good afternoon! i'm sorry it's taken me awhile to update. but i have been occupied...you know the usual, basketball camp, soccer practice, open house for the new school year, and overtime at work. plus the Olympics! i've watched sports that i only watch every four years diving...badmiton, volleyball, etc...anyway here's the next installment of the story. hope you enjoy...and don't worry my other fics are going to be updated this week. i thought i had 'Home Again' the way i wanted it...but i took out a whole section and had to rewrite. so there you have it. terri.
i do not own naruto. and if i did...oh how sasuke would rue the day! rue it!
CHAPTER TWO Just a Friend.
Freshly showered and dressed, Sakura glanced at herself in the mirror. Her hair was now longer, almost reaching her waist. There was a small scar or two on her arms, plus the Leaf ANBU tattoo. Her body was now curved in the right places. Her chest still left something to be desired, but all in all she felt she was attractive. She gave herself a smile and walked back into the living room. Kiba was talking to Akamaru while he mopped the kitchen floor.
"You look a hellava lot better," he grinned. Kiba had grown into a handsome man. He was still lean but solid muscle. Brown hair as wild as ever, and his eyes a playful brown. The smile that graced his face was what drew a person in. Several girls and guys were disappointed when he and Shino admitted their feelings.
"And Shino's turned you into quite a housewife," the pink haired girl teased.
"No way babe, I top every time," the dog nin retorted. "It's just my friends are complete slobs, and I can't stand it."
"I was sick!" Sakura hopped onto the recently cleaned counter.
"Pff..." Kiba finished and placed the mop on her patio to dry. "Let's go."
"Where?" Sakura looked out her kitchen window.
"To walk Akamaru," he slid the door shut.
"Kiba, can't he walk himself? Look at him, he's like two hundred pounds." Sakura looked at the large white dog. She could have sworn he was giving her a 'fuck you' look. She licked her tongue out at him.
"Nope, c'mon." Kiba untied the flowered apron and hung it back in the kitchen closet.
The friends walked through the park. Akamaru ran ahead, digging holes and barking at anything that struck him as odd.
"Sakura," Kiba began. His voice lost it's normal playfulness. Sakura stiffened. "I need you to listen to me."
"Okay, go ahead." Sakura didn't like his tone. The pair approached a picnic table. Kiba sat on the table, and Sakura sat on the bench.
Kiba rested his arms in his lap and sighed. "There's someone I want you to meet."
"No." Sakura stared off to the baseball field. Her elbows on the table. "No more blind dates."
"It's not a blind date, just hear me out," he reached to touch her hand.
"Yeah right. Tell me something different." Sakura moved her hand away.
"It's not what you think, she's really nice." Kiba looked down on her.
"Ehhh?" Sakura turned her head up looking at him with her eyebrow cocked. "Kiba, you're gay, not me."
"I'm not gay. I'm bi in case you don't remember that night we made out," he said with a wink.
"That night doesn't count. There was a lot of alcohol consumed, plus we didn't go all the way." Sakura blushed. "And that was before, well that was a long time ago."
Kiba noticed how she looked in the sun. Sakura wasn't a 'knock you off your feet' kinda pretty like Ino. Nor was she the classic shy beauty like Hinata. She was cute, but her personality made her beautiful.
"Anyway, the girl I want you to see is someone that can help you." Kiba continued. He lifted his head toward the sky. "Hana oneechan talked to her when Komo died."
Sakura remembered when Kiba's brother in law was killed. The eldest Inuzuka had lost her drive for everything. Even going as far as to neglect her three nin dogs. It took a month to get her out of their bed and his clothes, and another month to get her out of their house.
"That will instill confidence in my patients, when they learn their medic is seeing a shrink." Sakura looked away from him.
"Sakura, it's been three years. Do you hear me three years?" The dog nin turned her head toward him. "I need you to get better."
"Kiba, I know you care, but I can't do that." Sakura's head dropped down. "I just can't."
"So what, you're gonna be alone the rest of your life," his voice getting angry. "Your parents would never want this for you."
"Don't do this," she slammed her hands onto the table. When her parents were killed in the last attack on the village, Kankuro took three months off to be with her. The Fifth and the Kazekage allowed him to work as an ambassador for Suna, serving the Leaf Village in missions.
"They were so happy when you were with him. Don't you think they would want that for you now?"
Sakura started to stand, "I don't want to talk about this anymore."
"Of course you don't. You never do." Kiba grabbed her wrist. "I'm sick of you being miserable. I need to see you happy, genuinely happy."
"I'm not miserable."
"Yeah, and I'm a girl," he replied.
"Well," Sakura began.
A poof interrupted her sentence.
"Inuzuka Kiba, you are to report to the Hokage Tower immediately." The ANBU member was perched in the tree above them. They each knew Rock Lee was behind that mask, but Neji was a stickler for the protocol of secrecy. The Hyuuga had become head of ANBU the previous year.
Once Kiba acknowledged the ANBU member, Lee disappeared as quickly as he came.
"So I guess that's the end of this. Akamaru head home." Kiba sighed, and Akamaru barked a response. "I'll call if I need you. You aren't getting out of this."
Kiba pointed to her. He leaned over and kissed her forehead, and with a poof he was gone.
"Akamaru, wanna head over and get some barbecue?" Sakura asked. "My treat?"
A large bark and he was by her side. The two walked back to the heart of the village, where restaurants were located. Akamaru began to jump up and down, barking. A moment later appeared his master's boyfriend.
"Sakura, good afternoon. I'm happy to see you are doing better," Shino greeted her. Akamaru moved over to stand beside Shino and licked his hand. Shino looked down at the dog, "I assume Kiba has been summoned."
"Yeah, about ten minutes ago. We were just about to get some barbecue. Want to join us?" Sakura offered.
"Actually Hana has told Akamaru he needs to lose a few pounds, so barbecue is not an option." Shino looked down at the dog beside him. Akamaru let out a whine.
"Oh really? Akamaru, you knew better." Sakura lightly scolded him. Akamaru lowered his head to the ground and placed his paws on top of it.
"I do believe I'll take this little sneak off your hands." Shino said. "Did Kiba have the chance to talk to you about,"
Sakura cut him off, "Yes he did, and no I won't."
"It is an option Sakura. Your time of grief has long passed." Shino rubbed Akamaru's head.
A poof sounded and Kiba quickly kissed Shino before whispering, "A, 2 weeks." With a wink to Sakura he disappeared again with Akamaru.
Normally Shino frowned on public displays of affection but with Kiba leaving on a mission the bug nin sighed.
"I guess that's that." Shino mumbled. He ran his hand through his hair.
Sakura smiled. It made her heart all warm seeing Shino concerned about Kiba. The Aburame was an expert at keeping his emotions at bay, but in this moment, Sakura could see how much he cared for Kiba. An A ranked mission had it's dangers of course, so the concern was justified. Shino wasn't there with him to ensure he'd come home. Shinobi were encouraged to marry civilians, but most found that the only ones who could truly understand them were other shinobi.
"He'll be home soon." Sakura placed her hand on his arm to reassure him. The touch guided him along the streets.
"I can only hope. I need him." Shino replied. "I wish I could join you for lunch, but I was on my way to meet my father. Maybe we can have dinner together in a few days."
"It's ok, send your father my greetings." Sakura looked at him.
"Please think about what Kiba said. He, we, worry about you. We love you." With that said the Aburame walked away, waving his hand to her.
Sakura blushed at his confession. "I wonder if shishou is busy." Sakura turned to head toward the Hokage's office.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
The three most famous siblings of the Suna Village sat in the Kazekage's office. Gaara was looking out the window as he often did when proposed with a problem. His fingers drumming on the ledge.
"Kankuro, I wish I could tell you everything was going to be ok, but," Temari spoke softly. "It's about time you showed interest in the child thought. Pity it took this to bring that about. Hopefully it's your kid and all this worry isn't in vain."
"Hn." Kankuro growled. The puppet master was sitting in a chair beside her. His elbows on his knees in an aggressive pose. He didn't need Temari's advice or smart ass comments at the moment. He was doing his best to contain his anger and frustration.
"I can't imagine what you must feel," she continued.
"I guess you can't, seeing as you get to go home to your daughter." Kankuro snipped. He couldn't look at her.
"What's that suppose to mean?" Temari shouted back. She scooted to the edge of the chair she sat in. "Don't act like you are so hurt considering you haven't had any interest in this kid until now!"
"Just shut up Temari, I don't need your shit right now!" Kankuro slammed his hand on the arm of the chair.
"Maybe if you had made better choices in who you fucked you wouldn't be in this situation. I mean honestly some weak ass village girl!" Temari continued. "It's no wonder, Kankuro."
Kankuro jumped from the chair. He turned quickly to face his sister. "No matter where she is from she's still losing her life and her child. I never thought I'd hear you talk to me like dad did Temari. Thanks for the fuckin support, at least now I know what you truly think of me!"
Temari felt the words sting her. She didn't realize what she was saying. Memories of their father came flooding back. Their father feared Gaara, and even went so far as to try and have him killed. Temari was his angel. He spoiled her without question. Kankuro meant nothing to him, and he had no problem showing it. Actually Kankuro was something to the Fourth Wind Shadow, a punching bag or scapegoat. Kankuro in his eyes wasn't worthy enough to carry the bijuu and not his daughter. That left him as weak and unimportant in his father's eyes.
Kankuro had vowed to never do that to his child. In a flashback, Temari could see Kankuro cowering in a corner at four years old as his dad continued to call him worthless and a disappointment.
Her hands went to cover her mouth, and she moved to touch him, "I'm so sorry Kankuro. I never meant that, I'm sorry."
"It's ok," he lowered his head, pulling his arm away from her touch. Painful memories being pushed aside.
"Kankuro niisan, this is not your fault." Gaara finally spoke. Since his run in with the Akatsuki, he valued his siblings even more. When not discussing official Suna business, he had taken to using the proper honorific for each of them. "I do not want you to blame yourself. You are thinking this is some how your fault. My brother is not weak. The same blood runs through us, we are strong together. You are our family, and we won't let anything happen to this child."
"Thank you otouto," he answered. "I've got to go."
Kankuro stood to leave. He needed to get away from all of this. Sakura was weighing heavy on his mind and now this was happening. The puppet master walked out of the office and then from the building. His feet led him to the one place he knew would make him feel better. The training ground he used when learning his puppet skills. He released the scrolls and set about to put himself through a ridiculously hard workout.
Five days had passed since the last visit with the medic. Kankuro was cleaning his weapons when a knock on the door took him from his thoughts. He got up and opened his office door.
"Kankuro san, you are needed at the hospital," the young genin was obviously nervous in front of the jounin. He shifted his weight from one foot to another, and his eyes never looked Kankuro directly.
"What's the problem," his voice boomed. Chakra strings began to pull his puppets together on the other side of his office.
The red head looked over at the puppets unable to answer.
"I'm talking to you!" Kankuro shouted. The boy let out a small squeak, and his head snapped up to look at Kankuro. Kankuro wondered who's team this kid was on, and how the hell he was able to pass the academy. If Kankuro scared him, what the hell would happen if he met an Akatsuki member.
"I'm...I'm not sure sir, I was just sent to get you." The boy's head immediately went back to the ground.
"Fine, you're dismissed." Kankuro waved him off. Relief took over his face as he ran off down the hallway. Kankuro packed his weapons away and started off toward the hospital.
Umi was waiting in the lobby for him.
"Come on back, Kankuro san," she smiled. The nurse guided him down an unfamiliar hallway.
Kankuro noticed her voice wasn't as happy as usual, nor as confident. That in the puppet master's mind could only mean one thing, bad news.
"Right in here please." Umi ushered him into an office, and turned to leave. Kankuro sat on a leather chair. The room had pictures of babies, and families the medic must have delivered.
After fifteen minutes, the door opened again and Daiya was shown to a seat beside Kankuro. Her brow was wet with sweat, and her breathing irregular. Kankuro followed her legs down to where her sandals were tight around the swollen feet. It matched the clothing that was also tight around her large stomach. The young woman blushed, when she realized his eyes were on her.
"Go to the store and get some new clothes and sandals. Have them put on my account." Kankuro ordered.
"It's okay, these are fine." Daiya replied. Even if she were from a smaller village, she was use to working for everything she had.
"It wasn't a request. You can't be comfortable in those." Kankuro looked at her. The brown skin Daiya possessed looked tired. Circles under her eyes were puffy. Kankuro could not tell if it were from crying, lack of sleep, or both.
"I don't need any clothes." For a first time she said something firmly to the sand ninja.
"Go, or I'll have them sent. Whichever, but supposedly my kid is in there, and the child's comfort is more important than your pride." Kankuro said with a finality that ended the topic.
The door opened, and Bin entered.
"Good afternoon both of you," he greeted, walking behind his desk. He sat and began shuffling folders, looking for her chart.
"So I believe I have good news for you." Bin looked at both with a small smile. He cleared his throat and proceeded.
"I've consulted with the other medics here about the poison. All three of our experts here have agreed with my earlier findings. The poison has started to take away the life of the child."
The small look of hope on Daiya's face disappeared and tears started to fall. Her soft voice mumbling over and over no, her hand stroked her stomach.
"This is the good news?" Kankuro's brow furrowed, and he leaned forward aggressively in the chair.
"There's more," the medic could not get use to the intensity of Kankuro. "One of the medics I consulted was none other than the great Tsunade of the Leaf Village. You may know her Kankuro san."
"Yeah," Kankuro could barely respond. He felt a little uneasy. "I'm familiar."
"She has agreed to have her best medic assist with a procedure that could remove the poison." Bin smiled at Daiya. "It is very risky, but under the circumstances, it is better than our current options."
Daiya looked up at the medic and wiped her tears. With hope in her eyes, she turned to Kankuro the first smile on her face since she had arrived.
"Who is this medic," she asked. The legend of the three Sannin had reached her village. Tsunade was famous as a medic. The nineteen year old wondered who could be better.
Kankuro's stomach was tied in a knot, and his breath stilled.
"Her apprentice, Haruno Sakura." Bin answered. "In honesty, she can no longer be considered an apprentice, having passed her mentor if the rumors are correct."
Kankuro continued to hold his breath, his mind racing. 'Fuck, fuck, fuck,' he thought over and over.
"Will she be coming here?" Daiya asked. Her voice was full and happy.
"No that is the only draw back. Because Tsunade is over seeing the procedure, we have to travel to Konoha. Tsunade is the current Hokage there." Bin frowned just a little.
"Oh, okay," she answered. The idea of traveling worried her. "How long will this take?"
"Konoha is three days for a shinobi, but in your case," Kankuro began. "It'll have to be longer."
Kankuro stood. "I need to see the Kazekage about her paperwork. She'll need permission to travel. Are you going also?"
"Of course, Umi as well. I have our paperwork already started Kankuro san, including Daiya's."
"So they are expecting us in Konoha?" Kankuro was thinking, planning the trip.
"Yes, the hokage has assured me that Haruno san will not be given any missions to allow us time to arrive. I think that we should leave in two days." Bin tapped his fingers together.
"We leave tomorrow at five am." Kankuro said as he turned to leave.
"But that isn't enough time to prepare. I have to pack, and wrap up things here." Bin protested. Kankuro turned back around and approached the desk. He leaned over it, his face incredibly close to Bin's.
"I assure you the Kazekage will treat this as a mission. And the last time I checked medic nin, I was the highest ranking shinobi between the two of us." Kankuro said with venom. He hated being challenged by people who were weaker than he. "Be ready at five am. The sun is a bitch in the desert."
Kankuro moved to leave, stopping beside Daiya, "Go get the clothes and sandals like I said. I won't have you presented to the other village leaders like that. Be ready a four thirty, and I'll escort you to the gates."
With that said, he left the office.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Tsunade looked over the paper on her desk from the land of Suna. Shizune was busy on her left organizing mission requests.
"Sakura, I need you here in the village for awhile. We have a slight situation," the blond spoke. She took a sip of the cup on her desk. Disgust on her face from the tea, that Shizune insisted she drink during 'office hours.'
"What is it Shishou?" Sakura did her best to keep the smile from crossing her face at her mentor's expression.
"We received a request from a medic in Suna. There is a patient there who is in pregnant, but there are complications." Another sip. The slug mistress shuddered at the tasted.
"She suffered from an attack by the Yirichi clan as a child." Tsunade continued.
Sakura's mind pulled at the information of the Yirichi clan, and their use of poison. The clan of thieves had caused nothing but suffering for many villages, until a squad of Konoha and Suna nins had wiped them out.
"The poison is having an effect on the fetus by drawing away the child's chakra. The medic and the Kazekage have both requested we look at her to see if we can help." Tsunade spoke. The cup of tea tossed into the wastebasket. "If we can't help her both will die."
Tsunade rested her chin on the palm of her right hand. She watched as Sakura's mind began to process the information it had been given.
Sakura was Tsunade's pride. Shizune was a great medic, but Sakura was more like Tsunade in her personality. The soft spot for her teammate, the temper, and the ability to admit her weaknesses but overcome them. Sakura wasn't the genius that Shikamaru was, but in the field of medicine she was a wonder.
Tsunade had complete confidence in Sakura that she would not fail.
"I see," she began. "I'll start researching now. I need to know how old was she when she was in the attack, so I can narrow down which poison they were using at the time."
"Here are her stats," the older women pushed the folder toward her. "Go do what you need to do."
"Hai shishou," Sakura stood and bowed to both Shizune, and Tsunade.
Shizune who had been watching the scene from the corner of her eye spoke, "You aren't going to tell her?"
"No she will find out when they arrive. I need her focused on this." Tsunade spoke. "To find out he is coming here will be hard enough, but it will be even worse to learn he is the father. This will devastate her and at least for a few days, she will be able to work with a clear mind."
"First Sasuke, then the break up with Kankuro, and now this. That poor child." Shizune muttered. Tonton let out a soft whine from under the desk.
The Kazekage looked at his brother. They stood side by side on the roof of the Kazekage tower. A gentle breeze passed through the village. He was concerned, but relieved that Sakura would help Daiya. The kunoichi held a soft spot in Gaara's heart. She, in his mind, was courageous from the moment she jumped in front of her team mate turned traitor.
After that she not only saved Kankuro's life, but risked her own in a fight against Sasori. She had become one of the three Konoha shinobi that were precious to him. He would have to remember to send Lee the curry he enjoyed so much on his last trip to Suna.
"I'm sending three chunin with you." Gaara spoke. "This will be treated as an escort mission with you in charge."
"Fine. I've told everyone to be ready at five." Kankuro looked past Gaara and out toward the horizon.
His mind had been unsettled since Bin had mentioned Sakura. He wondered if the Hokage had to convince her to do so. Not likely. Even if Sakura knew he was the father, she was still a medic. The life of her patient was important than her anger with him. Daiya and the child were innocent in this, and Kankuro was positive, she wouldn't hold a grudge against them.
"Good. Kankuro niisan," Gaara's soft voice began. "I hope you come back better."
Kankuro turned to looked at his younger brother. The features on his face were softer. Leading the village and having people to care for him had changed him. It was still rare for him to be so caring in public, but Kankuro appreciated the gesture. This was not coming from the Kazekage, but from his brother, who had learned love him. It was unusual the situation the pair were in. Gaara had taken steps forward to grow emotionally, while Kankuro had taken a few steps back.
"Me too." Kankuro whispered. He turned to leave the tower. Like Bin he had several things to take care of before leaving the village.
He stopped by the clothing shop to make sure Daiya had been there to get clothes. The clerk informed him she had, and he added a few more items to her list to send with the others. The sand jounin went to his apartment and checked the fridge for items that would spoil while he was gone. He thought about how in a few months, he would have to give up his apartment to move back to the Kazekage's residence. Once the child was here, he would need to be with child and the nanny that would care for it. The clothes in the dryer were folded. His puppets and weapons were secure, and his clothes were packed.
Kankuro settled into his bed, dreaming of the pink haired medic he would soon see.
Sakura was in her office at the hospital pouring over medical scrolls. Her green eyes watered from strain and exhaustion. 'Time for a break,' she decided. The medic stood to stretch.
She walked the halls to the nurse's station. Ino was on duty that night. The blond stood toe to toe with another nurse. The women were looking at a patient chart and held stern faces.
"What's going on here?" Sakura knew that look on Ino's face. Mia, the oldest nurse in the hospital was engaged in a lock of wills with the blond. Neither woman ever thought of themselves as wrong.
"Nothing forehead, some of us just refuse to move along with the times." Ino answered moving away from them, as Mia mumbled about Ino's lack of respect for senior medical personnel. "What are you still doing here?"
"Research. We have a poison victim on her way from Suna." Sakura explained as the two made their way to the reception area at the end of the hall. Sakura reclined on the small sofa there. "The poison is killing both her and the baby she's carrying."
"Oh yeah, I heard Shizune san talking about that. They've started to prepare her room." Ino sat on one of the chairs. "So you think he could be with them?"
Sakura sighed, as happy as she was for Chouji to have someone to love, Sakura hated talking to Ino about her love life. Or lack of. The Yamanaka was sickening when it came to that subject. Sometimes Sakura wondered if Ino was just plain rubbing it in, but afterwards she felt silly.
"Why would he be with them?" Sakura was working on keeping her tone even. The senior medic rubbed her eyes.
"If they are sending her here, she must be important." Ino crossed her legs, changing the channel on the television. "And when you have a VIP you send your top security, not the bench warmers."
The idea had already crossed her mind, but she didn't want to continue the conversation. "Maybe Ino pig, but my focus is on the patient, not her bodyguards."
"Maybe you should focus on getting some. Honestly, I don't see why you are still so hung up on him anyway." Ino shifted in the seat. The remote tossed back on the table. "There are plenty of great guys here in Konoha. I could set you up with an Akimichi, my Chouji is a Godsend."
"Ino, don't start this again! I've told you to leave it alone." Sakura spoke through clenched teeth.
"I'm just saying Sakura, you're wasting your life away on just one guy. He cheated on you, and you can't get past it." Ino snapped back. She couldn't understand why Sakura couldn't just get over it. "HE'S NOT WORTH IT!"
"I don't remember Shikamaru telling Chouji that about you after that incident with Inki!" Sakura retorted. Ino was lucky Chouji was so forgiving after her one night stand with the visiting shinobi from Star Country.
"You said you'd never bring that up!" Ino's face turned red. "You said you'd never tell."
"I haven't but you know people in glass houses." Sakura got up and left the reception area. The walls shook as she slammed the door to her office.
so you know what to do...if you want. thanks terri.
