Love is a Mystery
Preface
It was cold outside, mid-October, as I was walking home from school. The city of Konoha was lit up and bustling. Faces passed by without a second glance as I wandered my way home. I never felt more alive than when I was in the city at night, it was so vibrant and full of people; people who had their own lives and jobs and houses and friends and places to be. It wasn't often that I would stop to think about that. How it was strange that everyone had their own thing to be going along with, things that would lead them on completely different paths to the ones I was going to take, but when I did it made me feel so small.
If it was chance that pushed us to these things then chance was a very fine thing. Had it not been for the pure chance that I had left school late on that specific evening, or that I was walking slower than normal, or that I had to stop to tie my shoelace then I would not have crossed paths with the incredible Sasuke Uchiha.
1. What Opportunity Brings
It was cold outside and I was walking home from school. All around me people were hurrying to get home from work or school. Shivering, I wished I had thought to bring a thicker coat. My private school uniform provided very little in the way of protection and the uniform jacket was thin. I sighed, watching the breath steam out in front of me, as I dodged my way through the busy streets.
On a particularly busy section of the street, right outside the Central Konoha City Hospital, someone caught my shoulder with their elbow sending me sprawling on to the pavement. By the time I had looked up the person was gone, probably not even aware they knocked me down. Blood was running quickly down my leg staining my white tights, I had split the skin of my knee. Shakily, I stood up and dusted myself off. I continued on my journey home as if nothing had happened, trying to ignore the throbbing of my grazed knee. I was already five minutes late, I couldn't afford to walk any slower.
Resigning myself to not making it back home for dinner that night I pulled out my phone and sent a text to my mom. My stomach growled in protest and I tried to walk faster, but only succeeded in tripping over my own shoelace. I ducked down a quiet side street muttering curses under my breath, knelt down and re-tied it. In the quiet, I took some time to look in my bag for a plaster. I was this decision that changed the course of my life forever – little did I know.
Standing up once more, I was about to head back onto the main street when a noise behind me stopped me in my tracks. There was a yell at first as if someone had been caught by surprise, and then I could clearly hear people fighting; but upon turning around I saw no one down the small side street I was in. Well, not until someone jumped off of the roof of the building to my right. I stepped back against the wall as two more men also jumped from the roof, pouncing on the other man with deadly intent. A sudden rush of adrenaline burst through me and a stepped out of the shadows, feeling brave.
"Hey!" I yelled, loud enough to attract attention from people on the street. The men paused and after seeing the people peering into the side street, bolted. Only one of them remained, slumped against the alley wall.
"Hey," I said in a gentler voice. "Are you alright? Are you hurt?"
"Hn," he grunted as I approached him.
"Do you need to go to the hospital...?" I asked seeing his bloody lip and the way he was holding the top of his arm as if to put pressure on an open wound. I reached out to touch him, but he flinched away.
"Go. Away." He said scathingly, glaring at me with coal black eyes.
His tone startles me and I took a few paces back, enough to put me on the opposite side of the narrow street. "Well do you want me to call the police or-"
"I am the police," he muttered, "...sort of."
"Sort of?" I said with suspicion. He certainly didn't look like the police to me. He was tall, with black hair that was long at the front but pointed up at the back - a very unprofessional look for a police officer - black eyes, pale skin, he was wearing a long dark coat, over dark clothing and on his back, was a sheathed katana. He looked more like a criminal to me.
I sighed and persisted, reaching towards his injured arm again. The man glared at me but didn't move. I furrowed my eyebrows, embedded into his arm was a short, broken needle. I gasped and withdrew my hand quickly.
"They tried to drug me," the man grunted in explanation.
"Oh," I replied stupidly, unsure what to say. "Are you sure you don't want to go to the hospital? Or at least call someone."
"Hn."
I threw my hands up in disbelief, exasperated at his uncooperative attitude, but I couldn't just leave him. I pulled out my phone and started to dial 911.
"Don't!" the man hissed grabbing me by the shoulder. I frowned at him, but ended the call none the less. "Don't, I'll be fine."
"You need to get that taken out," I retorted snappily. "It'll get infected, and you'll die-"
"Oh please," he said, pushing himself off of the wall and trying to make his way towards the main street. I closed my eyes for a moment in frustration. My mind struggled with what to do. Deciding that it was probably better if kept an eye on him I walked just a few steps behind. It was clear that whatever drug those two thugs had used on him was starting to take hold. He was dragging his feet with every step, body swaying, he was probably feeling tired, I could see the beads of sweat on his forehead reflecting the light, but his stoic face gave nothing away.
"Hey, what's your name?" I asked him, realising that I hadn't asked before. He turned to look at me over his shoulder before collapsing back against the wall.
"Oh, for fuck sake," I mumbled under my breath. I jogged the few steps towards him in concern. He blinked as if trying to keep his eyes in focus. "What is your name?" I repeated loudly. The sound of my voice seemed to bring him back to focus.
"Your father, he's a doctor...take me to him," the man said completely ignoring my question. A chill ran down my spine. How did he know that?
"Fine, but what's your name?" I replied, trying to keep my cool. There would be time for questions later, now I needed to help him.
"Hn, not important," he groaned trying to take another few steps, his legs wobbling.
"Oh, for fuck sake," I muttered again.
Ducking under his uninjured arm I half dragged half walked the strange man out of the alley. We made slow progress back up the street toward the hospital where my dad worked. By that point he looked as though his was struggling to stay conscious.
"Hey, come one I can't get you there if you pass out on me," I told him, trying to make him regain focus again, but he was too far gone.
I had to haul him up the main stairs and into the lobby of the hospital. I cast about for a wheelchair, but none were available. For a moment I contemplated leaving him by the front desk, but one look at his weak body changed my mind. Determined, I pulled him to the elevator and propped him against the wall as I pushed the buttons.
As we moved upwards to the floor of my father's ward, I prayed that he wasn't with a patient because I did not bring a drugged, injured, potential criminal off of the street to have to go and wait in ER with him for hours.
The elevator door opened just as the man's legs buckled. I cried out in alarm attracting the attention of the nurse at the desk. Hearing my yell, my father rushed out of his office to see what the commotion was. He stopped dead for a second before taking my place and hauling the dark-haired man out of the elevator and into his private office. I loitered outside of the door for almost an hour before plucking up the courage to knock.
"Come in," my father called out. I poked my head shyly around the door. "Ah Sakura, come in."
I was silent as I entered the room, watching as my father spoke to his patient.
"I'll call your brother to pick you up," He sighed as he took in the sight of the man who was sat on the bed, leaning against the wall.
I opened my mouth to speak, but the man spoke first.
"I'm fine, I don't need him," he grumbled as my dad bundled together an array of dressings.
"Sasuke, I either call your brother or you stay here all night, which one would you prefer?" My father said as though he was scolding a misbehaving child.
"Hn."
"That's what I thought," dad said before starting to dress the wound on Sasuke's arm. "You're lucky my daughter found you."
I paused for a second and then, "S-Sasuke asked me to bring him to you...he said he knew that you were my dad…"
"Ah yes, Sasuke's little trick," my dad chuckled despite himself. "He probably knows everything about you. He knows everything about everyone with just one look."
I snorted, sure, that was totally believable. I glanced at Sasuke, his well-toned torso stood out even against the pale magnolia of the office walls, it was marked here and there by scars and one singular tattoo where his neck and shoulder joined. To my embarrassment he caught me staring and gave me a sly smirk. I blushed and looked away again.
After Sasuke's arm was cleaned and bandaged my dad left the room to call Sasuke's brother. We were alone again. I sighed and leaned against the wall, trying to ignore Sasuke's hazy eyes watching my every move.
"You're looking a lot better," I commented.
"Some water would be great right now," he replied, ignoring what I had just said.
Keeping my composure, I shook my head and left the room to go and get him some water without a word. I made sure to fill two plastic cups full because no doubt he would ask me to go back again if I only returned with one. Opening the door with my elbow I backed into the room only to discover the window wide open and Sasuke missing. The only thing that remained behind was his coat.
"Oh shit!" I yelled, both cups of water falling to the floor as I sprinted to the window, fully expecting to see Sasuke's mangled body on the pavement below. Outside the street was busy and Sasuke was nowhere in sight.
So guys who have read my works before; I know I have written and re-written this story a billion times, but this time I swear I am dedicated to re-doing all my old stories and even making some new ones.
To new readers; Welcome! I hope you enjoy my writing. Drop me a review to let me know what you think.
Old and new reader's support and feedback is really appreciated as I am writing this stuff for you guys to enjoy!
R&R - Sweetopia