Here's chapter two, WARNING: THERE IS A SUICIDE ATTEMPT IN THIS CHAPTER. I hope you enjoy...
Disclaimer: I dont own Naruto un.
Chapter 2: memories, suicide attempts and a fever to top it off.
Feet smashed hard on the ground in a hurried pace, breath shortening in tiredness but Sakura still didn't stop as she clambered up stair case after stair case.
'I'll do this. Too much pain...I'm sorry Minato. You're the only one who's really cared' Sakura thought, wiping frantically at the tears that just kept flowing.
A few floors below Sakura, Naruto looked down. Sakura's book bag was lying on the ground which couldn't have meant anything good. When the blond remembered something making him quiver slightly.
Flashback
"Naruto can you do something for me" Minato asked, his eyes portraying something Naruto couldn't quite make out.
"Sure dad, what is it?"
"I'm sure this won't be easy for you Naruto but if anything were to happen to her I'd be crushed" Minato exclaimed, looking Naruto straight in the eyes.
"Huh. Who are you talking about?" Naruto asked, he had a vague idea it was his mum but couldn't figure that one out.
"Sakura Haruno. I want you to look out for her. If not for her do it for me?" Minato smiled weakly, Naruto just stared at his father in disapproval.
'Boy he sure does go on about Sakura, I don't get it. She's got a family of her own to dote on her' Naruto thought irritably. Leaning back in his chair, the teen let out an exaggerated sigh.
"Naruto, I don't ask much of you and this is one thing I really do want you to do for me, please son I would be hurt if anything bad happened to her" and with that said, Minato stood towering over his still sitting son and ruffled the boys hair, before walking off.
Flashback end.
'I've never done that which he asked me too before so now maybe I should, I've got a bad feeling about all of this anyway' Naruto figured finally moving from his spot, he jogged over to Sasuke.
"Hey Sasuke, Listen I'm going to go after her just to make sure the dork doesn't do anything stupid" Naruto gave Sasuke a thumbs up. Sasuke just shook his head.
"Hey, no sweat Naruto I get it, something to do with your dad" Sasuke shrugged, stuffing his hands in his pockets.
"Meet you after school"
"Sure" Naruto called back, jogging off in the direction Sakura had taken.
After running up so many stairs, Sakura was at the top floor, leaning over, and hands on her knees trying to catch her breath.
"Well this is it" Sakura whispered to nobody in particular, limping over to the heavy doors that lead to the roof. Sakura pushed with a loud groan and all her might until the door swung open. Taking a shaky step onto the roof, to be hit with a gale force wind, her pink locks slapping her cheeks. Closing her eyes she recalled the memory that started all of this pain.
Flashback
"Mama" squeaked a small pink haired child, looking around five year old. She was currently tugging on an older pink haired female's sleeve.
"Yes Sakura" The woman answered, smiling down at the girl.
"Where are we?" the young girl was curious, her eyes darting around the dark place they were, it was nowhere she recognised.
"Oh, daddy just has some business to take care of that's al, he'll be out of there soon" The woman reassured, resting a hand on her daughters head. The two females waited in their place for another fifteen minutes when the older woman became agitated checking her watch every other minute with a scowl on her face.
"What's wrong mummy?" little Sakura queried, looking up with innocent eyes at her mother.
The other woman looked down at the girl laughing nervously and scratching the back of her head with one hand.
"It's nothing sweetie" the pink haired lady finally replied, turning her head towards a door that Sakura's father had gone through.
"Sure" Sakura beamed up at her mother.
"I'm sure" only as soon as the sentence left her lips, the door her father had gone in flew open, bouncing off the walls at the force. The body that hit the wall then slumped, leaving a trail of blood behind left Sakura gasping wide eyed.
'Father noooo!' Sakura trembled, her vision blurring from tears. At that point she was to distraught to see a henchman walking towards her and her mother. In fact she didn't even know what her mother was doing.
'Why isn't she crying? I can't hear her. Mama' Sakura thought, teary eyed she turned on her heal. To face something that made her go ghostly pale. Her mother was doubled over and her face was scrunched up in pain.
"Mama what is it? Are you okay?" Sakura asked weakly, she was trembling from head to foot.
"Honey listen. I love you so much. I want you to do something for me okay?" Sakura's mum strained through sharp in takes of breath
"Anything mummy" Sakura beamed, unaware of the blood soaking her mother hands from the wound she was holding.
"I want you to do the best you can in life and be a very brave girl for me. Can you do that sweetheart?"
The woman smiled lovingly through tears at her daughter.
"I can, you just watch me mum" Sakura replied wiping her tears but too her horror, her mother collapsed to the ground.
"Mum" Sakura cried. Running forward she shook her mum, tears streaming.
"Please get up mummy" Sakura screamed, taking her hands off of her mum, the young girl ran over to her father.
"Daddy" she whispered "daddy....daddy you have to get up to!" this was all too much for her, to see her parents looking so pale and emotionless, had she lost them?
Only when she turned around, there was a blur and an excruciating pain in her face, blood poured. A brute looking man had slashed at her face managing to get her, biting down on his hand that had roughly grabbed her, Sakura pushed off screaming then ran as fast as she could away from the big man that scared her, blood soaking her shirt and dripping onto the floor.
Scared, confused and alone Sakura managed to find a chair and curled up underneath sobbing herself to sleep. Not long later Sakura squirmed, opening her groggy eyes. There was a bright light being shone in her face and a voice she didn't recognise. From the blue uniform Sakura guessed that they were police officers.
"hey, over here I got the kid and thank heavens she's alive" The officers were so filled with relief that the girl had been found and seemingly unharmed only a wound on her face, that police woman in the room burst into tears.
Flashback end
Opening her eyes to the painful memory the teen didn't even notice that the tears were falling faster now and one hand was clutching at the material around her chest and her other fingering her ugly scar.
'nobody did care...the only person was when I was eight years old' Sakura pondered miserably taking a step closer to the edge, wind still whipping up her hair, another memory came to mind, one that made her breath hitch in her throat and hesitate from the jump she was about to take.
Flashback
Sakura felt bad, really bad although she was only eight and starving hungry. What was a girl to do in that situation? The kids back at the orphanage were so mean to her and had tied her up and made her watch them eat dinner. It wasn't fair and then the master had told her it was tough luck, so stealing wasn't so bad.
With the bread and apple clutched in her hand tightly as if her life depended on it. Sakura pushed herself to run as fast as possible, but the shop keeper was gaining on her all too quickly. After all she was only eight years of age. Skidding around the corner, Sakura made sure to hold her hood up so that nobody recognised her. The youth of her face shadowed, only a few strands of pink hair sticking out. Looking behind her Sakura screamed out in shock, the shop keeper was literally on her tale.
Next thing she knew, the girl went crashing into legs the apple and bread flying out of her hands.
"That will be mine thank you. Rotten little thief" spat the shop keeper storming off with the apple and bread in his hands.
"wai-" Sakura stopped in her tracks slumping to the ground defeated. All she could think of doing was crying.
"Please come back, my...my dinner" Sakura sobbed, gasping as the eight year old noticed the legs she'd bumped into were now right in front of her.
"Was that you're dinner little one!" asked a soft, bewildered voice.
"Well...sort...of" Sakura stuttered through sobs.
"What do you mean sort of" The man asked confused, Sakura felt herself go shy, the man was blond and his hand was situated on her head.
"The people at the orphanage don't like me. They didn't want to share dinner! And Miss Ellie told me it was tough! I was hungry" Sakura whimpered. Her stomach growling as emphasise looking up at the man with teary eyes. She noticed he had a sad expression.
"Oh I get it" the man replied, putting a finger to his chin thoughtfully.
"Well lets go and pay that shop keeper a visit shall we?" The man paused lifting Sakura into his arms.
"Lets go get you some food. Tell me what's your name Kid?" the man grinned, a toothy smile at her.
"Sakura Haruno, good sir!" Sakura paused wrapping her arms around the mans neck, she pulled him close to her
"thank you"
"You're welcome Sakura, my name's Minato Uzumaki by the way. I have a son around your age you know"
Flashback end
Sobbing at the memory, the green eyed teen, finally screamed out, sprinting forward. Reaching the edge, she closed her eyes and the next thing she knew, she had hit the air.
"Idiot" someone from above her called out desperately, next thing Sakura knew, instead of falling she was dangling down side the massive school building, a firm grip on her wrist, turning a startled head up, she glared at her unwanted saviour.
"Let me go!"
"No" came a deep familiar voice, stunning her.
"wh-what are y-you doing Naruto?" Sakura managed to stutter out, still dangling down the side of the building.
"What do you think I'm doing, saving you? I just don't want to see my dad hurt by you. You got that?" Naruto growled, heaving the girl back to the ground of the school roof.
Sakura laid motionless on her back thinking about what he said, lifting her head, she stared at him out of crooked glasses and teary eyes.
"You shouldn't have bothered. He's better off without me around"
Naruto's eyebrow twitched he wasn't sure what to say to that, but before he even had the chance to say anything she'd run off again.
'man that was freaky though, something bothers me about what she said about my dad being better off without her...If I'd of been even a second later...she'd be - NO! I can't think like that, I saved her'
--
It had been two hours since the incident on the school roof and Sakura was dreading going into her next class. Today she had to have a double lesson of tutor; of course it sucked, because Sasuke, Naruto, Ino, Shikamaru and even Hinata were in that classroom. Not to mention her teacher obviously chose not to notice how she was treated.
'Stupid Kakashi sensei' Sakura thought grumpily, although she was feeling incredibly tired all of a sudden and shaky. Limping into the classroom, Sakura noticed that everybody was silent. She just bet that as soon as she walked in there, people would start on her again and she was right again.
Ino turned her head, sneering at her. Slowly staggering to her desk, Sakura eased herself down.
'Why do I feel so ill so suddenly, I ache all over and my vision keeps blurring'
Naruto sat quietly in his seat trying to process recent events. Sure he found Sakura annoying but for her to do that was just plain selfish.
'Sheesh, she has family and my dad doesn't she? How could she do that to the people that love her'
Clenching his fists, Naruto glared at the back of her head, a tap on his shoulder bringing him out of pondering. Twisting his head to look behind him, Naruto raised his eyebrows, it was Hinata and she was blushing cutely at him.
'I swear she sat in that seat just so she could be near me, oh well she's a good friend'
"Hey Hinata what is it?"
"Note from Sasuke" Hinata whispered back
"Naruto Uzumaki, pay attention" their teacher Kakashi barked. Grabbing the note from Hinata, Naruto winked at her and then swivelled back around to face a glaring teacher.
"Sorry sensei, I was" Naruto started sheepishly only to give up when Kakashi waved his hand dismissively mumbling that he didn't care as long as Naruto didn't make a habit of it.
Unfolding the note Naruto read eagerly what was written.
Hey dobe, u ok? Did something happen with the dork girl! U've been acting strangely since u ran after her earlier.
With a quick glance at Sasuke, Naruto clicked his pen on and began scribbling down an answer.
Making sure to avoid giving it to Hinata to pass, Naruto just chucked it, pumping a fist in triumphant when it landed right in front of Sasuke. Naruto watched as Sasuke read carefully, his eyebrows hit the sky and his eyes widened before turning to face Naruto with a look of disbelief, only seconds later it turned into a smirk.
'Oh crap what's he going to do now?' Naruto thought slapping a hand to his forehead and groaning.
Kakashi watched the interaction with the two boys with interest.
'Hmm, what are they up too?' Kakashi's thoughts came to a stop when he saw Sasuke's gaze rest on Sakura.
'Ah crap! Poor girl'
"Hey, psycho bitch!" Sasuke sneered gaining the whole class's attention, including a very weak looking Sakura's, funny how she knew Sasuke was talking to her straight away.
"What do you want emo kid?"
A vein appeared on Sasuke's forehead on hearing that name she called him causing him to up the stakes.
"I was just wondering what the view was like from the roof. Is all" Sasuke taunted chuckling.
Sakura gasped in horror, she knew Naruto was a bully but she never knew he would stoop that low.
Slamming her fists on the table Sakura attempted to stand and give the boy a piece of her mind. Only as soon as she was on her feet, her legs buckled and her vision blurred before fading, sending her crashing to the floor out cold with a loud thud. Ino stared in shock,
"Did Forehead just croak it?"
"INO" Kakashi bellowed "I've never heard such a nasty comment from you before, I'm utterly disgusted. Go to the heads office now. Sasuke you go too, I've had enough!"
Ino gulped nodding, running from the classroom, Sasuke just shrugged looking completely in effected, with a lazy exaggerated yawn, the Uchiha stood from his chair and dawdled out of the room. Naruto watched the girl he detested faint in front of his very eyes in shock, it all seemed quite like slow motion to him. He was expecting her to thwack Sasuke one and then storm off or something, but to faint was not what he predicted, his eyes stayed glued to his teacher picking the limp Haruno off the floor and dashing out of the door towards the school nurse.
--
Kakashi checked his bubble gum haired student over worriedly, once he'd set her down on the examining table. Waiting patiently for nurse Tsunade to finish getting her equipment ready, Tsunade stalked over to Sakura, frowning at the sight of her.
"Hmm" she kept muttering through the examination, turning to Kakashi once she was finished.
"She is burning up, if her temperature continues to rise then she may even begin hallucinating, she's going into a cold sweat and shivering, I've never seen anything so serious in a young one before, do her parents even look after her" Tsunade spat appalled "we may have to report this"
"Actually Sakura lives in an orphanage, everyday is like a battle for her. Poor kid" Kakashi answered, avoiding Tsunade's eyes.
"Alright, I'll send her home. Just let me give her a shot. It will be enough to get her home before the fever returns again" Tsunade informed whilst taking out a needle and quickly jabbing it into the girls arm, with her grunting and thrashing, finally coming too Sakura bolted upright, her pupils dilated.
"I have to go" she whispered, Kakashi strained to hear her once he'd figured out what she's said his eyes widened.
"Hey...wait a minute you can't go anywhere like that on your own" Kakashi argued, now very concerned, what girl would be reckless enough to walk home on her own with a fever.
"Sorry Kakashi Sensei" Sakura tearfully stated, Kakashi had a bad feeling about this, Next thing he knew Sakura had struck out a hand and hit him in a pressure point knocking him straight out before scrambling light headed off of the examining table and out of the door rather loudly making a run for it, with every step taken her vision becoming clearer and her steps becoming more even.
--
Two hours later
Sakura lay curled up in a ball, her CD player repeating the same song as she balled, sweating and aching from fever all over. A kitten tucked under arm that she'd saved earlier from mindless thugs. They'd sure got a hell of a beating until she'd come over all woozy and ran home if you'd call it home, she didn't even feel safe there. She couldn't even defend herself if anything happened her body was weak, shaky and numb all over.
Flashback
Sakura ran faster her legs were a little shaky but that didn't matter, she knew now what she saw after that frightened mewing had shocked her. Up ahead two thugs were picking on a helpless kitchen that looked like a drowned rat because of the rain. Her heart wrenched it looked no older than about nine months and was shivering, of course Sakura knew what that was like. With out any further warning, her small fist connected with a loud crack with one of the thugs cheek sending the startled and now pained person to the ground that's when the other leapt at her, using her self defence skills, Sakura scooped the kitten into her arms and easily dodged the attack, kicking the thug in the stomach and he curled into a foetal position, The pink haired girls vision blurred coming over all woozy Sakura decided enough was enough and charged off, cradling the kitten close to her body unable to tell if the thugs were chasing after her or not, due to the rain.
Flashback end
'Shit, I heard the other kids plotting because they know of my fever and I'm too weak to fight. What will happen to me? Please don't my kitten, Tibbles is my only friend please' Sakura pleaded inwardly, choking on a loud sob that echoed through the hallways as dark shadows crept towards her room.
----
Next chapter will be out very soon.