Prologue
There are no tell tale noises that usually mark the intensive care unit to puncture the silence that permeates. No nurses shuffling around thoughtfully trying to drown the sound of their own footsteps, no medics scribbling hasty notes on rusty clipboards, no life support machines beeping the reminder that they're hard at work, tenaciously holding on to the fringes of those who are almost certainly already gone. There is nothing.
Nothing, but her and him.
The lights on the whole floor has been dimmed. It is night time and the sick aren't the only ones supposed to be asleep right now. But sleep is the last thing on both their minds, even though it's been far too long since they last acquainted themselves with a soft bed.
They stand facing each other, on either side of the corridor. They don't speak, they don't even look at each other. He is leaning against the wall, his head upturned and swirling red eyes memorizing the grainy texture of the white ceiling. She carries her own weight, shoulders hunched and eyes downcast with nightmares that are threatening to claw their way into reality. With each passing second, they are ever aware of one another, but they let the emptiness between them stretch. Words somehow fall short of encompassing the breadth of what they have to say, so they just don't say anything. It's especially hard, because the only person who would not let a wound this old keep festering lies inside fighting for his life. Knowing Naruto, they know he's putting up a vicious fight. They also know some opponents are unbeatable, and sometimes the fight goes on until you give in.
The silence persists, mocking them. She thinks back to how when they were genin all she wanted when she was around Naruto was silence, some peace so she could slide over to where their other teammate would be sulking and ask him about his day. She wants to laugh, because the boy literally did not know when to shut up. She wants to laugh, but she cries. The thought of never again seeing him in that ridiculous orange jumpsuit of his, of not ever hearing his loud annoying voice going on and on about some nonsense or another is making her sick to the stomach.
The last words he said before he collapsed into a pile of blood and bones keeps ringing in her ears.
"You better not run now, bastard."
The bastard had indeed looked about ready to run right then. The thud of Naruto's body hitting the ground had been the only thing that made him turn and look, the only thing that made him stay. She actually chuckles a bit at the thought now. Naruto always did have a funny way of accomplishing things.
"He's going to be alright, you know." He says, still stoically considering the ceiling with his sharingan.
"It's Naruto." He adds, and it's almost only a whisper. "He's going to be fine."
She wants to believe him, but her faith has been burnt one too many times in the last twenty-four hours. More tears start prickling her eyes as she thinks of her beloved shishou. She watched her master heal an entire war-struck village, she watched her as she defied the science of human anatomy and survived every possible wound administered to her, but in the end even the last great sannin withered away. Tsunade gave in, after scattering every last bit of chakra left in her body onto the wailing battlefield. The one she thought invincible, the one she used to look at in sheer wonder, hoping against hope that she would one day be able to harness even a fraction of the skills the greatest kuniochi Konoha has ever known possessed, the one who taught her most of everything she knew. Being strong does not grant anyone a pass from death, even the strongest die in battle and that is precisely what she fears for the boy they are waiting on currently.
"Sakura."
She is so startled by her name on his lips that she only belatedly realizes he is looking right at her. She wipes the tear stains on her cheeks with the back of her hand and blinks back more tears that are threatening to spill over.
"Naruto's going to be okay." He says again, with more conviction this time. "Don't… don't cry."
She stares at him, mouth hanging open. She has waited an eternity for this moment, for him to come back and stand in front of her so she could catch a glimpse of the sulky little boy she once fell in love with. She sees him now, the same boy who called her annoying yet protected her with reckless abandon numerous times. She has imagined this moment a thousand different ways in the years he's been gone. In all of them, she was smiling. She cannot bring herself to smile right now. She doesn't believe his words and the restraint she had somehow managed thus far, suddenly snaps. She falls to her feet, sobbing hysterically.
He's by her side, on his knees, before she realizes he's not standing in front of her anymore. His hands are on her shoulder, and somehow this is the most comforted she's felt in a really long time. He doesn't do anything with his hands but let them rest on her shoulders, she doesn't lean into his arms, she is good where she is. He doesn't say anything more, he just anchors her as she cries and imagines the world without her best friend, her brother.
tbc
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