Title: My Lovely Person
Author: Katarin Kishika
Characters/Pairing: Haruno Sakura X Uzumaki Naruto
Type: Continuous (Incomplete)
Genre: Romance
Disclaimer: If you recognize it, it's not mine.
Dedicated to: ExplodingKunai, NaruSakuFan, NaruSaku means logic and uzumakehish
READ ME: Oh, right, THIS IS AU!
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"Yo." – Talking
'Yo.' – Thoughts
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Chapter 1:
Permanent Resident
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Say the words "I love you" once more, please
The words I hope that will never change and will never end
Until this heart of mine stops beating, until the end of time
My lovely person, please stay by my side
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The very first time she saw him was when she was six years old. She was just about to go inside the farthest private room on the east wing of the hospital, her room. She just came back from her walk in the garden at the back of the hospital. She had to persuade her private nurse, Shizune-nee that she could at least walk back to her room without getting into trouble. Not a lot of people come here, especially children her age. 'He's probably sneaking around' Sakura thought. She watched, fascinated how he stuck to the wall, and looked suspiciously around him. Funny thing is, that boy was wearing a hideous orange jumpsuit that stick out to the bland white wall of the hospital and he's not looking behind him.
With soft footsteps she silently crept behind him but stopped when she was about five feet from him. Softly, as if taming a wild animal, she asked "What are you doing here?"
The blonde boy rounded at her with his blue eyes so wide, his cheeks with whisker like marks blushing and expression so surprised it was comical. It was a good thing she stopped a few distance away from him because he flailed his arms so much that he tripped on his own feet. And thank God she expected that kind of reaction because if she did not, well, she'll be surprised too. And with her illness, surprise and overwhelming feelings is not her best friend. She looked at him quizzically, head tilted on one side silently asking for his reply.
The boy just looked around him, probably checking if someone heard them. Finding no adults around, he let out a relieved breath and then focused his attention on her. He grinned a toothy grin, eyes almost closing in delight, "I'm sorry. I was just sneaking around." He said unabashedly and full with honesty and then he rubbed the back of his head "And… I'm actually lost." He stood up from his position and patted his pants. His childlike eyes regarded her in wonder, probably thinking why she was here too.
Sakura smiled sadly, "If you're wondering, I'm a permanent resident here." She giggled at her words. The boy, she noticed, stared at her curiously. She knows he wanted to ask a lot of question, but instead of asking 'What do you mean?' or 'Why?' like what she expected, he only asked "What's your name?"
Stunned, Sakura answered dumbly, "Haruno Sakura." She watched him hum and tried saying it. "Ne, Can I call you Sakura-chan?" He asked, eyes filled with hope that she will say yes. Sakura nodded; glad that he did not ask a lot of questions about her reason of staying here. She shyly asked, "You? What's your name?"
The boy grinned, "I'm Naruto, Sakura-chan!"
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"Hey, Naruto, I could accompany you to where you wanted to go." Sakura said as she followed Naruto around the hospital. "I know this place like the back of my hand." She chuckled, oh how true that statement is. But then again she wondered why Naruto is here? She watched his back; he turned to look at her catching her staring. Sakura pinked but instead of averting her eyes, she looked at him and questioned "Why are you here anyway?"
Naruto sighed. His back slumped. "Kaa-san had a car accident. Tou-san and I immediately rushed in here when we heard the news. She's in the emergency room now. I don't really like the commotion out there. I-It's a bit noisy… and scary." The boy was clearly distressed.
A small "Oh" escaped from Sakura. She shifted from one foot to another but she immediately gave in and hugged her new friend to comfort him "Everything will be okay. Don't worry." She said.
Naruto gratefully welcomed her hug. "Yeah, I hope so." He said.
Both children heard footsteps coming their way. She saw Shizune-nee rounding the corner. She saw the both of them and her gaze zeroed in on Sakura. "Sakura-chan, what are you doing here? It's time for your treatment. Come on; let's go back to your room." The kind nurse urged her to come with her.
Sakura looked at Naruto, panic immediately setting in, "But what about Naruto?" She squeezed his hand and looked at him. He was nervous too, that much she could tell.
Shizune-nee just smiled and said "Don't worry, I'll accompany Naruto-san back to his father first. The poor man looked so worried." She frowned at the boy, realizing the boy made quite a trouble for instantly disappearing once out of sight. "Come on, young man, your mother is as good as new now. I heard she's already dismissed. Your family's looking for you."
Naruto sighed, he looked relieved, Sakura noted. He turned at her and smiled. Sakura mouthed "I told you so" that made him grin.
They walked back to the emergency room where Sakura saw an older version of Naruto, 'His dad' she thought, and a red haired cheerful-looking woman who has a bandage around her head. They both enveloped him in hugs. His parents vigorously thanked Shizune-nee and looked at Sakura strangely. Naruto smiled and introduced her to his parents. They smiled in understanding which Sakura welcomed more (it's much better than pity).
When the family turned to walk out of the hospital, Naruto ran back to her, enveloped her in a big hug and promised he will return to visit her "I'll visit you as soon as I can, believe it!".
Sakura smiled at her friend and bid him a soft and small "Goodbye."
But that boy, who was sneaking around the hospital, so honest in saying he was lost, never did come back.
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When she was born she was diagnosed with a hypoplastic left heart syndrome where the structures on the left side of her heart are underdeveloped and cannot function properly. The doctors were convinced that she will not live long and should be promptly given with compassionate care instead. After all, there is a low survival rate of this congenital heart defect. But her parents, who own a large pharmaceutical company, did not give up. They did everything and anything for their only child. Immediately after birth she had undergone Norwood, Glenn and Fontan procedure. It was a three stage reconstructive surgery. It only lengthens her life though and is not a cure.
That is the reason on why she was here, a permanent resident at Konoha General Hospital. Her condition is monitored for the rest of her life. Everyone thought she will not survive, not without a transplant at least. But here she is, sixteen years old and hopefully will have another year more. Her parents said that she might receive a new heart soon. There are no compatible hearts available yet but they said she was next on the waiting list. Why it took so long? Sakura assumed that even if her parents wanted and gave their best for their child, they must have resigned some point in time that she will not live. It was truly a miracle she's here now though, without any disabilities appearing as any normal person could be, except for her fragile health and weak heart. That's why they were in haste and trying again now. Hoping that she will live, wishing for some time more.
Her parents made sure that she will have the best treatment she could get, even at the cost of her happiness. She did not go to school and was home-schooled, erm, hospital-schooled instead. Even so, she was an intelligent young girl and she did not take her situation to heart. She knows her parents just wanted her to live with them longer, she very much appreciated that. And like the good girl she is, she will humor them. After all, she never knows until when this heart will continue beating.
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The second time she saw him, it was very much unexpected. It was a whole ten years later. She still resides on that private room, the farthest one, on the east wing of the hospital. In all actuality, she had already forgotten about that boy, the boy who promised to visit her. She didn't take his broken promise to heart though. It'll really be deteriorating to her health. And perhaps, at the back of her mind… she already knew he won't be coming back.
She remembered the panic of the people in the emergency room that time. She was wandering on the halls that early evening, not too tired yet to retire to her 'room'. It was a peaceful evening so far before it happened. The loud ringing of the sirens and its red light slightly stunned her.
She watched as two ambulances pulled at the driveway and as the field paramedics unloaded two people. The first ambulance unloaded a girl. Her long raven hair coated with dried blood, body filled with bruises and scratches and wounds, skin ghastly pale and for all Sakura knew and seen was dead already. There's no rising of her chest. She's no longer breathing. As the girl in the stretcher passed by her, Sakura averted her eyes. Death is something that didn't sit too well on her. It was looming at her every day of her life, after all.
The second ambulance from where the paramedics unloaded its patient breezed by her so fast that she only just got a peak, a glimpse, of the person on the stretcher. She was still mulling of that raven haired girl when she saw that blonde hair matted with blood still oozing from a head wound that travels continuously down his whiskered cheeks and the sheets. Sakura's eyes widen in recognition.
She turned back to see his dad, that boy's older version who looks like about to break down, and his mother, that cheerful red haired woman way back then who looks torn between crying and staring to space, and passed by her to frantically follow the two stretchers.
Sakura was left alone in the hallway wondering… and desperately praying.
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Sakura was looking at the scenery her room's window presented. The full moon's glow vanquished the darkness surrounding the hospital's garden. She sighed, still fretting about that boy's condition. It has been so long, she couldn't even remember his name. But she recognized him immediately. One could probably count in their fingers the number of people her age she met that was here only for a visit and not because they're sick. She often stayed clear on the children's ward when she was younger. She didn't need the hopelessness that other children feel. It will surely drown her. Now though, she stays there most of the time to comfort them. She wondered, will he remember her too? She really hopes his condition turns for the better and wish that he recognize her too even if it's her face only.
She heard earlier from Shizune-nee that the girl did not survive. It was a motorcycle accident; Shizune-nee said the teens were driving too fast. She was sad that such a beautiful and young girl died so early in her life. She must have been her age too. There is so many more in life stored for her. Sakura's normally a cheerful person but she can't help but feel a bit bitter not because of the girl but because of the unfairness of life. Here she was, battling for life every day and people her age took life for granted.
'Thump.' 'Thump.'
Sakura reached where her heart is and clenched the material of her dress. She needs to calm down and rule over her emotions. Her attempts to smile turned into a grimace. Again, thinking of the unfairness of it all. She's an emotional person, why the hell was she gifted with a weak heart?
'Thump.' 'Thump.'
Inhale. Exhale.
A knock startled her a bit while she was calming down and mulling on her slightly darker thoughts. Her aunt, Tsunade, entered with Shizune-nee. The two older women gave her a worried glance.
"What happened?" Tsunade asked as she assisted her niece to sit down on her bed.
Giving them both a reassuring smile, Sakura vanish all passed thoughts from her mind. Worrying these two will just make her outside visits to the hospital garden shorter. Although based from their reactions, both women did not look convinced. Tsunade gave a stern glare but did not say anything more. Shizune-nee zoomed around the room just to do something so that she will not give Sakura a lecture on not to wear herself out. The girl does not need it now.
"Now let's get that check-up starting, shall we?" Tsunade said to the niece she looked out for ever since she was a babe.
Sakura smiled to her aunt, "Okay."
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That night, Sakura slept fitfully. Worried eyes cast to the closed door. Finally giving up sleep, she tiptoed out of her bed and silently closed the door. She walked aimlessly through the white bland halls of the hospital while avoiding the nurses on duty.
She was currently at the third floor of the hospital almost near the west wing. She blanched, 'how the hell did she reach this far?' Not risking being seen by the nurses or anyone for the matter, Sakura turned to make her way back to her room. She stopped though when she heard the gentle foot falls that seems like from the end of the hall. Much nearer than the distance she's comfortable with.
Without thinking of her actions, she immediately opened a random door and closed it behind her with a soft click. She released a relieved sigh, thankful that no one saw her. Finally realizing her actions when she heard the beeping sounds of a machine, she turned around to apologize if ever she woke up the patient behind her.
She stopped in the middle of her lengthy apology when she saw the person lying on the bed. A gasp escaped her lips when she saw his injuries. His left arm and leg was in a cast, head was bandaged, and actually, he looked mummified. She can't find a part of his body not covered in bandages. And she's pretty sure that underneath his hospital gown, there are more serious wounds to be seen.
Even with all his wounds, the sound made by his mechanical ventilator is comforting.
She walked silently; almost afraid that even the tiniest of sound will distress him. She reached her hand on the medical board at the end of his bed and saw his name.
'Uzumaki Naruto.'
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つづく
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AN: This was supposed to be a one-shot and should have been a lot longer. But I was forced to publish it out earlier as a sorry fic for my other fic, ironically, "I'm Sorry". Please watch out for the cleaner version this Saturday. :D
This fic will only be short. I just cut it into parts.
Questions you might ask:
Sakura's disease: Yep, hypoplastic left heart syndrome is a real congenital heart syndrome. Norwood, Glenn and Fontan procedures are real too. Norwood procedure is done almost immediately after birth, Glenn procedure at 3 to 6 months of age, and the Fontan procedure at 3 to 5 years of age. And yes, the patient will need a heart transplant to lengthen his or her time. What I made up is how Sakura's still alive and normal this day. Infants diagnosed with this disease and undergone the procedure usually have developmental delay or in need of special education. I don't really have the heart for Sakura to suffer those things, especially since it's in her character to be intelligent. Let's just settle that she's smaller than most her age and has a frail health :D
The Girl who died: Yep, that's Hinata… and I killed her. I'm sorry for all those Hinata fans out there. I really need someone to die (that sounded so wrong). And I need her to die in this story so it could progress (woah, I sound horrible there).
Naruto's Surname: I settled on Uzumaki even though his dad is alive, I'm really confused on what to use. Ahehe. It'll be weird to use Namikaze for me….
Why Sakura's still there in the hospital and where the heck her parents are: I imagine her parents owned it or perhaps have a large share on the hospital. Besides, if I were given the chance with the same situation with my daughter, I'd rather have her in an institution that could help in case of emergency. In Sakura's case, permanent residency on said institution. Also, her parents are not in the country as of now but they will both appear. Don't worry.
How many chapters this will have and the length of each chap: Honestly, I don't know. I know I said it'll be short but since I dissected the whole thing, ideas keep running forth. But I have the major outline; I'll just add a bit more on this. We'll just see up to where. As for the length… it'll vary, I guess. But I really hope I could make the next chap longer (I'll be adding more to the original).
Updates: will be every Saturday or Sunday.
Any idea what will happen next? Hehe. Give me your guess! I would LOVE to hear, erm, read it!
I would love to hear from you and again THANK YOU FOR GIVING YOUR TIME TO READ THIS and PLEASE READ AND REVIEW and NO FLAMES please.
AN 2: I'm really sorry dbzgtfan2004. I got the story deleted. I'm really sorry...
~Katarin Kishika