Two young women walked down the streets of Konoha, a large burly grey wolf trailing behind them with a basket in his mouth, it had a scar across his left azure occular. One of the two wore a red dress and had pink short hair; the other had long brown hair to her midback, and wore a green Chuunin vest a blue short sleeve shirt under it. She chuckled lightly, talking with the pink haired girl. It had been none other then Taraka and Sakura. It had been several years in which the boys have been gone. Sakura had trained and grown stronger when she had been training, and Taraka…she had passed the Chuunin Exams, and had only begun work with ANBU.
Sakura smiled soflty. "I'm so happy everyone came back today, except we can't see them until later this evening…due to the injuries."
Taraka placed her right hand in her pocket carrying a bag full of groceries in her left arm. "Yeah, I can't wait to see everyone again."
Sakura then looked down with a pale expression, "I can't wait to see Sasuke-Kun once again…."
Taraka smiled weakly then joked, "I know. If I had control over it, I would have dragged his ass home a long time ago."
Sakura chuckled lightly, "You're not allowed out."
Taraka shook her head, "Yes I can. Tsuunade has left me out when I followed the others in the squad. I am a member of ANBU don't forget."
Sakura smirked, "Yeah," Then paused changing the subject, "Are you ready to see Kiba-Kun again?"
Taraka froze and stopped in her tracks recalling her friend whom she missed dearly. Arashi's ears lowered at Kiba's name.
Taraka spoke up, "…I miss him so much." She admitted rather quietly looking at the ground.
Sakura smiled to her, "Well…I assume since you wouldn't stop talking about him after you became a Chuunin. I thought you loved him…"
Taraka's eyes shifted quickly over to Sakura, "NO WAY! He taught me the Gatsuuga! That's why I'm thankful for that, I would have lost against Lee if it wasn't for that! That mutt's just my friend"
Sakura shook her head with a slight smile, "You're in denial."
Taraka turned red and looked away, "...no I'm not. He's my friend, end of discussion."
Taraka looked down where the Inuzuka district had settled, and smiled to Sakura. "I will see you later, Sakura-Chan."
Sakura smiled, "Goodbye."
Arashi followed her closely the bag held tight in his mouth, matching his step with Taraka. Hana had been teaching her how to bond with Arashi over the years, and how to grow with them. In a recent mission he had saved her life, and attained a scar across his left eye. She entered her room, and restocked her food that had been placed within the bags, and sat down petting Arashi. "Good boy."
Standing up she saw a note stuck beside her futon, and picked it up unfolding it. She read the contents of the note, and by observations realized it had been Hana who had wrote it. The note read: 'Taraka, the boys have returned to Konoha. The mission had been a failure…and Kiba is in critical condition in my house. Feel free to stop by, he is ok now but resting. Sign, Hana.'
Taraka's eyes widened and she stood up, "Arashi…let's go."
Arashi followed her out the door, and she broke into a run sliding open Hana's door immediately without knocking. Hana didn't turn around knowing clearly who it had been. "Kiba's in the back resting."
She nodded, "Thank you, Hana-chan."
She went back to see a bandaged up, beaten Kiba on a bed and beside him Akamaru and other dogs watching over his resting figure. Arashi joined the others and Taraka went straight to Kiba's side. Kiba had grown a lot older since the last time he had been there. His face had become more chiseled and more masculine, his height appeared taller, and his hair was short and messy as usual. She sat down on her knees beside his futon placing her hand on his. She took in his scent once again, the stormy rain smell he had. She studied his resting body.
"Kiba-kun…" She whispered looking down onto his beaten body.
He shifted lightly and opened his eyes, "H-hello…Taraka" He mumbled weakly.
Her eyes widened slightly to see him awake, "…I am so sorry about the mission. I'm just…happy you're alive…"
He smirked, "I thought you would have left."
"No…not until you returned….I…..I've missed you." She said quietly.
He smiled inwardly, "Yeah…I missed you too."
His eyes shifted down to his hand to see hers resting over it. He weakly entwined his fingers with hers, and gently smiled.
She smiled; pink rising to her cheeks studying him, and closed her hand. "I've accomplished a lot while you have been gone."
Kiba smiled, "Hana told me you are a Chuunin, I didn't believe her. Well, until now. I see you have the vest."
She smirked, "I'm ANBU now too." With this Kiba tried to sit up and repeated her, "ANBU? Congratulations!" Taraka's eyes widened at his sudden movement and pushed him back down against his futon. "Lye down BAKA! Your injured..."
He didn't complain and did as told.
"Yeah, this promotion happened recently."
Kiba nodded and closed his eyes, "Well I'll be. I have been gone too long."
She nodded, "Too long…"
Hana smirked, looking in on her brother and Taraka and walked in once she has, their hands broke apart from one another. Hana spoke up, "Kiba, your major wounds have healed due to Hinata's herbal healing balm. You are able to go home, however you will not be able to train for a while."
Kiba looked at Hana, "Thank you sister."
Hana looked to Taraka, "Can you help him home?"
Taraka nodded and stood up turning to Arashi. "Arashi, take Akamaru and I will take Kiba." Arashi did as followed picking him up by the scruff and started to walk back. Taraka leaned over down on the futon, Kiba stood up wrapping his arm around her shoulder, and Taraka took his waist supporting his weight on her. He winced lightly, his wounds still hurting him but dealed with it.
"You can stay at my house tonight."
Kiba looked at her, "I can take care of myself…"
She smiled, he had been like she remembered, "If you can take care of yourself then you would have had already been home doing it."
Arashi walked in the door once Taraka and Kiba had entered, and she helped him down onto her futon then took a seat on her knees. Arashi dropped Akamaru down beside Kiba gently, and then Arashi joined Taraka. Kiba smiled, "Thanks."
She nodded, still studying him, he lay back and look around the room, it had been different now. Japanese ink drawings on her wasll, her various ninja weapons and scrolls placed on a dogwood bureau, and one more thing caught his eye. A jacket that looked identical to his. He spoke up, "Is…is that my jacket?"
She nodded, "Yeah, Hana let me use it…a few times…"
She looked away, to Arashi petting his head. "I've learned a lot from your sister."
"She told me that you picked up on training with our clan."
She nodded, "Arashi and I have grown very close with our studies."
He smiled, "Good." Then grew silent. .
Taraka turned back to him, "You should sleep…."
He nodded, "So should you. It's late."
She smiled and stood up Kiba spoke up, "I'll sleep on your couch…" He began.
She shook her head, "No, I will."
Kiba thought carefully for a second and moved over. "Well we both could sleep here."
Taraka turned around looking curiously for a second and then crawled beside him. "Alright…"
She pulled the covers up over her body and closed her eyes. "Goodnight…."
Kiba smiled and turned so his back faced her own back. "Goodnight."
Taraka smiled as well, 'I've missed you Kiba-Kun…I've missed you so much…' She thought.