Kiba's POV:

I sat down beside Akamaru, and moved him a bit so I could hold her other hand, meanwhile Hinata was talking to Tsunade, asking what happened. Please Kumori...Please, please, PLEASE wake up!! Wake up....Open your eyes...Please...

"Her wounds are healing slower than most, but thats probably because the cut was very deep, he also managed to cut a small part of her nerve system, making sure once she blacked out, nothing could be done to wake her up manually... Meaning, we can't do anything but wait." Tsunade-sama explained, then I noticed the bandages, a hint of pink coming through, 2 weeks and still she hasn't woken up...

"Will she be ok though?" Naruto asked, not looking at Tsunade-sama,

"Most likely yes." she answered calmly, trying to force a reassuring smile,

"Most likely?" I was nervous, people only used 'most likely' when they weren't 100% sure.

"Knowing Kumori, she'll probably have similar nightmares to the ones she had when Itachi...Did what he did..." she continued, emphasizing Itachi. Well, at least she won't...

Kumori's POV:

Wake up...Wake up Kumori

"..." I opened my eyelids slowly, seeing only white, then a meadow,

Are you really this weak now? What has become of you? A proud Uchiha!

This woke me up, "Proud!? People ignored me because of you! And proud my ass! It made no difference whether I was an Uchiha or not! Everyone still hated me, because of you!"

Not everyone...Are you saying you resent me? Gobi looked at me, almost through me.

"Yeah, thats about right...!"

Your forgetting who saved you, many a time... Hah hah, you wouldn't go far without me...

"Thats not true! I-I-"

Just admit that you couldn't.

"Your a numb nut you know that?"

Watch your mouth

"Whatever..."

Do you want to wake up?

"Yes..."

No...Tell me the truth, do you want to wake up?"

"Yes god damnit!!"

Deep down inside you don't do you? You just don't want to face reality where both your brothers are gone-

"Shut up!"

You just want to curl up in a ball and forget everything don't you!!

"SHUT UP, SHUT UP, SHUT UP!!!!! STOP IT!!!" in this little world, I cried, more like bawled, I couldn't take it! It was the truth, and honestly, I didn't want to relive it again. Gobi started to fade away, but not before saying his final words,

You will see little one, that you need me one day... and then he left with an evil cackle...

Kiba's POV:

"What?" everyone in the room looked at me, I could have swore I felt Kumori's hand twitch,

"What is it Kiba-kun?" Hinata asked curiously, Tsunade and Naruto just eyed me,

"I coulda sworn I felt Kumori twitch!" I stated, staring at Kumori with wide eyes,

"A-are you sure?!" Tsunade asked, her mouth fell a little,

"You better not be kidding dog-breath!"

"I'm not!" just then, I saw her eye twitch, almost as if she was fighting something, not physically but mentally, or almost verbally, though I could never be sure...

Kumori's POV:

I shot up, it was almost like waking up from a nightmare, but it wasn't a nightmare, it was real, and as much as I hate to admit it, everything Gobi said was true,

"Aarghh..." I grunted, finally sensing the slicing pain that went across my stomach, and shoulder, Why the hell does my shoulder hurt? Then, I noticed the people standing before me,

"Kumori!" Kiba exclaimed, Naruto looking like he was tearing up, I looked over and saw Hinata, who was the one actually crying,

"Huh? Are you all so sad I'm back?" I grinned, jokingly, as Tsunade let out a sigh of relief,

"No! W-we were s-so scared that y-you might not w-wake up! K-K-Kiba stayed w-with y-you the whole t-time!" Hinata stated, smiling through the almost-dry tears,

"Not true!" Kiba argued back in denial, glaring at Hinata, Akamaru barked, and smiled, well, I think he smiled... I giggled, and then moved my gaze down to my hands, while feeling one drop, while the other was held by you-know-who...

"Um...Are you ok Kumori? Your face is all pi...nk..." Kiba said it very slowly, following my gaze until he saw what I was staring at, when he noticed, he immediately let go of my hand, Naruto just grinned, relieved that that wasn't him.

"Oh...Um...No, I'm fine Kiba-kun..." I replied, feeling the heat leave.

"Do you recall anything that happened?" Tsunade questioned, feeling better when she knew that I remembered who they were,

"Sasuke..." I hissed, tears filling my eyes, WTF!?!?

"Yes, I can see that you don't want to talk right now. Well, it is very nice to see you awake."

"Thank you Lady-Tsunade, but, when can I leave?"

"Whenever you wish, but I would like to see you in my office tomorrow afternoon for questioning,"

"Ah...Ok, sure." I said, rubbing my neck, questioning? Tsunade-sama left the room, while Hinata just looked at me happily,

"Well, I-I need to h-head home, g-g-get w-well K-Kumori, bye K-Kiba! B-b-b-bye N-N-N-Naru-looks down-t-t-to..." Hinata stammered and blushed, she hugged me and left, leaving me with my two best friends,

"Yeah, well, I was not crying, I-I'm going to go train, see you later Kumori!" Naruto said as he rushed out the door, I stroked Akamaru's hair and patted Kiba on the head, removing his hood, and smiled at him,

"You were worried, weren't you?"

"N-no! Why would I b-be?"

"Aw... You didn't miss me?"

"N-no! It's n-not that! I-I-"

"-giggles- I'm joking, Kibi, anyways, I know you'd miss me,"

"What makes you so sure?"

"Just admit you would, and it'll be ok," I said, while I laid back down on my bed,

"-grins- Oh yes, what would I do without the mighty Kumori,"

"-giggles- Ah yes, the glories of being me...!"

"But you know you couldn't do it without me,"

"Nah, course not..."

"So you wanna go now?"

"Yeah, I'll meet you outside in 5,"

"Why outside?"

"Do you WANT to see me change?"
"Aw, you saw right through me,"

"PERVERT! GET OUT RIGHT NOW!"

"Ok, ok! Sheesh! See ya outside," Kiba left the room and I quickly put on my washed clothes, Hm, look at that, the rip is fixed...Then the memories flowed back, and I winced, feeling once again, dizzy, I clutched my abdomen, went to the washroom and examined my wounds. When did Sasuke manage to cut my shoulder? I put on my outfit and unsheathed Tenshi no Akuhei, it was spotless and gleamed in the light, then I remembered that I didn't even hit Sasuke...not even once...Damnit!!! I signed out of the hospital and saw that Kiba still has his hood off. I decided I would scare him so I crouched down and pounced on his back,wrapping my arms around his neck,

"Stay still and I'll let you go,"

"-fake gulps- H-hai!"

"-giggles- now, tell me what I wanna hear!"

"Like what?"

"Who's your best friend?"

"This girl named Uchiha, Kumori,"

"What is she to you?"

"She's my bestfriend,"

"When and how did you meet her?"

"When I first got my dog, Akamaru,"

"What would you do if she were right here right now?"

"I'd...TACKLE HER!" Kiba threw me over his shoulder and tackled me to the ground,

"Arrgh! Kiba...My stomach," I flinched, closing my eyes tightly,

"Oh, s-sorry!" he quickly got off me and helped me up,

"You really suck at acting by the way, but anyways, Kibi?"

"Yeah?"

"What happened while I was...Asleep?"

"Nothing really..."

"D-did you visit me?"

"N-no..."

"Everyday, huh?"

"-looks down and sighs- Yeah..."

"It was only two weeks though...right?"

"Yeah,"

"Well, better than 3 months..."

"Hm."

"Mind if I stay with you? I can't stand staying in the house anymore..."

"Um...Sure."

"Are you sure? I mean you don't have to let me stay..."

"No, no its ok."

"Thanks," I hugged him, "But I need to get my stuff,"

"Sure..."

"And if I can, I'll ask if I can stay with Hinata later,"

"Yeah, absolutely,"

"Ok, common then!" I smiled at him and grabbed his hand, his cheeks stained with pink, I giggled at the reaction, I'm surprised after all these years, he couldn't take the physical contact.

Once we got to the mansion, I still clutched his hand, and closed my eyes tightly, First oni-san and now Sasuke? I braced myself for the worst as I pushed the door opened.

"Its ok Kumo, I'm right here..."

"I know... I see that baka..."

"No, I'm saying that cause your kinda pinching me..."

"Oh, sorry Kibi..." I sprinted to my room, dragging Kiba behind me like a chibi doll, but I slowed down when I got to my floor, something was wrong here... I coulda sworn I felt Sasuke's chakra, so I wrapped my arm around Kiba's, He's not here, he's not here, he's not here! I whimpered and looked up at Kiba, who continued to look at me nervously,

"He's here..."

"Who's here?"

"Sasu-Sasu-...Sasu..."

"What?"

"Can't you feel him?"

"Are you ok?"

"Kiba...He's here! He...He..."

"Hello Kumori..." I widened my eyes, No, it can't be...NO!!

"L-L-L-Leave me alone!!" I shrieked,

"Aw, don't you miss me sister deear!?" he stretched the word, giving it an eerie sound,

"N-No! S-stop it!!" I began screaming hysterically, as Kiba tried to restrain me,

"Kumori! Whats wrong!?"

"He's...Sasu...He's...AHH! LEAVE ME ALONE!!"

"I'll be back Kumori...and you'll soon see Itachi after I find him..."

"No! NO! Please! NO!!!" the tears automatically started pouring,

"Kumori!Get a hold of yourself! NO ONE IS THERE!"

"He's...He's coming for me...He won't stop...Until he...D-does..."

"Ok, calm down, ok Kumori? We'll just get your stuff and we'll head out ok?" I turned and buried my face in his chest, my tears staining his jacket,

"D-Don't...let him...get me..." I said slowly, trying to calm myself,

"I won't... I won't..." he stroked my back, as we slowly made our way to my room, I grabbed my suitcase and packed my clothes and valuables, then I made Kiba look away while I pack the 'unmentionables'.

"Is that all?"

"Yeah, lets go," my eyes were really puffy, but the tears that once streamed down my face stopped, as I finally stopped thinking about it.

"-sigh- ok, good, lets go..." he was about to leave my room,

"K-Kiba?"

"Yeah?"

"Can we take the window?"

"Wh-Wh-What?"

"I-I don't want to g-go back down there..."

"-sigh- But-"

"Please?" I gave him my best puppy dog face, the one that got him to give me half his cupcake 1 week after we met, hm, that was good chocolate icing...

"-sigh- Ok fine... You soo practice that look, don't you?" I smiled

"How'dja know?"

"Just do." I continued to smile as he lugged the suitcase to the window,

"Can this handle being dropped from the second floor?"

"Yeah, doesn't matter anymore anyway..."

"Hm, ok! Always wanted to do this anyway!" I giggled and watched him chuck it out the window, he looked absolutely animated, "Common,"

"Kay..." he jumped out ahead of me, "Kiba...Thank you..." I muttered,

"You'll be back Kumori...Even if I have to DRAG you..." an eerie voice added, I jumped and covered my ears with my hands, then looked down to where Kiba was standing, Hm, I'll surprise him. I jumped down as he looked up, his eyes widened as he realized I was falling, his expression was priceless when I rushed himself to think. At the last minute, he caught me, and I smiled as he glared at me,

"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU THINK YOU WERE DOING!?"

"I...wanted you to catch me..."

"What would that do?!"

"Well, it just proves you can be trusted,"

"But your wounds haven't healed yet..."

"Aw, little Kibi was worried?" he continued to glare at me, not letting me get down down,

"Your lucky Uchiha..."
"Yeah, to have a friend like you, yes I am," I nuzzled against him and wrapped my arms around his neck, I heard his heart beat quicken, I looked up and saw him blush more than 10 shades of red...

"Y-yeah, you better believe it..."

"-giggle- Common, mom'll get worried if we're late,"

"Mm-hm,"

"Uh, Kiba? Y-You can let me down now."

"Oh, yeah, right, sorry." he put me down and I looked at him,

"Heh heh, you were enjoying yourself aren't you?"

"-glares- C-Course not-coughs-, anyways, if I continue to carry you, I won't grow any taller," I glared at him while he just smirked put his hands behind his head and began walking,

"YOU'LL REGRET THAT INUZUKA!" I yelled as I tried to pull the enormous mass of clothes and 'stuff'. I panted in agony as it wouldn't budge, Jeeze, how the hell does Kiba throw it out the window, yet I can't even pull the fricken thing!?

"Are you commin Uchiha?" I heard his voice tease,

"Argh! God damnit Kiba, if you want me to stay at your house wearing your clothes, your delusional!"

"Hey! Whats wrong with what I'm wearing?"

"Hah! KIBA INUZUKA CARES! I am soo using this against you,"

"Not if you want help with that suitcase,"
"Touche..." he walked over to where I was standing and tugged at the suitcase, it glided along the ground with ease, my jaw dropped,
"H-How did...B-But...What?" I stammered,
"When you have to live with a friend who jumps on your back constantly, you develop muscle,"

"Those were muscles? I thought they were just chicken pox scars..."

"-glares- fine, make fun, just don't expect me to pull this thing all the way home,"

"Yes, yes, sorry, now can we get a move on?"

"Whats the hurry?"

"Weeeelll, I promised Hinata that I'd take her shopping for kimono's, and that was before he left,"

"Ah, can I come?"

"Are ya sure you wanna spend hours walking around town?"

"Hm, on second thought-"

"-perks up- ACTUALLY! I think it'd be fun having you there, you can see which kimono's would look good on me for the New Years festival."

"Ah crap...Wait! No, actually I can't, I-I...PROMISED NARUTO THAT I'D SPAR WITH HIM!(yeah, that works...)"

"Fine, fine, but meet me in the food court at 6:00,"

"Wait, are we actually planning a date?"

"-blush- No! N-No of course not...I want to pick out a suit for you so you don't embarrass yourself in front of your real date,"

"Hm, fine, whatever..." we walked home, well actually I skipped, ran, walked, jogged, hopped, and cartwheeled beside Kiba while he just pulled the suitcase alongside him. When we got to the door, he was panting and wheezing while I was just waiting for someone to get the door,

"Oh hi Kumori! Its nice to see you again!" Mrs Inuzuka said,

"Hi Mrs Inuzuka, how are you?" I asked, looking at her, she smiled back at me,

"No need to be formal, you can just call me 'mom'," I heard a loud choking noise, and looked over to Kiba as he looked like he was going to faint, "So, what brings you here?"

"Um...She was wondering if she could stay with us..." Kiba said, recovering,

"Oh, really now? Why--" she looked at my eyes, and saw they had turned purplish blue, "Oh yes...I heard...WELL OF COURSE YOU CAN STAY THEN!" she added, embracing me, and then letting go,

"Thanks! -tries to catch breath after bone crushing hug-"

"Come in, and Kiba? Would you mind getting her stuff? Poor girl had to lug that thing over here,"

"B-BUT!-"

"Kiba!"

"-sulks- Hai..." I felt him glare at me, and I just grinned,

"Mom?" I tried it out, it felt right,

"Yes Kumori?"

"May I use your bath?"

"Of course! A long as your here your family,"

"Arigato." she smiled at me as I helped Kiba pull my suitcase into the guest room,

"Nice girl..." she said under her breath.

I filled the tub with hot water while staring at myself in the mirror. My eyes were a sky blue, and while hair covered my face, -sigh- I am so plain... I stepped into the tub and let myself fade away, almost forgetting my troubles,

"Hello, Kumori..." my eyes snapped open, as I heard a familiar voice,

"..."

"Do you miss me?"

"N-No..."

"Oh, that hurts now sister..."

"Leave me alone!"

"Heh heh heh..." the Sasuke that I knew turned into Itachi,

"B-B-Brother..."

"Heellloo..."

"No! YOUR NOT HERE LEAVE ME ALONE!!"

Kiba's POV:

I heard screaming, it was Kumori,

"Mom, do you hear that?"

"...No..."

"Well I do, and its Kumori," I got up and was about to run to the bathroom,

"Um, Kiba, I wouldn't do that if I were you,"

"Well Kumori's in trouble and I am not going to stand by!" I looked at my mother who just sighed, I rushed to the bathroom door and yanked it open,

"KUMORI!"

"K-Kiba?" I heard her sobs stop when I looked at her,

"Ah...Um...Are you ok?" I said, covering my eyes with my hand, still peeking, Agh! WTF?! THIS IS KUMORI! MY BEST FRIEND! But DANG! She has a nice body! AGH! NO KIBA! DON'T EVEN!

"AAAAAEEEEEEYYYYAAAAHHHH!!! GET OUT, GET OUT, GET OUT!! KIBA INUZUKA GET THE HELL OUT OF THIS WASHROOM!! GETT OOOOUUUUTTTTTT!!!!!" she screamed, throwing random things at me, well, to be specific, a brush, a bar of soap, a bottle of shampoo, a bottle of conditioner, a TOILET BRUSH, toothpaste, deodorant, another brush, and a toilet paper roll, and a toilet plunger,

"Ah! Itai, Ouch! Damn! Ow! ITAI!!!" I yelled as I quickly ran out and closed the door, I saw my mom, rolling on the floor, laughing her head off,

"Agh! Its not funny!"

"Well, I TOLD YOU!" she continued to laugh, I growled at her and rubbed my head, which had at least 5 lumps on it.

Kumori's POV:

My face was practically crimson as I saw Kiba leave. He saw me NUDE! NUDE!!! I had almost completely forgot about Sasuke's earlier visit,

"Damn that Kiba...But it was nice that he cared so much as too... Arg! BUT HE SAW ME NAKED! In the god forsaken shower!"

Kiba's POV:

I heard Kumori fight with herself, then a hair dryer come on.

"You should apologize, Kiba,"

"Do I have too?"

"Yes! Unless you want to be nagged for the rest of your life,"

"You wouldn't!"

"Oh I wouldn't, but Kumori would,"

"Yeah...But what makes you think that she'd be here forever?"

"Isn't obvious?"

"No,"

"Well, you might be oblivious, but your still my son,"

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"You know you like her,"

"-blush- N-no! I don't! You can't prove it!"

"Then why'd you blush?"

"B-because just the thought of it is so stupid I have to be embarrassed for you," Nice save dumbass,

"Yeah, sure, whatever, you'll see..."

"Yeah, sure..." I scowled at my mom and went to my room.

Kumori's POV:

I blow dried for a couple of minutes and looked at myself in the mirror. ­-sigh- Guess I have to live with it...I decided I'd pay Kiba a little visit, considering he...Agh!

"Kumori, how was your-laughing snort- bath?" I glared slightly at her,

"...AGH! WHAT IS WRONG WITH HIM!?"

"-sigh- -laughs- He was...Worried...-chokes on laugh-"

"Yeah...Well, I'll go talk to him,"

"He really wants you too,"

"Really?" she winked at me, and I felt myself blush, getting the idea, "Ok, well, if you hear crashing noises and your son BEGGING for mercy, don't come..." I smiled sweetly at her while she just laughed.

I knocked on his door, hoping that this wouldn't be as painful as the academy exams,

"K-Kiba?" I asked as the door creaked open,

No reply

I opened the door more and slowly walked inside,

"K-K-Ki--"

"AAAAEEEEEEEEEEEGGGGGGGHHHHH!!"

"WAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"-starts laughing- HA HA!! You shoulda seen your face!"

"YOUR MEAN!"

"Nah, just not as nice as regular people,"

"-scoffs- Your not regular,"

"..." he gave me his puppy-dog-pout,

"Ah, I'm sorry, Kibi,"

"Hm, well I may not be regular, but at least I don't fall for tricks like that," I lunged at him with my fist clenched but tripped and fell on him...he toppled over...with me on top...me landing on his chest... my lips...kinda... on his...

I stared at him with wide eyes, I was BURNING, I felt the hair on my neck stand up, and his cheeks were almost blood red, and he stared at me, neither of us knowing how much time had passed... My brain wouldn't process my commands, as it was working slowly, not accepting the information... But at last, I pulled away, still staring at him, What the hell just happened? And what the hell is this feeling?

"I-I...S-sorry...I just...I...Um...Wait...S-sorry...I-I-I...Kiba?"

"I...Wow...I...Sorry...Um...Uh...Damn!...Uh...Sorry..."

"Wow...Um...How 'bout that huh?"

"Wow...Yeah..."

"Well, I-I gotta go meet Hinata," I got up and helped the stammering boy, "Well, see you at 6 K-Kibi,"

"Yeah, food court right?"

"Yup!" I winked at him, quickly getting over it, and giggled as he continued to stare at me,

Kiba's POV:

Wow, I had just kissed Kumori. This super cool girl who is my best friend. But wow, that was... Holy crap! I just KISSED HER!! Kumori! K-U-M-O-R-I! MY BEST FRIEND! God how am I going to... And whats this feeling? Hm...Maybe I should ask her to the New Years festival...

Kumori's POV:

"Hey, I didn't hear screaming, what happened?"

"Uh...N-Nothing! Um...We...J-Just talked..."

"Oh really? Than why are you blushing?"

"Oh..Uh-"

"And I didn't hear talking either,"

"Well theres a perfectly good reason behind that-"

"O MY GOSH! YOU KISSED HIM! HAH HAH! MY SON! YOU! AND HIM!"

"H-How'd you know?"

"-laughs- I've known you all your life, and I always knew you two would come together,"

"B-But...N-No!...M-Me and...H-Him?!"

"-nods head- Well, you'll see I'm right soon enough,"

"-scoffs- Yeah, sure, well I'm going out with Hinata,"

"To try on dresses?"

"H-How did you know?"

"-sigh- why do you keep asking me that? Anyways, Kiba's favorite color is-"

"Brown. Yeah, I know."

"This is what I mean by-"

"YEAH! ANYWAYS I GOTTA GO, SEE YA LATER OKASAN!" I sprinted out the door before she could say anything else. How could she think THAT!? Hm, maybe he said something...

OK! Now it's time to get my shop on!