little weak.

"Fine. How about you?"

"I'm fine."

Arg!

"You're not fine! You almost died!"

"So? Your point?"

Arg! She's doing this on purpose isn't she?!

"Yuri-kun, you had us all really worried."

"Why did you order us back to the village? We could've helped."

"The reasons can be simplified down to one thing. I was following the rules. Mission success above all else, achieved. Taking care of comrades, achieved. It's as simple as that. You know the rules."

"Ok, supposing your argument works, what about us? We didn't do the second thing. We abandoned you."

"No, you didn't. I ordered you back to the village; the second thing doesn't apply to you. The Griffin tells me that you tried to punch my uncle. Good for you, but not a good idea. Tell Mariah that I approve of what she did, and I'm in agreement with the Griffin."

"I was hoping you'd say that. Ino says hi by the way. She said she'll stop by later."

"Gai-sensei, Lee, and Ten-Ten give their regards."

We talked for another hour. During that time Ino stopped by for a bit. After a bit the others surreptitiously snuck out, leaving me and Yuri alone. Before Sakura went she left with this message.

"The Hokage said to tell you not to excite her, like you did last time. If you do you will never be allowed to visit her in the hospital again. You have been warned. That's all."

And with that she followed the other out. I flushed, then sat down in the chair next to the bed.

"How do you feel, honestly?"

"Fine."

"Yuri!"

"What, I'm fine."

"No, your not fine! You almost died! You scared me. You scared all of us, except maybe your uncle, but he doesn't count. I just wish you would put some thought into keeping yourself safe for once!"

"Why would I do that? That would be selfish, plus, my safety doesn't matter."

"Yes it does! It matter just as much as the safety of the rest of us! You wouldn't be selfish! Its natural instinct! Why can't you see it that way?! Why can't you see yourself the way the rest of us do?!"

"I do."

"Let me rephrase that, why can't you see yourself the way the rest of us do now?! Not before or the way your uncle see you, but the way the rest of us, the people I though mattered to you, see you!"

"I was just following the rules."

"Hang the rules!"

"I can't."

"Arg!"

She smiled.

"Accept it. This is the way I am."

"I refuse to except that you have no thought for your own personal safety!"

"Calm down, Kiba."

"I will not calm down until you except the fact that you are important! Stop being so stubborn!"

"You stop!"

"No! Look at it this way: if you weren't important, would Sakura, Shizune, the Fifth Hokage, and the rest of the medic's have tried so hard to save you? Would we all have spent the night on the floor outside your room?"

"You slept on the floor?"

"Yes, even the Sixth Hokage."

"Really?"

"Yeah, oh by the way I have bad news for you."

"What?"

"You can't eat ramen for a while. You can't eat anything for a while for that matter."

O_O She stared at me. I started laughing when I saw her expression. She reached over and grabbed a kunai from my pouch.

"This is no laughing matter! This is a catastrophe! Kill me now."

*Sob!*

"… !!!!!!!!" O_O

I grabbed the kunai from her and put it away. Then I gently pinned her hands to her side.

"Don't over react, for heavens sake! You would think the world was ending! When you can eat again, we'll borrow money from the Hokage and I'll take you on a date and we can get ramen, an incentive to get better soon. And here's another one."

I still had her arms pinned to her side. I bent over her and pressed my lips to hers. This time no one interrupted. It was nice.