Running through the streets of Konoha, she was a flash of wild red hair. Her breathing ragged as her chest heaved with exhaustion. The tears that welled in her eye threatened to spill over as she pressed on. 'No….he wouldn't leave me…' the words echoed in her mind almost hauntingly. She didn't want to believe it, that he would leave her, not after two years of marriage, he promised her he would never do this to her. Her thoughts came to a halt as she laid eyes on him, finally reaching out to grab his shirt. He turned to face her, his eyes filled with disgust at how weak she must have looked right now. She opened her mouth to say something, anything, the words she was looking for never came, instead she looked down in horror to see his arm sticking straight through her stomach, Chidori glowing as he drew his hand from her letting her collapse in pain as he turned to walk away from her…blood gurgled in her throat as she managed to make out something…the name that was forever on her lips…."Sasuke" she screamed out to him as everything went black. She felt someone shaking her but she was already too far gone.
Juliet awoke with a jump. Wrath was hovering above her shaking her shoulders returning her to consciousness. She coughed the dryness in her throat was painfully evident. "Let me get you some water" he mumbled ruffling her hair worriedly. She smiled, embarrassed when he returned a few seconds later with a cup of ice water and a worried look in his eyes. "Here you are Julie-chan!" he handed her the cup helping her sit up so she could drink it. "Thank you" she smiled at him. Wrath had been taking care of Juliet for the past 2 months since Sasuke left her. She was thankful for Wrath he had seen her at her worst, he held her through the night terrors, the hours of sobs that wracked her frail body, he cooked for her when she refused to eat, he dragged her out to socialize when she shut herself out, and never let her have the chance to feel alone. Lady Tsunade had granted her an extended leave of absence due to her current state. Day by day she was getting better, slowly but she was and it was thanks to her friends, Wrath and Hatashi (her teammates), and the leaf shinobi helped her through her time of need.
Stretching, Juliet swung her legs out of bed and hoisted herself up taking Wrath's wrist as she willed her feet to take her to the kitchen. Hatashi was waiting at the table already, chopsticks in hand patiently waiting for them so that he could eat. "Oi! Took you long enough! I'm starving!" She smiled, 'Always so impatient' she thought to herself as she sat down and dug in herself. "Today's my first day back at the hospital" she stated, making the two men look up at her happily. Hatashi was the first one to break the silence, "That's wonderful Jewels! I'm glad hear it, and I'm sure Lady Tsunade will be too. You are on your way to being one of the greatest medical nins being trained by the Hokage herself and all" he beemed proudly at her. She blushed as she always did when taking compliments "Naw…I'm not that great" she mumbled and finished up breakfast, "Well looks like it's time for me to head out, I'll see you guys when I get home!" She headed to the bathroom and got ready and started on her way to the hospital.
Lady Tsunade sat at her desk staring down at some paperwork when Juliet walked in. "My lady" she addressed her. "Juliet! I'm so glad to see you! I'm sorry, I know I had said I would train with you today but I need you to head off immediately! We sent out some teams to track the Akatsuki and I believe one of them has gone into combat with them. They may need your medical skills, I have prepared supplies for you." Juliet stands there for a minute dumbstruck but nods her head and grabs the supplies from Tsunade's desk and turns to head out. She stops for a moment and looks back at her "Which team?" Tsunade looks at her gravely "I believe it is Asuma's team. Juliet, be cautious I know you've become close with them, don't let your emotions cloud your judgment. And whatever you do, DO NOT use your kekkei genkai, I have received the results of the pregnancy test we ran two months ago, but haven't had the chance to go over them." With that said Juliet left. In a flash red she darted to the location of Asuma's team, hoping she would make it in time if they needed help.
Asuma had become a close friend of Juliet's. She often found herself watching over the heated games of Shogi between he and Shikamaru. Asuma looked after her when Wrath and Hatashi were out on missions keeping her company and taking her along with his team when they went for barbeque or when all the Jonin when out for sake. As she neared their location she could hear the distant rumble of thunder in the sky as the dark clouds rolled in. A flock of raven's were visible overhead. 'Aoba?' She didn't expect him to be there 'Had they needed back up?!' Her pace picked up, a feeling of nervousness building in her stomach. The rain began to fall as she reached the scene. The two Akatsuki disappeared into a cloud of smoke. There was a pool of blood just a ways away that she desperately hoped belonged to the enemy but as she looked up to the roof her hopes were crushed.
She jumped up to the roof where they had laid Asuma down. He was bleeding from his mouth and other multiple wounds on his body. Ino wasn't healing him, she sat crying with her hands clenched together in her lap. Choji was to her side tears sliding down his cheeks as well. She looked to Shikamaru who sat talking to his dying sensei. The Jonin stood in the rain paying their respects to their comrade while his life slipped away slowly. She didn't feel the tears that were falling from her eyes but she knew they were there. Her voice broke the silence making everyone look up at her, suddenly aware of her presence, "Shika-kun?" she held back a sob.
He looked at her, his composure on the brink of crumbling down. Juliet dropped to her knees cradling Asuma's head in her lap. His eyes locked with hers almost apologetically "Hey there lil lady". "Shhhh…" She shushed him "You'll be fine. Ino do you think we could tackle this together?" The blonde looked down and shook her head as she held back a sob.
Juliet took a deep breath and dwelled on the words of the Hokage, 'whatever you do, DO NOT use your kekkei genkai, I have received the results of the pregnancy test we ran two months ago, but haven't had the chance to go over them'. Asuma coughed in her lap a sickening gurgle brought her attention to him, blood soaked her skirt as it ran out of his mouth. Tears fell again as she placed her hands on either side of his face and closed her eyes 'Please forgive me…saving the life of a friend outweighs the loss of a possible child….' She initiated her kekkei genkai and readied herself for the pain that would come. Slowly Asuma's wounds started to heal themselves and the light of life returned to his eyes. Although they were only a fraction of the originals, the wounds that were transferred to her own self ripped at her body viciously. Blood seeped through her shirt and as she felt the three tear through her lower body she knew if there was a child there it had no chance of surviving such a wound. Juliet slipped out of consciousness as Asuma came to and Aoba caught her gathering her in her arms and carrying her to Tsunade.