The acoustic tiles on the ceiling came into bleary view. Sakura gingerly lifted a hand to rub at her eyes and sucked in an experimental breath. It hurt.
A woman spoke. "You're awake. Alright, your roommate will come to soon enough."
Sakura tried to lift her head but everything hurt too much. "Lady Tsunade?"
The Hokage stood between the two beds, arms crossed. She had a look that indicated she was none too pleased with her current patients.
She gave her apprentice a mildly impatient look. "Hmph."
"Lady Tsunade, I'm sorry-"
"Save it," she indicated the other bed, "for when he wakes up."
Sakura turned her head as much as she could before the pain made her chest seize up. She couldn't really see who was in the other bed. She momentarily wondered at the pain. She could easily think of the proper dosage of painkillers to keep it from being an issue so why did moving hurt so much?
"You don't have to wait," came a slow drawl followed by a groan.
Sakura's eyes widened. "What?! Is that-"
"Be quiet!" snapped Tsunade.
Sakura's teeth clicked shut as she tried to burrow back into her pillow. Her chest hurt awfully, her master was justly furious with her and she had caused not only her own injuries but those of her roommate... She was in serious trouble.
"Tch" issued from the other bed. "Annoying."
"You certainly are, Uchiha!" Tsunade pushed her fists into her hips and pursed her lips. She carefully took two long, calming breaths before continuing.
"Right, then. You've both probably noticed the great amount of pain you're in and if you guessed your painkillers have been under-dosed you are correct. I've made sure each of you won't go into shock from the pain and you have the proper stimulants to keep from passing out."
Sasuke growled.
"BE QUIET." Ordered the Hokage. "Don't imagine your growls and glares come across as anything other than whining.
"Now. You've been put in the same room and given this treatment under my express orders. At this point the two of you present a threat to morale, unit cohesion, the health and welfare of your teammates and even the safety and security of this village!" Tsunade's voice had been creeping up in volume and fury. She shook as she forced herself to breath deeply once again and look back and forth between the two.
"Your injuries not only required the attention of a doctor but of the Hokage, and don't you forget that!"
Tsunade gave Sakura a piercing look and was satisfied to watch her squirm. She tried to the same with Sasuke but he just stared back at her. Her look became a glare as she silently recounted the vital spots on his body that she could strike to kill him instantly. The intent of her gaze made it through and the young man gently swallowed.
"The reports are clear. Sakura, you attacked your teammate and put him in a life threatening condition. Sasuke, I understand that your attitude has made it difficult for your team to actually function. Both of you have violated various rules of the Shinobi code." Tsunade crossed her arms beneath her ample bosom and pressed her lips together. The jewel in her forehead glittered as she knitted her brows together. She stared into the space in between the beds.
"I have to punish you." Her mouth closed again as she ground her teeth. "But I have to know if you are going to continue to break the code." She stared at Sakura and then at Sasuke.
"I cannot allow you to call yourselves shinobi of the Leaf as things currently stand."
Sakura gasped. "Lady...!"
Sasuke tensed, his left hand turning into a fist. The wrappings and splints on his right hand prevented the same on that side.
"Tch. Of course, I would have to be insane to take two of my strongest ninja out of commission." A muscle in Tsunade's jaw pulsed. She took a long breath and put her arms at her sides.
"The punishment won't have to be so extreme if I can be assured that your disagreements will be a thing of the past."
Tsunade let out a loud sigh. "I will return in the morning. You don't have to be best friends but you must convince me that you can work together or you can turn in your headbands."
Her gaze became fixed on Sasuke, who had an absolutely rebellious look on his face. "Leaf citizens who leave the shinobi life are not permitted to leave the village without permission from the Hokage. Any who do are automatically branded as rogues and hunted down with full prejudice. But I'm sure you already know that."
Sasuke gritted his teeth and stared at the Hokage as if debating issuing a famous fire jutsu at her. Tsunade narrowed her eyes and lifted her head as if to dare him. He sneered and turned his head; even if he wanted to his chakra was still too depleted post-surgery and his hands couldn't make the signs anyway.
Tsunade turned to look at her pink-haired student. Sakura's eyes had turned toward Sasuke but quickly focused back on the legendary ninja. A pang of hurt ran through Tsunade and appeared as sorrow in her eyes. Sakura saw it and shut her eyes to keep her own tears private.
There was a shuffling at the door to the room and Tsunade called out, "Wait just a minute." To her patients she said, "You don't have to begin just yet. Your other teammates are here to see you. But they only have five minutes. After that, you're on your own."
She walked to the door and then turned. "Remember, don't even think about trying to get out before morning. Your friends won't run errands for you against my orders.
"Sakura, there is a guard at the door who reports directly to me. He has instructions to search everyone who comes into this room thoroughly. This includes nurses. And Sasuke, if you use your Sharingan to get out of this that'll be evidence enough to reinstate your status as traitor."
Tsunade held her breath a moment, then shook her head. "Children" was all she muttered and then she stepped into the hallway.
In her bed, Sakura let out a frustrated breath and kicked at her sheets.
Sasuke made an impatient sound.
The door swung open and Naruto all but tumbled in. Kakashi followed him with slightly more dignity.
"Sasuke-bastard! Sakura-chan! So good to see you! Wait, don't get up!" The loudmouth threw his head back and chortled.
Naruto approached Sasuke on the side of his bed near Sakura's. "You look like a mummy, bastard." He ignored Sasuke's murderous glare and let his gaze roam over the gauze wrapped around Sasuke's head, right arm, most of his chest and tying down the splint on his right leg.
"You won't be getting up any time soon, believe it!"
Naruto gave Sakura more tender look as he walked to her bedside. "It's weird to see you in bed, Sakura-chan. But it's really weird that this is the second time in a week."
Sakura's face crumpled in misery and she turned her head to look out the window.
With his lone gray eye, Kakashi regarded both of his former students. One hand hung loosely at his side, the other gripped the bar at the foot of Sasuke's bed.
Sasuke tried to look anywhere but at Kakashi.
"It was really quiet out on the training field without you guys! Just me and Kakashi-sensei and Sai. Captain Yamato is on a mission so the three of us had to figure out what to do and you guys don't even know-"
"Just shut up already, you idiot." Snapped Sasuke.
"Well it's just so quiet, it's like everywhere I go it's totally dead. I feel like I have to liven the place up, believe it!"
"No one wants you to liven things up, loser. You're way too loud anyway."
"That's enough, Sasuke," said Kakashi. "Naruto, this is a hospital room with seriously injured patients. They need a peaceful environment in order to recover."
"Awww...I'm sorry." Naruto turned to Kakashi. "It's just, Kakashi-sensei, you're acting weird about this and Granny Tsunade is acting totally pissed off and all because Sakura-chan-"
"Stop, just stop it!" Sakura stopped her reprimand to cough with a hand pressed to her chest.
"Sakura-chan!"
"Just leave it alone, please, Naruto." She gave him an imploring look. To Kakashi she said, "I'm sorry, sensei. I...lost control of myself and..." Sakura's eyes traveled to the other bed then shut tight. "I've ruined your team, Kakashi." She finished in a whisper. "I'm so sorry."
Kakashi's shoulders dropped as a weary look came into his eye. He stepped toward her bed and spoke softly, "No, Sakura, you've hurt the team. Your team."
Sakura's lips pressed together and a line appeared between her closed eyes. Unnoticed, Sasuke wore a matching look of unhappiness.
"I can guess what Lady Tsunade had to say to you, about breaking the code and the consequences."
Sakura slowly opened her eyes and took in the sight of her former teacher. The thin man stood next to her bed, every aspect of how he held himself defined by concern and disappointment.
Naruto flanked Kakashi, blue eyes shining with what could only be described as deep hurt.
Sakura found she couldn't speak.
Kakashi took her hand in his. "You know what you have to do. You too, Sasuke." Naruto stepped back so the two men could look at both patients in their beds.
"If Team 7 means something to you, then you will do what you must to protect it." Kakashi let go of Sakura's hand and stood equidistant between the beds.
"This isn't a mission. It's more important than that. This is about comrades, about teammates. I've already taught you the lesson, now you have to act on it."
"Kakashi," said Sasuke. He sounded faintly uncertain. "What if..." His eyes flicked to Naruto's and then shot toward the ceiling, lips growing more pale. "What if there isn't a team any longer?"
"What the hell did you just say, you bastard?!" growled the jinchuriki.
Sasuke continued. "What if we can't... What if the team broke up already and we just found that out yesterday?"
"NO WAY! There's no way!" Naruto nearly screamed and Kakashi had hold his arms behind him to keep him from pouncing on the last Uchiha.
In her bed, Sakura seemed to shrink into herself as one tear and then another silently rolled down the sides of her face.
"Naruto! Stop!" ordered Kakashi. "Yelling and fighting won't do any good here. Sasuke, you've tried running from this team before, are you seriously going to run away again?"
"It's not running," the black haired young man muttered, refusing to meet Kakashi's eye.
Kakashi finally felt safe to let go of Naruto. "Sasuke-"
"I know! I know! Worse than scum, alright already! I heard you! But what if it's not up to me? What if it's another person who is done with the team?"
A tiny gasp issued from the other bed and a thick silence fell on the room. Kakashi rocked back on his feet as if he had been kicked and his eye widened, not daring to look at Sakura.
It took Naruto several moments to recover, finally spluttering and giving Sakura one quick, fearful glance. Then he growled in full fury, grabbing at Sasuke. "A team isn't over until everyone gives up on it, you fucking bastard! And if you give a damn about the team you hold on to it with all your might! Believe it!"
Kakashi reacted quickly to keep Naruto from squeezing Sasuke's wounds too hard. "Naruto, you don't have to actually hold on to Sasuke with all your might."
Sasuke swatted at Naruto's hands and tried to swallow his own moans of pain. "All right! Get off of me, you imbecile!"
Naruto finally allowed himself to be pulled away. "You better believe it, Sasuke, it takes everything you've got to hold on. Sometimes even when nothing bad is happening. Sometimes..." Naruto's voice grew distant and looked at Sakura, "that's when it's most important to hold on to your teammate, believe it."
Sakura had her hands over her face and was shaking in her bed.
Naruto took a step toward her but stopped when Kakashi put a hand on his shoulder. "We're out of time, Naruto."
"Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto looked scandalized.
"We have do our part, Naruto. We have to believe in them."
Naruto stared hard at Sakura and then blinked away. He met Sasuke's gaze and breathed softly.
Finally, Kakashi grasped his elbow and began hauling Naruto from the room. "Get well soon, Sasuke, Sakura. We'll see you later."
"Damn right, we'll see you later. At team training, believe it!"
And with that the room was left with only the two bed-ridden shinobi, one of whom was trying her best to cry silently while the other ground his teeth.
Sakura gulped a few huge breaths and wiped at her eyes and nose with her hands. Without looking she reached into the bedstand for a tissue with antibacterial lotion. She blew her nose.
Sasuke concentrated and began meditative breathing with his eyes closed. After a few minutes his fist became his left hand again and his jaw loosened.
The silence continued.
From her position in her bed, Sakura could see some treetops and a tall building half a block down, but little else. From the angle of sunlight it was the middle of the afternoon.
Sasuke shifted in his bed, discovering that he couldn't really change how he lay without a great deal of pain.
Sakura wet her lips with her tongue and parted her lips as if to speak. Then she closed her mouth and looked back out the window.
Sasuke closed his eyes again and focused on single point on his forehead, trying to at least distract himself from his pain, if not slip fully into sleep.
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
Nearly an hour passed in oppressive silence. The air hung heavy and unmoving.
Sakura thought about this and that and watched birds come home to roost in their nests within the trees outside the window.
Sasuke heaved another frustrated breath. His leg itched and when he twisted one way his hand complained and when he twisted the other way his scalp burned. Sleep was completely impossible.
"Fuck," said Sakura, under her breath.
Sasuke held his breath for a minute in case she said anything else. She didn't. He glared at the ceiling, faintly glad he didn't have the chakra left for Mangekyou Sharingan. It might have become too tempting to fire Amaterasu on the building.
Sakura wrapped her fists in the sheet, working to keep herself from tearing it. She pulled in a silent breath, long and deep, purposefully so she could feel the burning in her still-healing lung.
Sasuke pressed his unwrapped cheek into a cool spot on his pillow. It made him face Sakura's bed.
"Look, let's-" began Sakura at the same time that Sasuke said, "You don't have-" They both clicked their mouths shut at the same time.
Sakura hummed nervously.
Sasuke gave a typical "hn."
Sakura prepared to speak.
But Sasuke spoke first, "We have to do something. I've got to think about anything other than my damned leg."
Sakura spoke in a flood of words, "God, Sasuke, I'm so sorry! Dammit I am so sorry this happened and I hurt you! I'm such an-"
"Shut up." Sasuke ordered. "No, it's just...fuck, Sakura. Ach!" Sasuke yelped in pain as he lifted his good hand to scratch at his head, forgetting about his other wounds there. He slammed the hand back against the mattress.
"How are we going to do this?" Sasuke spoke in a snarl then snapped his mouth closed. He inhaled and tried again, "You don't want me around."
Sakura had her lips pressed together. She was on her side, hands gripping the edge of her mattress. "No, I..." She sighed and fell silent.
Sasuke scowled.
"I was mad at you. Pissed." Sakura bit her lip for a moment and then shook her head slightly, a look of defiance settling over her dark green eyes. "And you know what, I am still completely pissed off."
Does anyone else ever rage-write? This is kind of (well, more than kind of, rather more directly) a response to some stories I read recently that just aggravated me. I don't want to go into the aggravation at length, people are entitled to write whatever they want and it's my own problem if I don't want to read their stories. It's just that I was reading some stories on FF with the same themes and found myself wishing desperately for something else to happen other than what kept on happening. Um...and this came out.
This isn't the kind of thing I'd ever figured I'd write. They're versions of Sakura and Sasuke I don't entirely believe in and because of that I had a hell of a time in certain places because I kept fighting myself. But I think it worked out in the end. Sort of.
By the way, the title is blatantly lifted from an old 40s blues song. Pretty cute song, look it up!
