One Month Later

Today is the day of this party, thing. Teams 7-10 are all going out to lunch. We'll eat and reminisce. Kiba and I are on our way now. We were one of the last one's there. It seems someone got the sand siblings to come also. We all devoured copious amounts of food and talked lots. It was great, until my uncle showed up. He watched us for a bit, and then approached the table.

"Yuri, come here."

I practically inhaled my ramen up my nose. He had actually used my name! Maybe it was just because there were five other girls at the table. Either way, this was going to be really good or really bad. I figured it was the latter. It always was. Neji, Hinata, Shino, Sakura, Sasuke, Naoki, and Kiba all shot me worried glances as I got up. The others watched with mild interest. Once I had gotten clear of the table Hiashi grabbed me roughly by the arm and dragged me a little ways away, though we were still in hearing range of the table. He looked me over carefully.

"You're pregnant."

This was not a question, but a statement. At four and a half months it was a little bit obvious.

"Yes." I said calmly.

He slapped me. Kiba was in his feet in seconds, Neji stood up. Even Shino half stood up. Everyone else just looked shocked.

"I warned you!"

"You know, most people are happy when they find out they're going to be a great uncle."

"You insolent brat! If I hadn't wanted to never see your face again, I would never have married you to that idiot!"

"If you wanted me out of your face that badly you could've just killed me. You've certainly tried enough times. Or would that look bad on your spotless record?"

"If that fool of a Hokage hadn't placed some value on your worthless life, believe me, I would've."

Naoki and Sasuke stood up.

"So… Why are you here? Because you're kind of interrupting something important."

"That does it! I've had enough!"

"Really; have you now? I reached that point a long time ago."

"You have disobeyed orders! You have attacked the head of the Main Branch on numerous occasions! You have disgraced the clan in many ways! You have married below your status! You are no longer part of the Hyuuga Clan! I no longer have a niece!"

Everyone stared. I smirked.

"Fine by me. You couldn't pay to go back there anyway. That place was never a home to me. A home is supposed to be a happy place, not a place where you're locked in a room the size of that table for sixteen hours a day! And where you spend the other eight hours being worked to death! You never even treated me like a human being, much less your niece!" I said, indicting the table where the others sat.

"Oh, and Uncle, I didn't marry below my station. I married above it."

My former uncle glared at me.

"This is for using Sharingan on me!"

His palm hit me in the stomach and sent me flying. A wave of agony hit me, followed by a wave of welcoming darkness.

Kiba's POV

"Yuri!"

I made a split-second decision between breaking Hiashi's face and helping Yuri. I chose Yuri. I would break Hiashi's face later. He smirked when he saw Yuri lying on the ground. Then he turned to go. I hurried over to Yuri. As did Sakura, Ino, and Hinata. The others went to back Neji and Shino up. They had surrounded Hiashi.

"Hold it right there, you old freak!"

"You think you can do that to our friend and just walk away?! Well think again!"

Chikara and Miruku appeared out of nowhere. They charged Hiashi. I turned back to Yuri. Sakura and Ino were examining her with their medical ninjutsu, while Hinata was looking her over with Byakugan.

"Well?"

"Something's interfering with my Byakugan." Hinata said.

"And my jutsu." Sakura said.

"And mine." Ino added.

"I think it's the same thing that was interfering when Zetsu got her."

"That's enough you two. Itachi, Sasuke, Naoki, get him out of here."

The Sixth Hokage had arrived. Chikara hurried in our direction. She nudged Ino out of the way and activated her medical chakra. After a bit she called for Miruku.

"I think it's the same interference as last time."

"Last time?" I asked.

"Yeah, she fell out of a rather large tree trying to help a cat. We figured she'd broken her neck or her back. When I used my medical ninjutsu to see how bad it was, something interfered. So all we could do was take her home and hope she was ok, though we doubted it. The next morning she woke up right as rain. When we checked her over the interference was gone." Miruku explained.

"I had even ordered her a coffin and everything." Chikara said.

"It's a kind of defense mechanism done by the Griffin. The Griffin either blocks you completely or shows you what the damage would be if it hadn't interfered."

Mariah walked up. She leaned over Yuri.

"In my non-professional medical opinion, she needs to go to the hospital.

She bent down and carefully picked Yuri up.

"I'll take her. It'll be faster if I do."

Then she vanished. I hesitated, but then took off in the direction of the hospital.

Several Hours Later-Kiba's POV

I was fiddling with Akamaru's ears. I could tell he didn't like it, but he was putting up with it for my sake. It had been several hours since Yuri had come to the hospital and still there was no word. Mom and Hana were here now too. As were everyone from the restaurant, plus Mariah and Itachi, minus Sakura, who was helping Lady Tsunade.

"Would you stop fiddling so much? You'll put holes in my ears!" Akamaru complained.

"Sorry."

I stopped fiddling, but ten minutes later I had gone back to it. Akamaru sighed heavily, but let it slide. Akari was curled up next to him, asleep. Though how she could sleep at a time like this was beyond me. Half an hour later we heard footsteps. I sniffed. It was Sakura, Lady Tsunade, and Shizune. My grip on Akamaru's ears tightened. He whined softly, but I ignored him. The three of them came around the corner and stopped. Lady Tsunade surveyed the room briefly, and then looked at me.

"It seems our Griffin theory was correct. She'll be fine by tomorrow."

A collective sigh of relief went through the room.

"And…?"

"It's fine too."

Akamaru looked at me.

"Now that you know that they'll be fine, would you mind letting go of my ears before you pull them off?"

I released his ears.

"Sorry."

"I should sue you for that." He grumbled.

Akari woke up.

"You can see her now. I'd advise the majority of you to wait till tomorrow if you want to see.

Half An Hour Later-Yuri's POV

When I woke up I was a bit disoriented at first. Then I realized where I was. Then I remembered why I was there. I tried to sit up, but Kiba stopped me and gently pushed me back down. Then he made sure I couldn't try to sit up again.

"Clam down. It's okay. You're fine." He said soothingly.

I wasn't really soothed.

"It's not me I'm worried about!"

"Like I said, calm down. You're both fine."

I began to relax.

"Really?"

"Yes. The griffin saved you both."

"Figures."

He sat down on the bed next to me and began to stroke my cheek.

"How do you feel?"

"Fine, considering. Somehow, I'm not surprised that the Griffin helped me. It's gotten nicer lately."

Kiba smiled slightly.

"I'm glad you feel ok physically, but that's not exactly what I meant."

"You mean how do I feel about being disowned? I could care less. It's better like this. And we don't have to worry about our child being branded. Plus, I'm half Uchiha, so it's not like I don't have a clan."

Even though I said that, it still felt weird, not being a Hyuuga. It made me feel a little lonely. Kiba is sometimes terribly oblivious, but other times is very astute. This was one of those times.

"Remember Yuri, you're an Inuzuka now too. You always will be. You're home is with me, Akari, Akamaru, and our child, and it always will be."

Then he leaned forward and kissed me.

Ten Seconds Later

"Ok, enough with the love fest. You can't hog her all to yourself Kiba."

Chikara and Miruku walked in. We broke apart.

"Plus, you probably do that all the time at home."

They sat down next to the bed on the opposite side from Kiba, who was looking a little annoyed and put out.

"So, you finally seduced him eh? Nice work."

We both turned red.

"You guys!"

"What?! Something must have happened." Chikara said.

"Well it was more the other way around."

"Oh… So you did go to third base." Miruku said, grinning evilly.

"Details! Now!" Chikara said, smirking.

We both turned red again.

"No way! That's personal! Get your own boyfriends if you want details!"

"Nah, too much trouble." Miruku said.

"Anyway, you might've told us sooner." Chikara said reproachfully, indicating my stomach.

"Well, it's been hectic."

Kiba was now absent mindedly playing with my hand. It tickled.