Disclaimer: In no way shape or form do I own Naruto. This goes for the first two chapters as well. tehe. XD
Theme: Night Light.
Making Progress
Itachi kept a night light. Huh. Who knew? Well, she mused, she did now. Somehow the thought of the feared missing-nin, (or ex-missing nin? nope, still missing) keeping a night light was just what she needed tonight.
After that awful dinner (awful for her anyway, he seemed as blasé as ever) wherein they slaved for hours over the terms of the shaky alliance between him, his new faction and Konoha she had looked up to see Itachi leaning against the back of his chair, eyes closed looking all the world as if he was merely taking a little break. But she knew better, two months of being his medic wasn't for nothing. She could see the tightening around his eyes, the tense set of his shoulders. And she immediately ordered that he go to bed at once while she cleared the table of their papers.
At first he looked like he would have objected, but after two months, he did know his medic's temper. Especially in instances where she would adamantly order her patient to rest. As she gathered the scrolls, she had murmured in a half-distracted way that she would be with him shortly, to work on another half-session of healing. Busily tying up the scrolls, she had missed the look he had sent her.
But when she had finished tidying up, she had to contend with the consequence of her earlier carelessness. It wasn't like this was the first time she had healed him in his room. On his bed.
But it would be the first time he's conscious, her inner self whispered.
Urgh. Aside from Inner Sakura's occasional comments (which can and should be ignored) she didn't even think of him that way! Urk.
But Itachi was still a man. And one that looked very much like the one she had a crush on for most of her young life…
Sakura mentally shook herself. That had nothing to do with anything. It was her duty to heal her patient, and it was due to her patient for her to be professional. Nothing but calm, cool, collected. Yes.
She took a deep breath and went in.
The room was, of course, masculine. She imagined Sasuke's room would probably look the same – utilitarian and to the point. But there were hints that it could be something more. He had after all, just recently moved into this base and some of his things were still piled here and there albeit tidily of course. Weapons were put together, neatly, in one corner but the other corner held a small collection of scrolls and books. One she probably would have itched to explore if she hadn't been more concerned with the room's other occupant. He was currently stretched out on the single bed, on top of a navy duvet – the one luxury he had allowed himself. Nights in bases such as this did tend to get chilly. And dark.
When she entered, Sakura had wondered at the amount of light present in the room. It bordered on freakish. But seeing as this was an Uchiha she was dealing with… it was just one more thing to add to the list.
With trepidation did she approach the figure stretched out on the bed. Jet-black eyes followed her movements as she gingerly perched herself on the bed. She saw the pupils dilate and contract in an effort to focus on her. He probably had constant headaches if it was taking that much effort for his eyes to focus. Well, that was what she was here for after all. Taking a deep breath, Sakura called her chakra, focusing it to delve into his system and heal.
A little over an hour later, Itachi got up off the bed and started putting off the oil lamps, until only one was left burning. Sakura, who had gotten up somewhat shakily, feeling a slightly worn out from the session, was stunned at the thoughtfulness. She had been stumbling in the corridors whenever she went to the toilets at night. But then that was because of her own negligence. Maybe he had heard her one night? So gentlemanly was this act that it left her astonished. So astonished she blurted out the words before she could think. "Is that for me?"
He tilted his head to the slightly to the side, in a move she recognized as questioning. "The corridors," she explained, starting to feel that she had been mistaken. "The corridors here are pitch black. I thought… perhaps…" There was a long pause during which they stared at each other.
"My apologies," Itachi stated in his muted voice. And he lit another of the lamps and handed it to her. Sakura stared at the lamp he was extending then at the lamp currently burning by his bedside and shrugged hardly remembering to murmur her thanks.
The thought had never occurred to Sakura until she was halfway across the corridor to her room when she stumbled, spilling hot oil and putting out her lamp in the process. She was suddenly plunged into the pitch black she had complained of earlier.
Great, she thought grumpily, now I'm tired, burned and blind.
And blind.
She gasped in sudden realization and spun around to face the direction she had come from. Adjusting to the dark, her eyes could see the little golden light seeping from under his shut door. Of course.
It must have been like this for him. Like perpetual darkness, seemingly so unending no light could reach his ruined eyes. So that even night was daunting, a reminder of being blind. But a solitary lamp could keep that away. Yes, even if it was rather like having a night light.
The medic jumped when Itachi's door suddenly opened, spilling the golden light into the corridor. She blinked at the sudden brightness, squinting to see Itachi's silhouette by the door.
"Haruno-san," he called out. And she imagined just how she must look right now, comical she supposed, with a gaping mouth and a useless oil lamp on hand. "You should get back to your room now." She could do more than nod and move toward her door at the other end of the hallway, aided by the light that was now illuminating the hall.
When she reached her door, she looked back and softly bade her patient goodnight, before closing her door and plunging herself into darkness once more. Stupid, she forgot to light her oil lamp again.
Ramblings!!
Hahah, yeah, I'm rambling again. Poor Sakura. I feel for her. I'm pretty clumsy myself (to the great amusement and exasperation of my friends). So at night I make sure our dorm's hallway is always lit. The guard comes up every night to turn it off and after he's gone I sneak out to open them again. Poor guy, I bet it gets frustrating for him. But I need my light dammit! Plus, my roommate has night blindness so… it's not pure selfishness, really. :p
Haha, I swear my ramblings are getting longer and longer. Last time, it was about the weather I think? Bluebarry pie said that in Sweden they were only getting ice and not snow. That's awful. What's the point of freezing weather if it's not for light, powdery snow? Not that I've ever experienced light, powdery snow. *sigh*
Speaking of things getting longer, this chapter was pretty long. Not long in the traditional way… I mean it was only three pages long. But, thinking that this was only supposed to be a series of drabbles… well, it's pretty long. *sigh* Why is it when I try to make drabbles they end up longer than they should be? And when I try to make full-sized chapters they end up short? People have pointed out I should make longer chapters. But the thing is, I had planned for this story to be told in a drabble-y way (which is not happening, apparently). I think I won't go for 100-words-a-chapter which is what a traditional drabble should be. But I also think I should keep it short because as the title connotes, it's "In Progression" meaning a series of events and occurrences in (mostly) Sakura's point of view that changes her perception of him and she come to new realizations. Unfortunately, no preview for next chapter. I'm pulling out the over-the-holidays-homework excuse. XD
Argh argh. Okay, I'll stop now. *laughs* I've practically written an entire chapter of ramblings. Cheers to those who reviewed namely Bluebarry pie, Melodi Moon, and TwilghtPrinc3ss666 . Also, Happy New Year to everyone! Please take care of me during 2009 too *bows*