Chapter 3
Standard disclaimer applies.
When I had found Sakura, she did not look like I remembered her being. Her pink hair was matted with blood and dirt, her skin was deathly pale, and a few of her fingers were sitting at odd angles. She was covered in vomit, dirt and blood, and smelt worse. She was wasting away – she didn't have much time.
I took her out of the cell, her unconsious body stiff and difficult to carry. My team followed, covering my escape and dodging various justu and weapons. We sped along in the darkness, fighting off enemies and traps as they stood in our path. Once we reached the boarder, we took on appearances of a farming family giving us time to slip through the guards before they noticed that we carried a liberated prisoner. We travelled for another day, not daring to stop for a moment – time was of the essence and we needed to get back to our base to begin treatment of Sakura's wounds.
Once we arrived, my team wasted no time. The next few hours were touch-and-go, and the medic I had hired was certain that she would not last another night. My team had to restrain me, and the medic continued with his work hastily. When she was still breathing in the morning, the medic began to wind down most of the emergency work. With the help of one of my team, Sakura was washed – the remaining grime washed away to reveal bruised, pale-almost-translucent-looking skin.
You must remember, the medic began, this IV bag is to help with hydration, this second one – it has a yellow label – is the nutrients she needs to combat her malnutrition, this third one is antibiotics to fight infection. She needs a cup of water every hour for three days after she wakes, then the hydration support can be stopped. Once she wakes, she can begin having regular meals of porridge and rice, but make sure that the meals are not too large, within a week she can begin on lean meats, fruits and vegetables – nothing too heavy for another month. The nutrient IV can be stopped once she starts back on the lean meat. If it seems that she is not digesting, or if other complications arise then you need to get a medic quickly. The antibiotics need to stop next week – once you can see that all the visible signs of infection have gone.
It also seems that she was kept out of sunlight for however long she was interred. If this is the case, she may be quite sensitive to light but this will pass in time. If there are any problems that arise, get a medic as quick as you can.
With the medic gone, we could return to our usual routines. I spent most of the day watching Sakura – ensuring that the IV's weren't delivering too much or too little fluid, checking and rebandaging wounds – things that medics would usually do. I felt like it was my duty to take care of her. No one could talk me out of it.
You need rest…
Fuck off.
Woah, someone hasn't had his coffee.
Just get lost.
We should just leave him, he will call for us if he needs us.
Oh, that's just so like you! Sun bloody shines out his friggin arse!
At least he's not like you; fawning, flirting. It's obvious that he –
GET OUT!
I looked down at Sakura, still sleeping even though there had been a lot of yelling right next to her. I think I felt relief, sitting in a dark room with nothing but the sound of her breathing. At least now I could look after her.
She awoke a week and a half later, asking too many questions – except for the one regarding her team mates. I told her to get some sleep, and left the room until I was certain she was asleep. I didn't want to answer too many questions, and admit that what I told her about the Hokage sanctioning her stay was a lie.
Author's Note: Another short chapter. I've been busy with work and assignments even though I don't have classes at the moment, but this has been bugging me for a little while. Any guesses as to what's going to happen next?
