Hiya! This is Gai-Sol again. And this is my masterpiece. Oh and for some credits, I'd like to thank fallen-angel-19-sasusaku for helping me with the plot.
Alright, for some disclaimers: I don't own Naruto... but the plot is mine! ALL MINE! (And fallen-angel of course!)
Oh and, for those who doesn't know what Catatonic is, I made sure to look it up someplace, so this is the definition.
Catatonic - Characterized by abnormalities including immobility, excessive motor activity (purposeless agitation), extreme negativism, mutism, posturing or stereotyped movements, echolalia and/or echopraxia.
Read and Review please!
'The boy's catatonic! One in a million told me he'd wake up…'
'…Almost everyone had given up on him'
'…He's hopeless, alright. Ever since his brother…'
The whispered conversation of two passers-by reached Sakura's ears as she stood and sighed in front of the old wooden house, its windows creaking eerily as it opened and closed with the wind. Sakura learned to block the whisper and rumors of those who were regular passers-by in the area, for their topic was always 'that Uchiha boy' and how his 'wrong-footed monstrous brother' was the cause of his being catatonic, which, in other word, is unresponsive.
For the past year, he, Sasuke, had been sitting quietly in a room, in an old armchair, his head tilted, eyes looking outside and his stare quite glassy. The reason was his brother, and their worst fight a year ago was the cause. Sakura was probably the last person Sasuke had talked to, and when he muttered 'I', he immediately passed out. His coma was just for a few days, but he was catatonic as soon as he opened his eyes. He, however, snaps out of his trance for an hour, a rather mysterious behavior (Don't worry, Tsunade is studying is case as I speak—type) and this was spent in silent eating, drinking, bathing and everything else done. Rarely does he speak, and if he does, it would start with 'I'. To make what I've written earlier short, he was rather useless.
"Ohayo Sasuke-Kun!" She cheerily said, putting her basket of groceries down, closing her umbrella after and closing the sliding door last. "It's a bit hot isn't it?"
She leaned down to inspect her basket and then looked up expectantly at Sasuke, waiting for a slight stimulus; a blink, a smile, or even a flutter of eyelids. But she ended up sighing, as he was as still as an oak tree, save for his chest rising and falling, rising and falling. Truth to be told, she was tired. Tired of the place…of taking care of the place, of her being the only one who believed he could actually wake up. Her nose scrunches up upon smelling the old, antique scent of the one-roomed house. But she's willing to do this forever, just as long as it's for him… for her 'Sasuke-Kun'
--
Sweating as she observed her own prepared dish, Sakura tasted the Ebi Tempura she was finally able to do. It tasted not that delicious, though not bad either, considering that she was a ninja of seventeen years of age and not a cook. She nodded slightly, approving her latest masterpiece (or rather, master dish) and carried the tray to Sasuke, who'd be awake in a few moments, when a small grunt, followed by a sigh distracted her.
"Oi!" Sakura said in surprise, as she looked down at the source of the sound. She placed the tray to where it was before and knelt down to pet Tonton. "It's a surprise to see you!"
"Here" She said as she placed down a bowl of milk, waiting till Tonton was comfortable before she made her deliver her message.
With a last lick and a healthy burp, Tonton pointed, with her head, the scroll that was safely fastened on her collar. Sakura retrieved the scroll and was on the point of opening it when Sasuke's voice called for her from inside.
"Almost ready Sasuke-Kun!" Sakura announced, as she quickly pocketed the note and carried the tray. "Tonton, are you coming?"
She looked down to where Tonton was but the spot was clean and she could be seen no where. She shrugged and carefully carried the plate inside.
"Ohayo Sasuke-kun" Sakura greeted cheerily, although not as cheerily as before. He nodded to her in greeting, and sat down to where Sakura placed the tempura. "I finally found the right ingredients for your ebi!"
Grunting and staring at her coldly, Sasuke started to eat. He chewed slowly and swallowed hard. Sakura bit her lower lip, anticipating his say on the dish. But he paused, remained silent and started to take another piece of the ebi. Sakura nodded to herself. If he's satisfied, then so am I.
As soon as Sakura made Sasuke as comfortable as ever, she dutifully began her house chores, sweeping the floor, wiping the chairs, cleaning old figurines. But since she was Sakura, these moments were never quiet as she chatted to him her whole life away.
"…And Naruto was filled with so much ramen that he had to stay in the bathroom for a week" was the last sentence Sakura was able to mutter when she noticed him taking his shirt off. She took that as a sign and quickly prepared his bath. She knew better than to help him, and the fresh scar on her index finger was the reminder of not to help Sasuke take off his shirt.
Years ago, she would've squealed in delight if she saw him topless. Now, she felt nothing for the 'Uchiha boy'. Trust me; his being catatonic was NOT the cause.
"Hey Sasuke?" Sakura asked, wiping her wet hands on her skirt, accidentally feeling the scroll on her pocket. She had the feeling that this was something very good or something very very wrong.
Sasuke, who was walking weakly to the bathroom, turned.
"Hn?" He asked, and Sakura was amazed that Sasuke finally talked to her. For a moment, there was a flash of tiredness on his eyes that filled Sakura's poor tender heart. But that was just a moment, and the usual combination of hatred and determination filled the doors to his soul again.
"Nothing"
Sakura shook her head and smiled.
Sasuke, who was so fond of grunting nowadays, grunted again and closed the door behind him. As soon as the clunk! Of the door to the doorway was heard, Sakura released a scared sort of sigh. She took out the scroll and with shaking fingers, slit it open. Inside was the distince handwriting of the fifth hokage, Tsunade.
Haruno,
I expect you in my office tomorrow.
Be prompt, as I have full trust that you shall arrive at exactly mid-afternoon.
-Tsunade
The Hokage was also kind enough to add a post-script that said: do take your time in taking care of Uchiha Sasuke. Take care, dear.
Slowly rereading the post-script thrice, the quick Haruno ear picked up the unusual silence that filled the small bathroom. Hesitantly, she stood up and knocked.
"Sasuke-kun?"
Knocked once more.
"Sasuke-kun?"
And opened the door.
She found him dressed up, hair dripping wet and sitting down on the bathroom tiles. His eyes was focus on the ceiling, and Sakura knew it was too late for he had been catatonic once again.