Hey i am back with the second chapter of the story.
A HUGE thanx to TXJ and laharvey125 without whom this would not have been possible. :)
Disclaimer: I do not own NARUTO..there, said it, happy!?
Happy Reading!
Chapter 2 Scars and Memories
The hustle and bustle of the waiting room began to fade into a dull roar. I wasn't usually on this end of the scene. I was the cool, collected, efficient one behind the scalpel. Nothing fazed me, be it blood or guts. So why was I feeling like an emotional wreck?
With a weary sigh I leaned forward and rested my aching head in my hands. I rubbed my temples in an attempt to ease the pressure. It did little to alleviate it. My memory played such cruel tricks as it flashed between the gruesome accident and those of a fonder time.
''Itachi...?''
I felt someone gently shake my shoulder and it stirs me back to the present. What is wrong with me? Why do my thoughts keep returning to the past? I was never one to reminisce before. I'm more focused than this, always present and aware of my surroundings.
"We've moved her to the ICU," Shisui said softly, looking intently into my eyes making sure that I'm actually listening to him and not still lost in memory. His expression was regret mixed with sympathy. Why is he looking at me like that? Am I really so pitiable?
"How is she?" I pressed.
He sighs, knowing there is no point in sugar-coating it because I can see the chart for myself. I think I will review it anyway.
"There's no damage to the spine. We drained the hematoma and the fractures have been fixed." He flinched slightly; the grim look on his face told me this was the only silver lining. As I opened my mouth , he raised his hand to silence me and pushed on, "There was some internal bleeding but we managed to stop that. She can't breathe on her own and she's gone into cardiac arrest once." He drew a shaky breath, making sure he hasn't left anything out. "It's a miracle she's made it this far," he confessed.
My heart nearly stopped. That was worse than I had anticipated. "W-will she recover?" I asked with bated breath.
Shisui rubbed his tired eyes. "I don't know yet. It's still too early to tell. The first forty-eight hours are the most important. You remember that, don't you?"
I frowned. He was right, I should have remembered that. I was too out of sorts at the moment. I took a moment to compose myself, breathing deeply and willing my nerves to settle.
"She will be alright." I tried to convince myself.
Shisui switched from doctor to friend mode, or maybe he has been somewhere in flux the whole time, he took the seat next to me as I closed my eyes and willed myself to believe that she will be alright. He nodded encouragingly. "She'll pull through Itachi, don't worry." He was always the more optimistic one. "You know her well."
Perhaps that was part of the problem, I realized.
Why did it have to be her? And why now…
Shisui rested a hand on my shoulder. "Hey, are you going to be ok?"
Ok? I have never felt worse. "I am on the verge of losing everything I hold dear…and I alone am responsible." I said in a haunted tone.
He frowned in confusion. "What do you mean?" he could tell there was a deeper meaning to my words, and I am sure my fragile temperament was obvious.
My gaze drifted off to the side, the guilt was too much to bear. "I did that to her."
He looked a little exasperated. "Come on Itachi! It-''
I grabbed hold of his collar in a fit of rage. "You don't understand! I hit her with my fucking car!"
It proved difficult to control myself. Professionalism be damned!
Shisui's eyes widened in shock. It was understandable; I wasn't generally the hysterical type.
Then again she had always invoked emotions I never bothered with before. It was amazing how easily she inspired them now, even after all these years.
"Calm down! I understand Itachi, trust me." Shisui voice is sharp and commanding as he gently pries himself free from my trembling grasp. "But I think you really need to get some rest. It's been a long day."
I sigh, trying to regain composure. He's right. The poor guy has been in the OR for 4-5 hours, on his day off even. The least I could do is spare him my drama.
"I'm sorry. I just…"
He nodded reassuringly. "I know…I would do that same if it were Mio."
"You head home; I'll apologize to Mio-san for stealing you away." I stand up, my knees felt stiff from sitting for so long. "I'll go see Amaya now."
He looks a little skeptical as he looks me over critically, wondering if it was wise to leave me on my own. He shook his head, thinking better of voicing his ideas. "Alright. And don't worry; I was able to see to it that Kakashi's team will continue with her treatment." He said with a hint of a knowing smile. I smile back, relieved to know that both have my back, just like the old days… "Thank you," I said with gratitude as I clapped a hand on his shoulder.
He waves me off. "Don't get all mushy there Itachi, it'll kill your reputation. Besides, she's been our friend long before you decided to take an interest in her. But we can talk about this later."
I nodded. I really need to see her now. Perhaps then my heart rate will return to normal. He finished up his report as I made my way to the ICU unit. Each step felt heavy as my heart continued to ache.
How could this be happening? It felt so unreal and yet reality was cold and unforgiving.
Would she be as well, when she discovers that I'm responsible?
Standing at the foot of her bed taking in the sight, I fight back the tears. All the wires and tubes, the only things keeping her alive. Out of habit I scan the monitors checking vitals and flip through her chart before settling into the chair next to her. I realize how and fragile the equipment keeping her alive is how fragile her connection to life is at this moment.
I don't know what to do, I sit down and fidget, then stand up and pace around the bed. I start to speak but the words get caught in my throat.
Does she even remember me?
My eyes land on the scar on her hand. I run my finger over it, remembering that day.
(Flashback)
It being the week of the Spring Festival, my father had to put in extra hours at the precinct managing the additional security measures for the town. So I ended up carrying his dinner to the precinct that day. As I was walking out, she came in dragging a beaten up drunk by the scruff. I followed her back inside, my curiosity piqued.
"I can't believe Konoha lets such things happen especially in the spring festival week." she commented snidely leaning over the counter.
"It's not like that." the constable began, flustered by her straightforwardness. She shook her head exasperated and clearly irritated. "Save your breath constable-sir. I know that, but since I have made your job easy, just make sure he is punished for what he tried to do to me." She sighed, her voice toning down a little, "Is there anything else you need from me?"
"No, just sign here, I will give you a copy of the report, just give me a couple of minutes.''
She tapped her foot impatiently the whole wait, like she anxious to be anywhere else.
"Here ya go." he handed her a copy of the report, "You may wanna get that looked at." he said pointing at her injured hand. "Yeah, I'll do that." she replied looking at her hand as if she was just noticing it herself, "Is there a hospital nearby?" He gave her directions. She gave him a two fingered salute as she walked out, "Thanks!"
She was looking around as if trying to orientate herself and remember the directions she was given. She spotted me while doing this. She obviously remembered our conversation from yesterday as she made her way over to me.
"Are you stalking me?" she accused, glaring daggers at me.
"No" I replied softly, not quite believing we're having this conversation again.
"I overheard your conversation with the constable and his directions to the hospital. I was only wondering if you would like me to escort you there, as I am studying there myself." She relaxed a little at this.
"You're a doctor?" she ask, eyes filling with interest, and disbelief.
"Well studying to be one, yes" I rubbed the back of my neck.
"Oh." she looked surprised, and scuffed her foot on the ground "Alright." But she still didn't seem convinced.
"Look, you can ask anyone at the precinct. They all know me." She looked back over her shoulder at this, weighing her options. This girl really didn't believe anything at face value.
"You're injury looks deep. We'd better get going if you want to be home before late." I began walking and she followed a moment later.
"Doesn't matter." she stated confidently, "I can handle myself very well."
"I could see that, but won't your parents worry about you?" She halted in her tracks. "Did my mother send you?" she muttered making a face, as she cradled her right arm in her left. She clearly was in pain but would be damned to admit or whimper pathetically.
The staff looked at us with curiosity as we walked into the ER, I chose to ignore them and spoke directly to the medical officer on duty regarding her case.
She stood next to me, leaning her back against the counter, still cradling her arm.
"What is your name? I'll fill out the form." I explained as her eyebrows threatened to disappear into her hairline.
She shoved the incident report at me "Take this; it has all of the information you will need on it already."
Name: Amaya Nanami
Age: 17…
Four years his junior, he calculated, as the medical officer began suturing and bandaging her wound.
After some time, having finished all of the paperwork formalities, he returned to find her gazing at the ER with a mix of curiosity and fascination.
''Weirdo,'' he thought to himself. "You like all of this?" he enquired.
"Of course" she looked him over, "I am going to be a doctor as well, I'll be starting this year." she added.
"Oh." For some reason I was not really surprised. "That is great, but you can't afford to be so reckless." I pointed to her freshly dressed arm as proof.
"That was in self-defense." she defended, color coming to her cheeks. He rubbed the side of his nose and chuckled. "How so?" they started walking toward the exit.
"I just wanted to take a stroll after being at home the entire day, when out of nowhere some stinky drunk jerk tries to rob me!"
"So you beat the crap out of him." he finished dryly, suppressing the laughter bubbling in his chest.
"He started it!" her voice held an unreal amount of indignation, reminding him of his baby brother when scolded for fighting with a teammate.
"Hn." he nodded, the Kakashi like mannerism not fully lost on him.
She stopped suddenly, looking around.
"Where are we going?" she gave him a scrutinizing look.
"Your house." it really was a logical conclusion.
"Excuse me?"
He sighed, blinking at her. He had never met somebody so infuriatingly untrusting. He could feel his eyebrow twitch as his hand tightened then loosened around the police report. Shoving his source of knowledge at her. "It has your address."
'Dip shit' would have been his next words, but his mother had raised him better.
"Oh." her face seemed to say that she heard his unspoken words all the same. He started walking, and she followed quietly.
"I am sorry," she said suddenly, "I have been very rude." her voice carried a soft, embarrassed tone.
"You aren't very trusting of people?"She made a non comical sound in her throat, and didn't make eye contact with him. "It's not exactly a bad thing." he reassured her, "Anyway we're here." he gestured toward the house.
She looked up at him sheepishly. "I'm sorry; I never did get your name?"
"Itachi, Uchiha Itachi." he smiled at her awkwardness.
"Thank you, Uchiha-san" she said bowing slightly.
"It's nothing." he shrugged, hiding embarrassment that he can feel trying to creep into his cheeks. "I do need to get going now. Good night Nanami-san."
"Well, you did have the police report." she shrugged, flashing a half smile, '' good night.''
As he walked home, he was surprised to find himself wishing she had smiled sooner.
TBC
A/N: Please bear with me till my exams are done with, i will have more regular updates then.
Please review if you are reading this..it matters..even if a couple of words of encouragement or even corrections, they are ok by me..
Tc.. Ja ne !