CHAPTER FOUR: A LITTLE TOO LATE

A few days passed without much to do for Sakura other than sit on the chair beside Naruto, waiting for him to wake up but he hadn't gained consciousness yet and she was desperately waiting to hear his voice. She would sit beside the bed all day long till it was closing time in the night. She had also taken leave from the fifth for a week.

It was the fifth day since Naruto had been sifted to a room and Sakura was, as always, sitting on the chair beside the bed. There was a knock on the closed door and Sakura cleared her throat before saying, "Come in."

Sakura's back was facing the door but the thick sweet smell of the perfume that followed the person inside told Sakura who it was even without looking at them, "Ino." Sakura greeted and stood up in welcome.

Ino nodded in greeting and sat down in front of the chair, on the bed. It disturbed Sakura but she ignored it and sat down on the soft cushioned surface of the chair.

"Still no progress?" Ino asked giving Naruto a glance. Sakura just shook her head then a thought made its way towards her mind, She's here for the first time. Kakashi paid regular visits to Naruto since he was shifted, even Shikamaru and Gara had visited him twice. Lee always came with Gai sensei everyday but Ino? Not once had she visited him. So either that she wanted to talk to her in private or the guilt of not going to the hospital to check on his fellow companion was the reason for her being there.

Sakura cleared her throat and looked into her eyes, "It's nice to know that you've finally decided to pay his a little visit."

"Yeah well..." Sakura didn't miss the embarrassed glint in her eyes but it was there for just a second and before she could even register it, it was gone. Ino looked broke the eye contact and looked at Naruto's peaceful face, "He'll be fine." She lifted her hand touched his forehead with her finger tips lightly. Sakura felt the urge to smash her hand away from his forehead for showing fake concern but she swallowed it and instead tried to focus on Naruto's peaceful expressions.

"Anyways," Ino placed her hand back in her lap and looked at Sakura, "I was here to let you know that the fifth wanted to see you. Of course Naruto was the main reason I was here, since I was coming her I thought I should deliver the massage to you." She smiled sweetly at Sakura as if almost asking her for forgiveness. Sakura sighed, she just feels guilty. She's not pretending to care for Naruto. She tried to tell herself, of course she cares about him, he's her comrade.

Sakura smiled back at her then she remembered that she had been called by he nurse to take the medicines for Naruto. She didn't wanted Naruto to be alone because Tsunade had assured her that he'll be regaining conscious in a day or two so she looked at Ino considering her options. Finally she decided that leaving Ino with Naruto for a few minutes won't hurt anyone, "Are you planning on staying a little while?"

Ino looked beside her, at the peaceful form of the boy that lay in the bed unmoving, "Well, I can keep you company if you like but I have a few…"

"That's okay, I know you might be busy but can you at least stay for a few more minutes?" Sakura glanced at the big wall clock that was hanging in front of her and stood up not wanting to be late.

"Yeah I can stay but where are you going?" she eyed her suspiciously as Sakura opened the door of the room.

"I'll be back in a minute." She walked out, "Don't leave him alone." Ino heard Sakura's voice before the door closed.

Ino relaxed her stiff posture and again looked at Naruto, sure he was hurt but Ino didn't have much time to take care of him while Sakura leave him alone. It wasn't like she didn't feel bad about him but she was sure that he was better than before. Shikamaru was keeping her inform of his situation and Choji too. It was just that she had a lot of work other than waiting for Sakura to return from where ever she had gone. Ino exhaled deeply, I have no other option other than waiting here.

Sakura walked up to the reception desk and smiled politely, "Where can I find Nurse Haley?"

"Sakura!" the lady sitting in the reception area greeted her, "Lets see." She turned to the screen of her computer and after a while looked back at her, "I think she's in ward 12 right now. Well that's what the schedule says. Is everything alright?"

Sakura nodded, "Yeah, just fine. It's just that she asked me to pick up the new assigned medicines for Naruto. Can I go meet up with her in there?"

"Yes of course." The receptionist assured, "The patient in ward 12 is much or less fine now and will be discharged in a few days so it's not a tiniest bit problem for you to go and talk to Haley there."

Sakura smiled and turned around, "See you later then."

"Bye."

Ward 12 contained a small girl, about five years old and her mother as her warden. When Sakura knocked on the door and walked in when she was told to, Nurse Haley was there injecting the medicine in the girls arm.
They all greeted her, the girl had actually thought that Sakura was there to meet her so Sakura pretended that she was and talked to her a little. She even brushed the girl's hair on her insistence. The woman was very thankful to her, kissed her hands and smiled, "You are an angel. My little girl hadn't smiled for a week now. She hadn't even talked; I thought she might have forgotten how to speak."

"It's alright, really." Sakura patted her back. She took the medicines from Haley and told them that she should really get going.

"You'll come tomorrow, right?" The girl asked hopefully.

"Aren't you going to get discharge?" Sakura asked instead of answering. The girl didn't answer and crossed her arms around over her chest looking at the nurse as if it was her fault.

Haley smiled and patted her head lightly, "It's not my fault, doctor's orders."

Sakura smiled at the two girls, "I'll come tomorrow then."

"Yay!" the small girl cheered happily and her mother smiled at Sakura thankfully. Sakura walked up beside the girl and gave her a small hug before leaving the three alone and closing the door behind her.

Cheerfully, she walked towards Naruto's ward with his medicines in her hands. She lifted her hand to knock on the door but stopped when she heard Ino's voice, "I've been here all along with you."

"Wh-where am I?" the other person's voice was barely above whisper but Sakura was able to hear it and his heart started hammering in her chest, Naruto is back!

"It's okay Naruto, I'm here… I've always been here." Ino's voice was convincing but Sakura was sure there was a little gilt in her voice, Naruto would never buy it.

"I… I know." Even though Naruto's voice held a little disappointment in it he had believed Ino, believed that she was taking care of him and not her.

And that's when Sakura's heart broke into millions of small pieces and she was unable to control the tears in her eyes.

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSA/N: Okay, maybe I take time to update but hey… that's not a good enough reason for not reviewing! I want reviews *Makes puppy dog eyes* and I want them now or else… *Scratches her head thoughtfully* or else I'll eat all the chocolate cookies by myself and won't give you guys any *grins*

Thank you all for reading… don't forget that the reviews are my petrol that keeps me going. The next chapter will be up in a little while… not unless you review of course. Suggestions are always appreciated here so feel free… AND PLEASE REVIEW PEOPLE! Urgh! *Bows her head just as the curtains falls down*

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