Goodbye Is Not For Us
Chapter 1: Just The Present
"Huff"
"Huff"
"Huff"
'Where am I running to?'
"Huff"
"Huff"
'Oh. This is so tiring. Why can't I stop running?'
"Huff"
'Where am I?'
"Huff"
'Ah. The training-ground…'
'But…'
Feeling her feet had finally stopped, Sakura straightened out her arms on her knee. She breathed with force, grasping for air.
"Har. Har."
'Why is it being fenced off?'
Confused by the surrounding, she walked toward the metal fence wall, unable to find the entrance way.
"!!" 'Sasuke-kun.' Her green eyes widen seeing the last living Uchiha standing aloof in the middle of the field. The bareness of the field added the mist to the air. Dust flying about as the harsh wind picked up, swirling around him.
"…!" The inability to speak out loud had brought agony to her. She felt her body grew heavier and heavier each step she took. Reaching out, her arms searched aimlessly.
Then a sudden wash of white rushed through her mind.
Whooose!
"…Ooh…" Groaning.
Emeralds opened to the pit darkness. Blinking as her pupils adjusted to the low light. Chest heaving, it felt heavy, hard to breathe. Sweats were drenching her skin as if it is a second layer of article covering her frail body. The bed fluffed as cloud, making her body weightless. But at the same time, her muscles were being pulled harshly by the force of gravity. Incapable of moving her limbs, she whimpered from the head ache pounding as her conscious was regaining.
'It's that dream again.'
But this time, she got closer to the fence. She saw him much clearer. Much much clearer. Does this dream have any hidden meaning? She didn't know.
Until now.
At last, blood pummeled its way to her finger tips. Moving the slender digits around, she brought her hand up to wipe the sweat off her face. Swallowing a single gulp, her throat was arid. Thirsty, she was crying for water.
Shift. She needed to get up.
"!!"
Pull.
Tighter hug.
Inhaling a sharp breath, sucking in her stomach, her nerves shocked when suddenly a pair of manly arms tightened its hold around her waist.
"…" Oh. He was here. Sigh. Relaxing her chakra filled fist. 'I almost forgot.'
Turning her head around a bit, quietly spitting out a few pink tresses that was stuck her mouth in the process. She met a tranquil visage. His face was calmed, no longer pained by the dark memories of searching past.
'Sasuke-kun is sleeping over tonight.'
An innocent sleepover a couple would share from time to time. Yes, a couple, they were a couple.
Were.
She reached up to touch his face in the stillness of the night. Feeling his lips moved at her touch, she smiled.
Because he was smiling.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
[Two years ago]
Rustle. Rustle.
Slam.
"Har. Har." Forcing the sliding door of the hospital open, her movement shook the wall violently. Vibrant green orbs flickered in anger at the sight of her mindless team mate. Seeing the wrapped wounds on him increased her blood pressure. She was going to die young from heart attack one of these days.
"Naruto! What in the world did you get yourself into now?! Don't you know Hinata is going to be in labor in two months. You idiot!!!" She roared out loud. Unbelievable, this baka she called friend. Even at the age of 24, he was reckless as always. Stomping her feet, closing up the gap, her hands pulled on the collar of his shirt.
"Ow Ow Ow… Sakura-chan. Ow. Of course I know when my wife's labor date is. Ow Ow…."
"Then why are you covered in cuts and bruises and was brought back here almost dead." She tightened her hold. 'I already lost one. I can't bear to loose another.'
"Uh…" Still keep on talking, Naruto was left soundless, unable to explain.
"So good, Hinata and the other are on a hot spring trip to relax, if she heard about this. I'm sure you'll be expecting a baby two months early." Shaking his already tattered body.
"Wah … Sakuuhh rahhhaaa chhaannn!!!" Pulling on her hands, he yanked it off his shirt. Thankful for the air replenishing his lungs, he took a long gasp.
Huffing. She stood staring him down as her arms were crossed. Her foot tapped loudly waiting for Naruto to defend his action.
Gleamed, Naruto beamed the brightest smile with his blue eyes. "I did it. Sakura-chan. I kept my promise." Pointing his finger toward the other side of the room, Naruto grinned. Cluelessly, she followed the direction of his finger toward the other bed in the room.
"!!" Shocked, speechless, Sakura stood dumbfounded seeing the familiar spike head. His face was drained of blood, paled to the point of a lifeless manikin. Almost every part of his skin was covered up; the wounds were far more damaging than Naruto's.
"I think you heard wrong Sakura-chan. Teme was the one brought back almost dead not me." Scratching his chin. "We are so having a rematch after this." Tapping his head, he was guilty for his action but anything to bring his best friend back.
Clutching her gapping mouth, she couldn't take in all the emotion running through her system. Feeling like she wanted to throw up, Sakura's face lost all its vibrant color.
It appeared that Naruto had received a secret mission of Sasuke's where about and he proceeded it solo. Finally confronted Sasuke, Naruto was too blind in wanting to kick his sorry butt and dragged him back. He didn't notice how poorly Sasuke's condition was under his poker face. But in truth, Sasuke was engaged in an extensive battle against his enemies a few days ahead. Even though they were unsuccessful, they did a toll on his body before dieing. Without care, Sasuke had been wandering to find a place to stay and recharge his broken body. Naruto being the idiot he was, challenged Sasuke even when he was under those circumstance. He put up quite an impressive battle against Naruto with his little to nothing chakra amount. But he can't go on due to the damaging internal organs when Naruto had the upper hand. At the pivotal moment, his depleting body no longer can holdup, Sasuke collapsed in front of the baffle blond. For the three days and nights, Naruto carried Sasuke running back to Konoha without rest. He can't afford to have the lost nin wake up and escaped.
"Good night Sakura."
"Yes. Thank you for your hard work." She bowed as her hand secured a coat around her arm. Her next destination after the hospital shift was supposed to be home, sleeping. But her steps carried her to a room where he lay. Ever since he returned, Sasuke had been in a coma. His body was doing a major rematerialized. Motionless upon the hospital bed, he didn't have a clue that he was back.
Finally back.
C-larak
The sliding door was slowly opened.
Whooose.
The unwanted wind was drafting the room. 'They didn't close the window again.'
She pulled the glass window down to cut off the chilling wind, but kept the curtain open to let the moon's light illuminated the room. It had been the third full moon she saw from this window.
Sakura spent almost every night a good portion of her time to give Sasuke extra nursing. Beside the days when she had missions, she did not forget to come to change the flower by his bed side, wipe the sweat off his currently flawless face, and help moving his inanimate limps for blood circulation. Even though all these tasks including bathing and change of clothes were done by the other nurses [designated male nurses by the request of Tsunade], Sakura felt compel to help waking him. Beside, there was one thing she did that they couldn't provide him ... Stories.
After the tedious tasks, Sakura would sit by his bed side and retelling all events that he had missed during his journey. There was the story of how the village almost got wiped out by an epidemic. And the tales of her random missions, proving how strong and capable she had become. She even told him the triangle love story between Ino, Shikamaru, and Temari of the sand. The epic battle with other villages that lasted many months, that story took her days to finish. Then, how can she miss the confession of Hinata to Naruto. Even though it took them a while, but Naruto finally had the gut to accept it and a year later, they wedded and had a son a month ago. It was a magnificent wedding; too bad he wasn't there to be his best man. Sai had to fill in the spot and the whole day he wouldn't stop tormenting the groom of how small his … anyway. Tales to be told but tonight ...
"I don't have anymore stories to tell you Sasuke-kun." She sat in silent. Hands folded on her lap.
Her eyes stared at his blank face. Time rushing by without waiting; she sensed the moon had disappeared behind a thick layer of cloud. The whole room was dark, pit black. She took that moment and allowed trails of tears escaped her eyes. Quietly sobbing, feeling useless, Sakura wiped her eyes and stood up. "Well, I'm going on a mission tomorrow morning. I'll be back a few days later and I'm sure there'll be more stories to tell you." 'But I hope to do so with you awake if you ever let me.'
"Good night Sasuke kun." She said almost inaudibly before turning around and left.
As the door closed, the clouds dispersed. Obsidian opened to the looming moon in the middle of the window frame.
IMPORTANT PLEASE READ
Ah. Ahaha … I'm at it again. I need to stop. Or should I?
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto's characters.
"Goodbye is not for us" is based on a real life story.
I will reveal it once the story is completed. This story is written using the past and present. So if you are confused, I do put note on the timeline.
As always review. This will be one of the few time I asked for a lot of reviews and I mean a lot. The more is the better. The quicker I update. The longer the chapter will be.
I just need an excuse not to update in a timely manner. So I'll see you in a week? Month? Year? Hahaha
PREVIEW Chapter 2: Keep Your Promise
"Let me pass." She tried her best to keep her tone down.
"By the order of the Hokage, we are not to allow anyone. Especially you Sakura." One of them, the leader, answered her in an all knowing manner.
"Let me pass." Sakura really couldn't keep her tone down. A spark of the famously known anger flickered. Everybody that stood before her flinched. "Don't forget who had the power over your treatment when you're injured."
They gulped in unison.