Temari took a sharp intake of breath as her eyes flew open. The air was cold and crisp, nipping at whatever skin that might be exposed to the brisk night air. Temari sat straight, seeing she had one of those hospital dresses on and her hair was loose. Temari's mind was groggy and it was hard for her to place things. She started breathing heavily as she looked at her unfamiliar surroundings.
Temari was confused as to why she was in a hospital room, she had no physical injuries she could see, yet she was wired up to a machine that beeped every time her heart pumped. Signalling she's alive. The machine's beeping got faster as her heart pounded faster in her chest. Why was she in a hospital? What was wrong with her?
Temari looked around. She was alone in the hospital room. All the beds around her bed where empty. Why was she alone? Where was everyone?
An eerie atmosphere hung over the dark room as the light of the full moon shone through the closed window. Temari gritted her teeth and ran a hand through her hair as she calmed herself down. Temari's wild eyes focused again as she slowed her breathing. Her eyes travelled to the needle in her arm. She had one of two chooses, either she stays in this ominous hospital room or she can get the hell out this hospital.
The answer was as clear as crystal to Temari... She was getting out.
Temari didn't know why but she felt like escaping out the window was her best option. She just had this feeling of dread about leaving through the door like a normal person. Guess she isn't a normal person then...
Temari ripped off all the wires that were attached to her making the heart monitor's beeping melt into one never-ending sound. Never varying in frequency and not stopping. The noise only agitated Temari's feeling of dread even more. Temari ripped the tape of her arm that kept the needle in place then pulled out the needle in her arm, allowing it to drop to the ground.
Temari jumped out the hospital bed, but as soon as her bare feet touched the ground she lost her footing. Temari scowled as she tipped forward and landed on the cold floor. Why were her muscles so weak?
Temari gritted her teeth as she pushed herself up. She took hold of the bed next to her and pulled herself up, grunting as she willed her legs to work properly. She needed to get away...
The heart monitor screeched it's one toned song as Temari leaned on every object to the window for support. She didn't know why, but she had to escape. All of this was wrong...
Temari was panting by the time she reached the window, it was like she hasn't moved a single muscle in years and now they were screaming at her to give them a break. Temari scoffed at her weak muscles, she wasn't going to be stopped just because her muscles were lazy.
Temari grunted as she pushed herself up to a sitting position on the window. Temari panted as she watched the door suddenly fly open. Nurses streamed into the room rushing to her vacant bed, only to realise it was empty. They were immobilized by confusion for a moment before they started looking around.
That's when they saw Temari sitting on the window. They gasped as they saw their patient committing something dangerous, however, Temari only smirked at them before she leaned back and flew out the room. She did a backflip in the air and landed on the ground not very gracefully. Temari yelped in pain as she hit the ground hard, her muscles telling her she wasn't used to dropping out of a two-story window.
Temari stood up with a grunt as she jogged with a limp to heaven knows where. She was alone. She was cold. And she was lost in a strange village. The moonlight lit up the village as Temari jogged through it with her bare arms and legs, the cold turning her skin blue. But that didn't stop her.
However, she still didn't know where the hell she was. Nothing in this village where familiar. The streets where completely empty and every shop was closed. The village was asleep. It signalled to Temari that it was the unholy hours after 12 when nothing good ever happened... However, a child's voice suddenly pierced the night.
"Mom?" The child asked in pure shock making Temari spin around to look at the child.
His voice sounds deafening in the silent night.
xXx
Peaceful silence hung over the Uchiha residence as all the members of the household slept soundly, however that peaceful silence was soon interrupted by rapped tapping. It confused Sakura as to who the hell would be knocking at her door 2 o'clock in the night, her mind couldn't grasp an answer. She contemplated whether or not she should ignore it and go back to sleep or answer it.
She didn't know whether Sasuke was awake or not because he was silent and didn't move. Maybe he was still asleep even if she was a heavier sleeper than him. Sakura sighed, she probably should answer the door before the inconsiderate bastard at the door woke up Sasuke and Sarada.
"Sakura, there's someone at the door." Sasuke said quietly, not really surprising Sakura.
Guess he was awake after all. She wanted to give him a sarcastic answer like 'no shit Sherlock' but ultimately she refrained from being sarcastic.
"I'll go get it." Sakura said with a heavy sighed.
She was really tired and didn't feel like leaving the warmth of the bed she shared with Sasuke. It really was cold outside and her bed seduced her into not leaving.
"Don't worry about it, I'll get it. You've had a long day at the hospital, go back to sleep." Sasuke said as he leaned over to her and kissed her temple before he left the warmth of the bed and walked to the front door.
Leaving a smiling Sakura to sleep further. Sasuke walked irritably to the front door. He swears if it was Naruto that was at the door he'll kill him because not only did he wake Sakura and himself up, but now he also had to climb out his warm bed to confront the person at the door and damn was it cold outside.
Sasuke reached the front door and unlocked it, swinging the door open as he glared at the person at the front door.
"What do you want?" Sasuke said at the unknown woman at his door.
However, he must say she does look a lot like a nurse from a hospital, judging from the nurse uniform she's wearing that peaked slightly from the coat she was wearing above it. The woman was panting as she tried to get as much air into her lungs, creating clouds with each heavy breath she took. It looked like she just ran a marathon.
"I'm sorry to intrude at a time like this, but I need to speak to lady Sakura." The woman said, panting between each word.
"Why?" Sasuke asked bluntly, not giving any indication of letting the woman in.
"I think it'll be better if lady Sakura is here to hear it too." The woman said seriously as she started catching her breath.
"Fine." Sasuke said with a heavy sigh, not feeling in the mood to drag it out of her, he just wanted to go back to sleep again.
Sasuke stepped out the way and allowed the woman in as he closed the door after she came in. Sasuke led the way to a lounge where he could leave her to wait.
He would've called Sakura from the lounge but he didn't want to wake Sarada up so he left the woman there and walked back to the master bedroom. Sasuke walked over to Sakura who went back to sleep and crouched in front of her face. She was sleeping on the left side of the bed on her right side. Her hair fell across her peaceful face while she slowly breathed in and out.
"Sakura, wake up." Sasuke said gently as he pushed the hair out her face softly.
He knew it wouldn't take much to wake her up because she was awake a few minutes ago and nobody except Shikamaru could fall into a deep sleep so fast. Sakura's eyes fluttered open as she stared in the eyes of the man she loves.
"A woman is here and is adamant on speaking with you." Sasuke said.
"Guess I should get up then." Sakura said with a sigh as she sat up while Sasuke stood.
He walked over to where Sakura's robe was while she climbed out the bed. He walked towards Sakura and held the robe to her.
"Wear this, it's cold." Sasuke said bluntly as Sakura took the robe with a smile.
"Thank you." Sakura said as she put her robe on and followed Sasuke to the lounge.
Sakura frowned as soon as she saw the woman. It was one of the nurses from the hospital. Why would she be here at this time of night?
"Lady Sakura." The nurse said, standing up urgently as soon as she saw the nurse.
"Amari? What are you doing here?" Sakura asked with a surprised voice.
This couldn't be good.
"Temari Nara has woken up and escaped from the hospital." The nurse informed Sakura.
Sasuke lifted his eyebrow in curiosity while Sakura's eyes widened in shock before her face turned into a scowl.
"Great, the only time Shikamaru is gone she wakes up..." Sakura said with a sigh.
"How did she escape?" Sakura asked seriously.
"She jumped out the two-story window." The nurse said making Sakura sigh.
"That sounds exactly like something she'll do, but how did she manage to do that? She's been in a coma for 5 years, she should be struggling to walk never mind jump out a window." Sakura said rubbing her temple.
Sakura sighed in exhaustion.
"I'm going to get dressed then we're going to search for Temari Nara." Sakura said determinedly.
"I'll come with you." Sasuke said as he looked at Sakura.
"No, stay here. I don't want Sarada to wake up and no one's here." Sakura said as she kissed his cheek before she left to get changed.
Sasuke sat in silence and watched the woman who interrupted his sleep in front of him while Sakura changed. It took a few minutes before Sakura came back but when she returned she wasted no time in leaving. Sakura left into the cold night with the nurse, leaving Sasuke in the dark silent house. Sasuke switched off the light of the lounge and walked back to the master bedroom to sleep again.
Allowing the warmth which the bed produced to envelop him as sleep slowly took over his mind again.
Sakura jogged back to the hospital with the nurse to talk to the nurses who saw Temari escape. It was freezing in Konoha, especially at this time of night. Sakura was actually quite surprised that it wasn't snowing. She slowed her pace and walked into the hospital with authority as the nurse trailed behind her. The nurse was panting as sweat covered her face, but because Sakura was a ninja she had more stamina and the jog didn't tire her.
Immediately as Sakura entered the hospital a group of nurses rushed to her.
"Are you the group that saw her escape?" Sakura asked.
"Yes." One of the nurses nodded.
"What made you aware that she was awake?" Sakura asked.
"Her heart monitor signalled that her heart stopped so we rushed into the room, it turns out she just unplugged herself." The nurse answered.
"Temari was in a coma for 5 years, if she doesn't have brain damage she's supposed to find it hard to move." Sakura said with a frown, she was worried about Temari.
It's not safe to wander around the village at 2 o'clock at night straight after waking up from a five-year coma.
"Her brain seemed to be functioning normally, she was just having trouble moving, naturally." The nurse said.
"Still, we need to find her to monitor her brain and to check if everything is fine. Nobody who went through what she did is okay after a five-year coma." Sakura said seriously.
"Split into groups and find her. Take sedatives with you for in case she gets out of control. Remember Temari Nara is a skilled shinobi and is very dangerous if she wants to be." Sakura said making the nurses gulp from nervousness.
They all prayed they weren't the unlucky ones who would find Temari. Hopefully, Sakura would be the one to find her first. Sakura turned around and headed out the hospital while all the nurses scrambled to get sedatives before they left to find Temari.
Sakura dashed to the Nara residence. She'd probably return to her home first, right?
xXx
"Mom?" The child asked shocked while Temari spun around to look at the child.
Temari looked around before looking at the child again, he had his hands in his pockets as he stared at her in shock.
"Who me?" Temari asked as she pointed at herself.
"Who else?" The boy said in a confused voice as his hands slipped out his pockets.
"There must be some mistake..." Temari said as she stared at the boy.
Who was this boy? They stared at each other for the longest time before the child's eyebrows furrowed in worry as his voice broke the silence again.
"Mom... do you know what your name is?" The boy asked, Temari could see the boy was holding his breath in anticipation as he awaited her answer.
She didn't want to disappoint the boy, but she knew for a fact that her answer would sadden him.
"No, I don't." Temari said with soft eyes as she saw his face fall.
It wasn't the answer the boy had been hoping for.
"Let's go to uncle Chouji, he'll know what to do." The boy said as he collected himself and took her wrist.
Dragging her somewhere she didn't know.
"Why should I follow you?" Temari said, her defiance kicking in.
"Because I'm your son, trust me, mom." The boy said as he turned around to give her a smile that strangely made her heart feel warm.
"I'm sorry." Temari said, she felt bad.
If what this kid was saying is true then it meant she forgot her own son. A mother should never forget her own child, let alone his name.
"Don't worry about it, it's not your fault. Remember that." The boy said dragging her to a nearby house.
"Who's house is this?" Temari asked as they stopped in front of a door.
"Uncle Chouji's." The boy answered lazily as he knocked loudly on the door.
"Is it okay to wake them up at this hour?" Temari asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah, I'm staying with them at the time being." The boy shrugged.
"You sneaked out their house? And where is your father?" Temari asked in disapproval.
"Yes and he went on a mission to help the Hokage with something, that's why uncle Chouji is taking care of me." The boy said with a sigh as he knocked again.
"How long has he been gone?" Temari asked with a soft voice.
"Only two days, he's supposed to be back in another two days." The boy said knocking again, this time more urgently.
He didn't want his mother to get hypothermia, after all, she was standing outside in the cold with nothing but a hospital gown.
"So he's not neglecting you or anything?" Temari asked seriously making the boy laugh slightly.
"He might be lazy but he'll never do anything like that. After all, you'll kick his ass if he does something like that." The boy laughed making Temari smile.
However, after a few seconds, she smacked him over his head.
"Ow! What was that for?" The boy asked as he turned around to her clutched his head in pain.
"No swearing." Temari said sternly as she looked at her supposed son.
If he was truly her son, she had the right to discipline him. However, before the boy could say something the door to the house slowly opened to reveal a tired woman with red hair and yellow eyes.
"Can I..." She started to say until her eyes landed on Temari and the boy in front of her, making her eyes widen, now fully awake.
"Finally." Shikadai said with a sigh as he stood behind his mom and pushed her inside the warm house while the woman stared at them with wide eyes.
"Temari... when did you get out of your coma?" The woman said in pure surprise.
"I was in a coma?" Temari said in shock as her eyes widened.
"It's freezing, she needs a blanket." The boy said with worry as he looked at the yellow-eyed woman.
"Right, I'll go wake Chouji up. You can get a blanket, you know where they are." The woman said as she snapped out of her daze and rushed to the master bedroom while the boy rushed to get a blanket for his mother, leaving Temari to sit at the dining table alone.
She was in a coma... But for how long? How did this happen?
The boy came back first and wrapped the warm blanket around her. Warming her up almost immediately. After that, the woman returned with a fat man she assumed was Chouji.
"Temari, I can't believe this." Chouji said stunned as he walked to her, but Temari stayed silent.
They were all strangers to her.
"Wait, Shikadai what where you doing outside?" Karui asked crossed as she looked over to shikadai who sat next to his mother, making him cringe.
"He snuck out." Temari said bluntly as she spoke for the first time since she entered the strange house.
"I'm so sorry Temari. I thought he would be too lazy to sneak out." Karui said apologetically.
"It's not a big deal. After all, how can I reprimand him when I did the exact same thing." Temari said with a shrug.
"You snuck out the hospital?" Shikadai asked with a raised eyebrow while Temari nodded her head.
"We should get you back to the hospital then." Chouji said.
"No, I'm not going back." Temari said seriously as she stared Chouji down.
"But you have to." Chouji said with desperate eyes.
He didn't want anything bad happening to his best friend's wife.
"I said no!" Temari said banging her fist on the table.
"What's going on? Who's this?" A little girl asked sleepily as she entered the room.
Temari turned her head around and stared at the child as the child stared back.
"It's alright honey, this is Shikadai's mom." The yellow-eyed woman said as she bent down in front of who Temari assumed were her daughter.
The girls eyed widened as she stared at Temari in surprise. Sure she had seen Temari on a few occasions when her dad would go with Shikadai's dad to visit Temari and she would go with them and shikadai, but she has never seen Shikadai's mom awake.
"Let's get you back to bed." The yellow-eyed woman said as she took the girls hand and lead her back to her room, however, her eyes never left Temari.
Temari turned back around to stare Chouji down who sat across from her as soon as the little girl was out of eyesight.
"Watch this uncle Chouji... Mom, what is the woman's name with the yellow eyes and red hair?" Shikadai said as he turned his eyes to Temari.
"I don't know, nobody mentioned her name." Temari said with a shrug making Chouji's eyes widen slightly in disbelief.
"If that doesn't prove it this will... Mom, what dad's name?" Shikadai asked making Temari sigh.
"What's with all these questions kid, you're giving me a headache." Temari said annoyed.
"Just answer it, mom." Shikadai said as he sighed as well.
"I don't know! I don't know where I am. I don't know who this guy is, the only reason I know his name is because you mentioned his name and last but not least the only reason I know your name and my own is because the woman mentioned it." Temari said frustrated making Chouji's eyes fully widen.
She didn't know Shikamaru's name...
"She has amnesia uncle Chouji." Shikadai said as he stared seriously at Chouji.