With the greatest care that can be afforded by one who is bleeding profusely from their side, Suigetsu carves his way through the forestry to the place where he suspects a river awaits.
Not caring at all if it's an acceptable course of action he sheds the stupid cloak. It's restricting, heavy with his blood, and impeding his progress entirely too much. It slips from his frame without a sound and falls to the ground at the base of a large rock, a boulder really.
Leaning heavily against the rough granite for support he stops, finds his breath, and pulls his hand back to examine the wound. Almost immediately he clasps his hand back in place, the amount of blood makes his stomach drop and the sight of the wound makes his heart race. Drawn from his misery by the sound of rushing water, something that is unmistakable to him even in the midnight dark of his surroundings, Suigetsu drags his feet the few more required paces to meet the water's edge. Having reached his goal he allows his legs to give way and lets his body fall into the river.
His first sensation upon waking is that the sun is warm.
He can feel it, gentle and caressing on his face, in the few places that it manages to break through the canopy of trees over head. It's pathetic he concludes with a sigh, laying there body half submerged in water, awaiting death. It's disgusting, the thought of him meeting his end here, alone.
The image of his brother's face flashes before him, followed by those of team taka and for a moment all Suigetsu can feel is regret. The moment passes though, is pushed far away, and Suigetsu begins to like the idea of dying alone and at peace, or so he tells himself. Just as this conclusion occurs he notices a spike of chakra in the distance.
Brows furrowing he curses his luck. The tiny cloud of chakra is quite obviously that of a shinobi and if the nin stays their course they will pass directly over top of him.
He could try to hide, but as he is so near death he really fails to see the point. Deciding to meet his fate admirably, he remains completely unflinching when the chakra signature drops from the trees in a flurry of pink and red to land right beside him.
0.0
Sakura carefully scans the body before her, feeding her mind the information it needs to assess the situation. A quick glance tells her that he is dying. His skin his pale and translucent, breathing erratic, and most notably he is covered in what appears to be his own blood.
Though the wound is severe and seems to be the result of battle Sakura can find nothing to mark him as a shinobi. He isn't carrying any weapons and there is no headband to announce his village affiliation, or any kind of affiliation for that matter.
As a medic, and a generally overly caring person, Sakura cannot allow herself to leave him to die. She approaches him slowly and gently drops to her knees when she reaches his side. In her softest voice she attempts to explain that she is a medic and that she is going to heal him.
The eyes that look up to meet hers are violet, slightly glazed, and wholly beautiful. On the surface they are laughing, but a little deeper and they become foggy and difficult to discern, like trying to see the bottom of a river through the swirl and mist of the water.
Since there is no outward protest in response to her statement, Sakura determines that it is acceptable to begin the healing. As tenderly as possible, she places her hand on his abdomen and summons forth her chakra.
0.0
With weary eyes Suigetsu watches the green glow of her hand as it rests directly atop his injury. He has had medical treatment before under the 'care' of his previous keepers and his memories are far from pleasant.
These internal musings inspire him to keep a closer eye on his attending medic and to his surprise, he finds the girl above him startlingly close. Before he can voice any kind of complaint over her proximity he is distracted by the determined set of her features.
Suigetsu is stunned.
This tiny, pretty stranger is exerting effort solely on his account and she is being… careful. Both these experiences are entirely new to him. Some odd feeling comes over him and Suigetsu decides that it wouldn't be so bad to die now, if she were to be there with him. If she stayed beside him and held his hand, just so he wasn't alone when death came to claim him, he is positive that it wouldn't be so terrible.
Intent on maintaining the nature of the moment Suigetsu keeps his mouth closed and allows his eyes to drink in the sight of his caregiver.
0.0
Sakura can feel her brow crinkle in worry because not only is her patient severely injured, but now he is making strange faces as well. He just went from extremely shocked to deeply contemplative in a span of three seconds and now he seems content to just stare at her.
Though she is working over him with nothing but the most clinical and serious of airs, inwardly she cannot stop thinking about the pools of twilight that are his eyes. The depth of his stare reminds her of another boy she once knew, before he left and forced her from childhood.
However, there is one very notable difference, this boy in front of her even though his stare is just as intense, and even though it reveals as much as it hides, it is, at least, warm. There is a sign of life in this boy's gaze, unlike her boy, the one she simultaneously longs to find and yet never wants to face again.
Tracing her hand over the now smooth patch of flesh that she was just working on a couple of minutes before, Sakura announces that the healing is complete. In a slight whisper she explains that he will be sore for a few days and should avoid any strenuous activity.
She ignores the devious grin her patient is throwing her way and instead continues on with her warnings. The area is extremely dangerous she lectures and he should leave as soon as he is able.
0.0
Suigetsu can't help it, he really can't. This little, fragile girl is trying to tell him what to do and all out of concern for his well being. His self control fails him and the grin slips out, wide and threatening looking he is sure, though it is not intended to be.
She is no longer paying attention to him; instead she has moved closer to the river and is washing his blood off her soft, pale hands and for reasons he can't explain this irks him to no end.
He needs to draw her focus back where it belongs so he lets his mouth open and the words slip past his lips without any real thought.
"If this place is so dangerous, why are you running around out here by yourself?"
Just like he wanted she halts her actions completely and twists back to face him, her clear, emerald eyes staring directly at him.
"I'm looking for someone…. an old friend. He's a little lost."
Her eyes glaze with the thinnest coat of moisture and Suigetsu becomes acutely uncomfortable deep in the core of his stomach for the first time in a very long time.
"Well, I hope you find him. He's probably looking for you too."
0.0
Looking back at this stranger, with the gently laughing eyes, Sakura can't at all explain the emotions rushing around inside her head, but they are not entirely unwelcome. These crazy, unidentifiable feelings pull up a surge of hope and before she leaps back into the trees she smiles and gives her reply.
"Yeah, maybe."