It's Too Late
By Scarlett177
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Summary: Sasuke did come back alright. However it was too late to apologize.
I'm holding on your rope
Got me ten feet off the ground
I'm hearing what you say but
I just can't make a sound
--
"Haven't you heard?" two women were whispering at the end of the street just as a pink haired girl walked by.
"Hai… that Uchiha boy has returned," Sakura head jerked towards the two women, "I hope he is thrown in jail, we don't need filth like him!"
Sakura gasped in horror and her emerald eyes widened. She could feel her heart rhythm increasing. Then, forcing herself, she kept walking though her legs were suddenly feeling heavier than the rest of her body.
Sasuke had returned… that was great, right? Then why wasn't she happy? Wasn't this what she wanted?
A cold feeling ran down her spine as she stepped inside the hospital but she just shrugged it away. She sighed in relief as she realized how calm the hospital was when a loud voice erupted through the empty corridors. Celebrated too soon, Sakura thought somewhat annoyed. She just wanted a free minute so that she could put her thoughts in order.
"Sakura-chan!" a panting nurse said as she ran to catch up with the pink haired woman.
"What is it, Romi-chan?" Sakura asked raising an eyebrow.
"I… we need your help at the room 7!" the nurse said nervously.
Sakura stared at her somewhat hesitantly; she had patients to check. No you don't! Liar! Feeling guilty at her previous thought, Sakura forced a small smile. "How bad is it?"
"Several burns all over the patient's body, two broken ribs and a possible internal bleeding," the black haired nurse answered automatically as she followed Sakura down the corridor towards the room seven.
Sakura paused on the door to see two medical-nins bending over the patient's body.
"Let me have a look at him," she said cooly and one of the medic-nin moved out of her way. He watched her as she approached the patient with respect and admiration. She was one of the best right after the Hokage.
Her eyes scanned his burned legs and moved towards his chest, arms and finally his face. She gasped and her eyes widened in horror. Her right hand covered her mouth in shock. Nothing in the whole world could have prepared her for that very moment.
"S-Sasuke…" she whispered. A mix of emotions immediately floated inside of her.
Sasuke's eyes flashed open. His pale features didn't show any emotion as he stared back at her. The Uchiha subconsciously realized that Sakura dropped the childhood suffix out of his name. Okay, he could handle that — after all, they were both grown-ups, and enemies. Well, perhaps they weren't enemies for the moment. But he was an outright traitor, and she had her Konoha hitai-ate tied around her forehead.
The moon was too bright this evening. Too many of Sakura's features were readable to the boy, even without his Sharingan. He noticed how long and free-looking her hair had grown, and the natural redness of her lips. If she just pulled out that hair-tie...
"R-right," Sakura said nervously but quickly recovered her posture, "Romi-chan, get me a lot of water… oh and please go see Lady Tsunade and ask her for herbs to heal burnings,"
"H-hai!" Romi-chan said and hurriedly left the room.
Sakura was immediately set to work, forgetting about her racing heart and the knot on her stomach. Determination flashed in her green orbs and Sasuke looked at her wonderingly.
--
You tell me that you need me
Then you go and cut me down
But wait
You tell me that you're sorry
Didn't think I'd turn around and say…
--
She started to heal the superficial burned areas; though she maintained a concentrated face, she was quite impressed with the fact that Sasuke wasn't experiencing any pain. Any other person would be screaming in agony.
"Sakura…" his voice was smooth and caused the pink haired girl to tremble slightly. She hadn't heard his voice for so long… since that day… that encounter where she and Naruto had been so close to bring him back.
"Y-yes?" she asked, her eyes fixed on his wounds.
"Why?" he asked her, his black eyes searching for hers but she avoided his eyes.
"Why what?" she asked and turned to the other medic assistant, "focus on that leg."
"Alright!" the medic nodded and was quickly set to work.
"Why are you helping me?" he asked and this time their eyes met.
Sakura looked at him quite surprised. That was a good question. It was obvious that she was mad at him that he had left her but still… it was obvious that she was helping him because they were friends and that's what friends are for, right? She was helping him because she… she still loved him. However those weren't the words that left her lips.
She offered him a small smile, "Just doing my duty, Sasuke-kun,"
Again, his face showed no emotion. He nodded slowly and then stood still as she continued to heal him.
It had been the longest two hours of her life. Romi-Chan finally arrived with the herbs and Sasuke watched closely as Sakura gave her strict instructions how to prepare them. He noticed how different she was from the Sakura he used to know. From the annoying little fangirl. She was a grown woman… she was strong now.
"Okay, now move the herbs into the water,"
"Hai!" said a concentrated Romi-chan.
"I healed your broken ribs and stopped your internal bleeding," Sasuke nodded as his eyes stopped on her moving lips, "you will still need to have a few healing sessions, which will heal your burning flesh and give you a new skin,"
"Hn," he nodded once more, still staring at her lips.
She stared at his burned chest, her eyes then moved to his neck and shoulders. She frowned as she saw the now disfigured curse mark. Sasuke smirked.
"I still have the curse inside me," he said guessing what she was thinking.,
Sakura looked like a tomato as she realized he had caught her staring. She quickly stared back at his chest and shrugged.
"H-have you seen Naruto-kun?" she asked in what she hoped to be an indifferent tone.
"Yes, he was the one who brought me here," Sakura nodded slowly.
So he didn't return on his own…
A wave of sadness took over her.
"Romi-chan?" Sakura asked stopping her chakra,"You will bath him with that water, the herbs will work on his burnings," Romi eyes widened and she blushed, "I will come tomorrow to check how he's doing,"
Romi nodded and stared at Sasuke still blushing.
Sakura wiped some sweat of her forehead and gave him a weak smile. She then walked towards the door when his voice stopped her.
"Wait." Sasuke's voice was rather whispery, "I'm… I-I'm sorry,"
Her whole body froze, the air was gone and for some seconds she actually forgot how to breathe. Slowly she looked behind her shoulder. His black eyes met her emerald orbs. He noticed how they didn't beam anymore… not like he used to remember.
The pink haired girl smiled a sad smile, "It's too late… Sasuke… too late,"
--
That it's too late to apologize, it's too late…
--
As she exited the room, she walked to a safe distance. Suddenly she leaned against one of the walls while tears formed in her eyes. Her hand covered her mouth to suppress the loud sobs now escaping more freely.
It was too late… wasn't it? It was… but then why was her already broken heart shattering to smaller peaces. She let herself fall to the cold floor and embraced herself as locked memories invaded her mind.
She had a bad feeling that night… something was wrong. She could feel it in the cold air that caressed her face. That's when she saw him with a backpack on his back and his hands on his pockets.
"Why?" she asked with tears falling down her face, "Why won't you say anything to me? Why do you shut everyone out? Why won't you tell me!?"
His response struck her hard. It was as if his words were poisoned but at least it had made him stop walking away.
"You always act like you hate me, Sasuke-kun." She sobbed and stared at his back, "Do you remember? When we became Genin… the day the three man teams were decided, and we were alone at this very spot…"
Then his cruel words hit her again, "I don't remember," he said cooly.
Her eyes widened as more tears fell down. It seemed that nothing she was saying was capable of make him stay… she was so … so weak.
"I… I love you more than anything!" she shouted, her whole body was shaking. Her voice was pleading, begging him to stay, "I'm begging you… please stay! I will even help you with your revenge! There must be something I can do! T-that's why… please, stay here with me…"
--
I'd take another chance, take a fall,
Take a shot for you…
And I need you like a heard needs a beat
But that's nothing new…
--
She finally calmed down and was finally able to leave the hospital. As she stepped outside she sighed in relief. She was finally able to breathe now. A smile quickly adorned her exhausted features as she saw Naruto running towards her while Kakashi – Sensei merely waved as he was slowly being left behind.
Her green orbs immediately beamed as the tall blond boy embraced her in a tight hug in a protective way.
Yes… it's simply too late, she contemplated as she looked into Naruto blue eyes. She didn't need Sasuke there… nope… she had Naruto and she had a feeling that she will always have.
"Oy!" Kakashi greeted her as he finally approached them.
Everything was fine… Sakura finally understood that she always been fine.
--
I loved you with a fire red
Now it's turning blue
And you say
Sorry like the angel heaven let me think was you
But I'm afraid…
It's too late to apologize, it's too late…
A/N: Okay! As I become more and more in love with Naruto series and enjoyed to read amazing fanfics about it… I decided to take a shot at writing my first naruto story ever. So please bear with me. I hope I didn't screw up to much so please drop me a line and tell me how did it go!! If you liked it, I might continue this haha thanks for reading.