Two Years Later

It's been two years since I left on my training journey. Over the course of the past two years I have grown stronger, both mentally and physically. Why did I leave, you ask? Well, one reason is that I just couldn't take living at the Hyuuga complex anymore. I also wanted to get stronger and to see the world. And to give Kiba a break from all the trouble I cause him. The day I got back I headed straight to the training grounds. Not much had changed around the village from what I could tell.

"Yuri-kun!" Hinata cried, practically toppling me over when she hugged me. Kurenai-sensei was equally happy and surprised. Even Shino was surprised. O_o They peppered me with questions like "Where did you go?" and "What did you do?", until I finally was able to ask some questions of my own.

"Where's Kiba?"

"He had something to do this morning, so he decided to take the day off."

"Ok."

"He's missed you a lot. He probably won't be happy with you."

"I know; I'm always a bother. Oh yeah, Hinata, don't tell Uncle I'm back."

"Ok."

After a while I headed over to his house. The door was slightly ajar so I slipped in. I didn't have to wait long for anybody. A minute after I came in Kiba came out of the kitchen holding a plate. He looked the same as two years ago, but older and more handsome and cute. ^_^ When he saw me his jaw dropped and so did the plate. It shattered on impact.

"Kiba? What on earth? Oh my...! Yuri!? Is that you?"

It was Tsume.

"Yeah, it's me. I'm back."

"That's wonderful! Come on Kiba, don't be shy." She said hugging me. Kiba hung back. I could tell he was still in shock.

"Why, why did you leave like that?!"

"I had to." I said simply.

"You had to what?! Get away from me?!"

He was hurt. I couldn't blame him.

"Kiba, you now that's not…"

"You promised. You promised you'd never write another letter like that again! You broke your promise!"

"No I didn't. I said I was coming back."

"Save it! I don't want to hear it. How can you walk in hear after you vanish off the face of the earth for two years and act like nothings changed! I'll be in my room. I'm not hungry anymore."

He rushed upstairs.

"Kiba, wait! Hang on, I'll…" Tsume said, starting after him.

I stopped her.

"It's okay. I would hate me too if I vanished off the face of the earth for two years and didn't contact anyone. I should go. I don't want to be a bother, like always."

Kiba's POV
Yuri was back. After two years she was back. She had changed a little since she left. She had grown even more beautiful. I knew I had probably over-reacted and not given her a chance to explain, but then again, how else was one supposed to react when ones fiancé vanishes off the face of the earth for two years, leaving only a letter for each of the people closest to her. Mainly me, Shino, Neji, Hinata, Kurenai-sensei and the Sixth Hokage.

I walked into my room to clean up before dinner. As I was about to tug my shirt off I noticed an envelope on my pillow. It was addressed to me. I grabbed it and ripped it on. I didn't know what it could be.

Dear Kiba,

I know I promised I wouldn't say goodbye like this again and I'm not, not really. So I'm not breaking my promise. I've decided to go on a journey. I'm not sure how long I'll be gone, but rest assured I will be back. It would take to long to explain everything like this, but it has nothing to do with you. I just want to travel and train. Please don't be too angry with me and don't worry, no matter how long it takes, I will come back to you. Don't try to find me. I'll come back when I'm ready.

Love,

Yuri &

PS. Akari and I love you.

"What the heck!"

I sprinted out of the house, towards the Hyuuga Complex. Hinata met me outside.

"Kiba-kun! Yuri's gone and she left a letter!"

I felt sick.

"I know, she left one with me too."

"You two!"

We turned. It was Shino.

"I just found a letter from Yuri on my pillow."

"So did we."

It was Kurenai-sensei and Mariah.

"What should we do?!"
"We do nothing. She's allowed to go. I left on a training journey myself when I was younger, not that I'm old or anything. She'll come back when she wants. Don't try to follow her. She'll be fine." Mariah said reassuringly.

I wasn't reassured.

I fell asleep thinking about Yuri.

The Next Morning-Kiba's POV

"Where's Yuri?" I asked after I had scarfed down a large breakfast. "Is she still asleep?"

"How should I know if she's asleep?! She left after you ran upstairs. She said something about not wanting to be a bother and she would hate herself if she disappeared for two years. She also said that she would probably be staying at the Sixth Hokage's house. By now she's probably at training. I hope you aren't going to yell at her again. You hurt her."

"Well, maybe she should think about how other people fell as well."

"I understand, but give her a chance. You don't want to lose her."

I left the house and headed to the training grounds. Shino and Hinata were there, alone. They weren't doing anything exactly, but I still didn't want to interrupt anyway. I turned around and came face-to-face with Kurenai-sensei.

"Hey Kiba, you seen Yuri this morning?" She asked.

"No, she stopped by my house yesterday. Have you?"

"She came by here yesterday before going to your house. I think she had just got back. Did she stay to dinner?"

"No, she didn't stay long."

"I take it, since she didn't stay long, that you blew up at her?"

"Yeah." I said miserably.

"We warned her that you would get angry and she said she knew and that she's always a bother. Then, a while later, she left for your house. Give her a chance, Kiba. Your anger is understandable, but she has her reasons." Shino said.

Apparently I had disturbed them.

"Did she tell you what they were?"

"Basically. But she probably had more reasons and she'll probably go more in-depth for you. The first question she asked was about you. I have a feeling she won't be at training. She's probably tired and, if you did get mad at her, she might feel that it's best if she stayed away from you."

He was still so calm.

"Ok, thanks. I think I'll take the day off today and come back to training tomorrow. Bye!"

I beat a hasty retreat. Then I hurried over to Mariah's house. I had no idea why Yuri would be staying there, but it would probably better than staying at the Hyuuga Complex. I rang the doorbell and Naoki answered.

"Oh, hey. I take it you're here for Yuri? She's upstairs. I'll go get her, but first, remember that sometimes people need time and space to think. It may have nothing to do with you. And don't yell at each other. It gets annoying."

She vanished back inside. While I waited I looked around the porch and the street.

"Hey."

I turned around and there was Yuri. Her hair was down for a change. It was much longer now. She had definitely grown more beautiful.

"Hey. Look, I'm sorry I got angry at you yesterday, but I also think I'm allowed too be like that."

"I know. I understand. I'm not angry."

"Why? Why did you leave? Why did you write another letter?!"

"I didn't break my promise. I said I was coming back. I didn't know when, but I still said I would be back! I wrote the letter because I knew if I said goodbye in person, I wouldn't be able too or that you would stop me."

She started to cry. I had never seen her cry before. Not a single tear, ever. I knew she was telling the truth and that she was being sincere.

"I left because I had to get away from him, away from the clan. I couldn't take it anymore. I also wanted to train and explore the world. I needed time to think as well. And I wanted to give you a break."

"A break from what?"

The rest of what she had said made sense and was reasonable, unfortunately for my argument. But her last statement was puzzling and made no sense.

"A break from me. A break from all the worry and pain I cause you."

I was dazed.

"What?! Why would I want a break from you?! You thought I'd be happy if you left?! Plus, you didn't do a very good job of giving me a break from pain and worry! I didn't like the letter, but I believed it! I had to! Even so, I was worried. And every day you didn't come home I got even more worried. As for the pain, your uncle "interrogated" me and you know what that means! And besides that, your being gone hurt me! I was kinda lonely and so was Akamaru!"

She buried her face in her hands.

"I'm sorry. I didn't think that he would bother you that much. And I thought you could forget about me for a while so you could be happy. You were always worrying about me."

"I still am. And how could I forget about you and be happy? You're part of what makes me happy, I couldn't just forget you. Sometimes your logic is as twisted as your uncle. He thought we had eloped or that I was hiding you or that we were sleeping together or something like that!"

"I'm sorry."

She was still crying. I finally relented and pulled into my arms. She wrapped her arms around me and buried her face in my shoulder. I sighed.

"Don't cry anymore. It's ok. I'm not really mad at you anymore. I understand your reasons. I hate that you were gone, but I understand. Right now, I'm just glad you're back safely. Don't ever leave again. Or at least not without telling me or taking me with you. I'm tired of this letter crap. Promise me."

I pushed her away slightly and cupped her face in my hands.

"OK, I promise. I promise I won't leave like that again."

"Good. I'm satisfied, for now."

I kissed her on the forehead and then on the lips. Gently at first; then deeper. She hesitated at first; then responded. It had been two years since we had done this and it was… adjectives fail me. ^_^ After forty-five seconds of this indescribably awesome bliss someone tapped me on the shoulder. We broke apart slowly and looked up. I was initially going to punch whoever it was in the face for disturbing us, but then I saw who it was and rethought my next course of action.

"This is all fine and dandy and wonderful, but no making out on my porch, especially if you don't want your uncle to see you. Sorry."

It was Mariah.

"If you want to continue what you were doing, by all means go ahead, I'm with you all the way, not literally of course, but not here. Either, go upstairs to Yuri's room, go to your house and continue there, or go find some relatively secluded place around the village. Ok?"

"Ok."

Yuri had pulled herself back together.

"Come on Kiba, you have to show me what's changed around the village."

She grabbed my hand and tugged me along.