Reversing the Bindings
(Chapter One)
Am I content?
Sakura strode purposefully down the linoleum floor, the padded steps of her sandals where rhythmic on the clean floors. Staring down at her clip board she entered a room, its white door slightly ajar, the blinds shut. She pushed open the door looked inside.
"Mr. Mizaki?" she asked softly, her voice trickling into the deadly silent room. A voice came from the bed. A boy, barely 7 stared up at her with horrified eyes.
"Y-yes? Dr. Haruno sama?" he piped up. She gave a light smile, to ease the boys concurring nerves. He didn't seem to relax at all, Sakura shrugged it off,
'Can't help the faint hearted' she thought and gave a mental shrug. Stepping inside carefully, putting down her clip board, having read it on the way here.
"So Mizaki, what brings you here today?" she asked and stood before him with a reassuring smile, to her silent delight he seemed to ease a little.
"I was running with some friends of mine and I fell over and cut my leg on some metal sheets" he told her, trying to sound brave. Sakura's insides stopped.
'I'll have to give him an injection, and it's the first time he's been to the doctor' she thought sadly,
'Poor kiddo…..' She sighed out loud and smiled.
"Are you strong Mizaki?" Sakura asked suddenly, his eyes brightened and he gave her a smile, one of his front teeth missing.
"I didn't even cry when Iruka sensei pulled the metal out of my leg!" he told her, bursting with childish pride.
"Well I need you to be strong for me ok?" she asked and he nodded to her, fear seeping back into his eyes.
She couldn't help being a little melodramatic, she didn't mean to treat him like a 4 year old. She smiled light and nodded; turning her back to him she fiddled with her desk and pulled the needle out of its protective covering.
'Here I go again' she thought, 'being such a sook' she mused to herself
"Hay Mizaki can I give you something?" she asked, her back still to him as she adjusted her hand and gave it a little squeeze, some of the liquid dribbling down the side of the glass tube.
"Uh… sure!" he asked her timidly. She heard him shuffling on the bed, the plastic covers shuffled beneath him. She smiled down at the needle,
"I need you to close your eyes" she asked him, turning her head over her shoulder and gave him a bright smile. He nodded and clamped down his lids and waited.
She walked foreword and put the needle softly into his shoulder, pressed down on the end and took it out quickly. She knew he was watching, his lids slightly open as he studied her. She threw the needle into the bin with concentrated accuracy before she returned to him.
"Why did you tell me to close my eyes?" he asked her with confusion. She gave him a softened gaze,
'Because I'm a soft hearted weakling, that's why' she answered to herself.
"How is Iruka sensei?" she asked, changing the subject. He smiled at her, eyes brightening as he rubbed his shoulder. She noticed he flinched at the light pain.
'Pain isn't all that bad kiddo…. Some day you will under stand that, ne?' she sighed.
"Iruka sensei is Iruka sensei" he told her with a sheepish look of his face, Sakura giggled at the boy, he looked at her and smiled,
"You're nicer than Sasuke sensei said" he told her, she softened her eyes at the boy.
"Something I pride myself on kiddo" she told him, and she frowned,
'Sasuke told the kiddo about me huh… still childish in his methods I see' she growled in her head and sighed even louder
"What is your name?" she asked, he grinned sadisticly with sparkling eyes. The smile, reminded her of someone, but she couldn't put her finger on it. Shrugging it off, she waited for his reply.
"Kaeru" he told her, grinning madly at her. She smiled back at him, she ruffled his hair and he pouted cutely. She leaned back and stretched and she smiled,
"Get on back to training Kaeru Mizaki" she told him, his eyes widened and he gave a squeal of excitement. She giggled, holding out her hand to help him of the table, which her took quickly and walked him out of the room, locking it in the process.
"Want me to walk you to the lobby, I've got to hand in your file to the secretary" she asked him, he gave her about 8 nod's, making her laughed. She smiled and walked with him down the corridor, a pair of Medic Nins walked passed, giving there regards to her, which she regarded them with smiles and went on with Kaeru.
Kaeru stiffened and he looked up to her as they entered the lobby, Sakura felt him tense. She looked into the lobby and saw Iruka talking quietly with another Medic Nin; Sakura raised a brow and looked at Kaeru who was shaking a little. To Sakura's displeasure and joy Iruka hadn't even noticed them in the lobby.
'Twisted much?' she mused to herself.
"Ok Kaeru, did you forget to tell me something?" she asked him kindly, he looked at the floor and put his hands around his back. The perfect disguise, innocent little boy routine.
'Innocent little boy my ass' she told herself, scowling slightly.
"Come on, let's go before he notices were here" she whispered to him with a wink. He looked at her, gasping a little. She took his hand, gave a little salute to the secretary who smiled knowingly and Sakura walked into the lobby and out of the door, Iruka failed even to acknowledge her, fuelling her annoyance to boiling point.
"What about Iruka sensei?" Kaeru asked her, worry laced in his voice. She smiled at him,
"I'll deal with him later… besides he looks pretty angry, but I wonder what it was about?" Sakura mimicked fake wonder in her voice. She pulled the I-Know-But-I'm-Gonna-Force-It-Out-Of-You move. A very powerful move though it was risky one.
"Well…. Maybe I was climbing the roof to get away from Sasuke sensei, and I slipped over and cut my leg" he told her, closing his eyes waiting for her to scold him.
"I would have done the same thing Kaeru! So stop acting like I'm going to eat you" Sakura said sternly, but with the hint of humour in the end. Kaeru was all out amazed at the Sanin. She was smart, strong and beautiful and she dislikes Sasuke sensei… Why weren't there any girls his age like her?! They were all falling over for the dark Uchiha.
"I like you Sakura chan, you're my doctor from now on!" he cheered and gave her a hug. She smiled and gave the boy a pat on the back,
"Sure kiddo- I mean Kaeru!" she said, fixing up her error quickly, giving an apologetic smile, but he smiled regardless.
"You can call me that if you want Sakura chan!" he pipped up and she smiled. They walked down the street, continuing there path though Kaeru had no idea where she intended to go.
"Uh… Sakura chan?" he asked her, pulling a face. She smiled at him widely, her eyes sparkling. Kaeru blinked up at her,
"We are going to go get some cherry ice cones" she told him with a grin. His face brightened, his eyes widened with amazement and anticipation. But he frowned and his happy face faded.
"But I can't pay for them, there so expensive" he told her and he felt an embarrassed blush covering his little cheeks. She gave a soft looked and she bent before him,
"It'll be my treat; I did promise I'd give you something now didn't I?" she asked him and ruffled his hair. He grinned at her, his toothless smile returning in full force to Sakura's private joy. They walked on in comfortable silence, along the main road of Konoha, smiling people bickering and haggling as usual. Sakura caught Kaeru looking around for someone, much to his joy he stopped his search and gave Sakura's coat a tug,
"Can we see someone quickly?" he asked with a grin, Sakura smiled and she followed him with her own grin. They came to a pair of children the same age as Kaeru, they acknowledged him with stares.
"Satsuki! Jin!" Kaeru called, the girl smiled but the boy frowned. Kaeru walked up, Sakura standing back, giving them some space. Kaeru looked back to her and grinned,
"Relax Sakura, they won't eat you…" he repeated with a sheepish smile. She raised a brow and came forward,
"Hey guys" Sakura greeted, Kaeru smiled and looked at his companions. They looked at Sakura with wide eyes and looked from her to Kaeru. The girl, presumably Satsuki looked at Sakura, jealously hitched in her eyes, while the boy looked at her with a strange expression, between surprise and a frown.
"So did we learn anything important in class after my stunt?" Kaeru asked and the girl kicked in, happy to have the attention from Kaeru.
"Not much, basic chakra control, because you couldn't perform a substitution jutsu before you were hurt" Satsuki said with a little shrug and she grinned,
"But we got to stay in class longer with Sasuke sensei, so I wasn't complaining" she told him, slight smugly. Kaeru rolled his eyes and turned to Jin, who was still staring at Sakura.
"You're the apprentice of Tsunade-sama, you got her Sannin title" he informed simply, Sakura smiled and bent down. She raised a pair of brows,
"Aren't you acting a little serious for you age?" she asked, poking his cheek. The two other looked at her, surprise lined in there faces. Jin raise brow quizzically before trying to slap her hand away, but she hastily put her hand away. To the others surprise she had a hand to by her side in a flash; they didn't even see it move! Jin frowned with a little smirk,
"You're fast" he informed her. Sakura smiled, but she knew the truth.
'Not fast enough though' she told herself and sighed out loud. Jin smirk faded and he put his hands on his hips, his thoughtful face back. Sakura thought for a moment.
"I like you guys" she informed them with a smile, and she turned to the other two.
"Wanna come with me and Kaeru to get cherry ice cones?" she asked, Satsuki's eyes widened with joy.
"Sure!" she yelled with joy, took Kaeru's hands and spun around without noticing the slight blush on his cheeks as she did so. Sakura turned to the other boy. He stared up at her, he seemed to be…. Measuring her up in someway. He gave a little smile,
"Why not?" he shrugged and joined his companions in there bickering. Sakura smiled and pointed down the road, to where the vendor was. She wondered what she looked like, with the three kids following behind her, smiling and laughing. She noticed the looks on the people, turning to gossip, people talking loudly, so loud she could hear. She shrugged, walking on until the vendor came into view. Sakura was surprised to find it unusually bare, and was the first person in line,
"Sakura, it's a bit early than usually for you?" the fat vendor questioned with a smile. Sakura smiled a little,
"Well today's a special occasion, I've promised something and I plan on keeping it" she said with a grin and reached into her pocket and pulled out some yen, counted it up and placed her order. He motioned for her to sit at the chairs and he would bring them over. Sakura slipped some extra money when the children weren't looking for him to put some full cherries in the ice cups.
Sitting down with the group of wannabe Shinobi Sakura found a silent peace. As they began to bicker, she listened to them with a little smile. Satsuki was apparently one of Sasuke sensei's favourite pupils and Kaeru and Jin were listing the reasons why she wasn't and most likely his favourite was another child, a boy apparently.
"Wow, things for Sasuke haven't seemed to change" Sakura intervened before Satsuki started listing her reasons on why she was. Jin seemed thankful for the change of subject; Kaeru seemed to become interested in the new change of subject, attempting to try and find out as much as he about the mysterious Sanin, while Satsuki looked peeved for the interruption of one of her favourite pass times, being Sasuke's favourite,
"You know Sasuke sensei Sakura?" Kaeru asked with wide eyes. Jin seemed to be listening, in his own way, by not looking like he was. Satsuki seemed interested in the mention of Sasuke's name, but her eyes narrowed at the mention of Sakura's name in the same sentence. Sakura brushed off the jealous girls glare and smiled at Kaeru.
"Mmhm… I was on his Genin team and with him in the Chuunin exams as well" Sakura said fondly and smiled at the kids. Satsuki looked at her with wide eyes,
"You were with him most of his life, no fair" Satsuki said dramatically, Sakura raised a brow and leaned back on her chair and smirked.
"He really isn't that great you know, I had my own little crush on the Uchiha but I got over him after I saw his other side" she told them with a big grin. The group looked at her with interested gazes. She smiled,
"Did you get anywhere with Sasuke?" Satsuki asked questioned. Sakura was a bit taken back by the question. 'Did I go anywhere with Sasuke?' she questioned herself, thinking initially about it for a moment.
"Satsuki do you know how rude you're bei-" Kaeru told her with frown, Satsuki seemed a bit surprised by his begin of a lecture but was cut off by Sakura.
"As far as anything, I pretty sure me and Sasuke didn't go anywhere honestly" she told them with a shrug. Satsuki gave a small breath of relief? Sakura didn't know and she didn't worry about it for long. The cones were placed on the table carefully. Sakura smiled and looked up at the vendor, who tipped his hat to Sakura before returning to his shop. Sakura smiled and took one. The sweet ice looked disturbingly good; the pink ice topped with the glazed cherries was too tempting. Sakura took the small spoon that came with it and dug in. Taking a small spoonful she put it in her mouth and savoured the taste. She looked the children who were just looked at the cones like they weren't going to melt. Sakura frowned.
"Take one kiddo's, there plenty there and if they stay to long in the sun, they will melt" she told them, it was still roughly midday and the sun hung high in the sky. They all shook awake and they took one and took a spoon. They all took one at the same time to Sakura's amusement. They all smiled at each other at the sweet taste, they all laughed and ate them, like it was going to run away. They finished fast, while Sakura ate hers slowly. After they put them in the bin and smiled to one another and started to chat amongst themselves. She thought for a moment and gasped,
"I'm such a fool, Sasuke is probably wondering where all of you are, school is still going and the lunch brake would be over soon!" she told them and stood up, and she finished her cone hastily. The kids stood with her and power walked to keep up with her long strides, laughing with each other still. She smiled and slowed down.
'He wont be to angry, besides Sasuke is probably a slave driver' she thought with slight amusement and walked at a comfortable pace. They walked across the town, to the other side Konoha, until they found the school grounds. The swing on the tree across from its large, seemingly always open doors seemed to be ageless, she remembered Naruto and she felt little tender thoughts come back, so many memories of this place. She also noted in her head the swing had snapped, the plank that held the remembered body of Naruto, lay in the dust. Sakura entered the doors hesitantly; sensing her tenseness Kaeru took her hand and smiled, with a little blush on his cheeks
"Come on Sakura chan, the class has started and Sasuke sensei is probably angry, remember we left the hospital!" Kaeru said with concerned voice, Sakura smiled at the boy and gave his hand a squeeze,
'You're acting to old for your age Kaeru' she told herself tenderly 'I'm still weak Kaeru' she thought sadly, but her smile widened and she pulled them along.
"So, which class room are you guys in?" she asked. Kaeru led her down the corridor, the scratch of chalk on black boards, the sound of questioning students and chatter of classes. Sakura smiled and looked at Satsuki who looked angry beyond reason at Kaeru's single hand in hers. Jin looked as passive as ever, again reminding her of someone, again.
"Here we are Sakura chan" Kaeru said as they stopped, pulling on her coat. She smiled and knocked on the door,
"Come in" came a familiar voice and Sakura rolled back the door and stepped inside. She gave a slightly sheepish smile; she looked at the classes eyes that bore down at her.
'This is so scary' Sakura thought, slightly taken back by the eyes. She looked behind her and made room for Kaeru, Jin and Satsuki who walked to there benches. She gave a small grin at Sasuke who raised a brow at her; she scratched the side of her head cutely,
"Just returning some students Sasuke-sama, I didn't disturb anything did I?" she asked. He looked at her sternly,
"Just basic transformation jutsu, from this morning that the class had to perform today" he told her, sending his gaze to Kaeru. Sakura saw Kaeru stiffen and plunk his head on the table in defeat. Sakura gave a small laugh that didn't go unnoticed by Sasuke. She sobered at the look he gave her; she looked around the room and frowned.
"Already, but they look just seven?" Sakura asked with a raised brow, the children seemed to be uninterested; Sasuke continued being as passive as ever. He gave her a simple look which she narrowed her eyes at.
"That's the new age for training, from the ANBU head himself; they have younger chakra, they learn it early so later is easier" he told her with shrug.
'You mean younger the better, ne Sasuke? The younger the better, to turn into war machines'
Sakura's fists clenched and she breathed raggedly; Kaeru noticed his and watched, he saw Jin look down now too. "But there just kids Sasuke, don't tell me you agree with this" she asked desperately, her eyes searching his blank ones.
'Please, for our sake Sasuke, tell me you hate this as much as I do!' she begged in her head, her eyes looking into his.
'We never had much to agree about. But for god sake, there just kids damn it!' she screamed in her head, her eyes still searching his onyx ones. But she found nothing.
Nothing.
"Orders are orders Sakura" he told her in the same monotone voice.
Sakura gasped softly, but she composed herself. Lowering her eyes she turned her body around and walked to the door, her hand rested on the handle which she opened in a swift movement. Standing in the ajar space she created she paused.
"Even with the Sharingan, you're still blind Sasuke" she told him with sadness? And closed it behind her with a loud snap; the sides cracked, the wood splintered from the force she gave. The class that had been murmuring about the strange visit was now death silent.
"Ok, lets continue our-" Sasuke continued like nothing happened, but Kaeru didn't even bother to try and remember what he was saying, his thoughts on a distraught kunoichi, who was leaving the premises. He stared out the window longingly, his little hands holding up his head as his gaze stayed on the opening. He watched her as she walked near the tree with the broken swing. She touched the rope softly and sighed, he couldn't hear it but could see it, the way her shoulders sagged when she did. Her body was silhouetted by the trees huge shadow. He watched her as she repaired the swing, tying the rope at the tear. She even sat on it to check its safety. That's when he saw her crying in the shadows, her shaking shoulders and her hands in her face. Kaeru was thinking about jumping out the window but was thrown off when someone yelled at him.
"Kaeru, attention on the board" Sasuke barked at child. Kaeru reluctantly parted with his sight, a dreamy gaze at the man before them, but the child sobered up quickly, realising who he was dealing with.
'Poor Sakura chan, she crying' he thought, his fist clenched as he watched the board, feeling completely miserable for the kunoichi outside.
Sakura sat on the swing and tested it with a sad smile. She felt the emotion run, the tears began to fall and she couldn't stop. It was all failing her, everything! All of her friends, all of them, had become strong, respected and brave Shinobi. She was a Medic Nin, a famous one too but she still drifted away from her dream, away from her life she wanted, but most of all from her friends and she felt the part between them. She was weak, she was fragile and she was lonely. God she was lonely!
Sakura sighed sadly, her tears gone now, and she swung gently on the swing. She lifted her feet in the air.
'But I shouldn't complain, I heard even people are requesting me, but no one seems to even know" she thought, subconsciously swinging herself. She swung harder now, pressure being put on the swing. She continued thinking though,
'They don't care, I wasted years trying to keep up with them, always organising meetings, training sessions with them' she thought angrily.
'They say I avoid them now, bah! They don't know anything, now that I'm not tailing after them, they suddenly seem to notice my existence' she continued, slowing down on the swing,
'They forgot me, they ignored me. Even the older people did as well' she sighed, slowly swinging.
'Am I really that much of a burden, do they really have no time for me?' she questioned herself, frowning.
"No" she whispered furiously and swinging still, gripping the rope in a vice like grip.
'Am I content… are you content Sakura? Am I acceptable, am I problem or are the for once, holding me back?' she thought sadly.
'Do I still love them, but do I trust them too much, enough to hurt me? Yes, I am hurting myself, I am making myself sad, I need to help myself for once, they will catch up to me, to my happiness' her lips twitched at the thought, slowing herself down to a near stop on the swing.
'They will make the move to see me, they will have to overcome there pride and see me. I have found friends and lovers. I have conquered and met my full extent of power, I am content' she thought, coming to a halt on the swing.
"I am content" she whispered wistfully, with a faded smile. She stood with a smile on her lips and strode away from the school, in strong, swift paces. She was walking down street beside the school. The cobbled street winded through a small forest, the large trees along the road groaned under its branches, the light wind playing with there leaves.
"I am content" she said even louder and she laughed, the wind sent leaves blowing around her form before flying away with the fleeting wind. She smiled as they became specks in the distance and she too headed off for the hospital, she wanted to see her friends that were waiting for her at the hospital.
(A/N) I got absolutely no idea how to work these things, first fanfic I've ever posted, though I've been drifting around since god knows when (Ok, truth is I've lost count how many hours I spend on this site … all I do know is its too much for it to truly be healthy)... Pity me
I was actually thinking of this being a trilogy, this was going to be the second or third book, but I just wanted someone other than my friends reading this.
(Bursting with confidence)... Not a smart move, ne?
But I decided that I might as well get it over with and just submit, I'll hopefully upload in the next couple of days... I've already done up to chapter 3 T.T
(God I need a life, but if I did I wouldn't be here... strange no?)
I don't know what came over me when I made it; I truly think Sakura and Sasuke will never happen (DON'T HURT ME!!)… But I do entertain the thought… I wanna see more Shippuden action, though I can't seem to find any eps (internet hermit, I don't go out of my comfort zone)
If you know some sites for manga please, for all that is good and holy give me it!
I've typed to much for my liking, don't shot gun me down (though red paint is fine)
-Kronoshevan (yes, I know my UserName is disturbingly like Absolute Boyfriends Doll Heaven site, but god forbid there really is a actually story behind my name)
…. One which no one reading this will ever find out T.T its depressing
Were all just Protons, Neutron's, Electrons, a rest on a Sunday, work on a Monday- Cat Empire