Black
5.
Sakumo opened his eyes, slowly. At first, he couldn't really see much. Most of his body was numb, and to make matters worse as he became aware of how his body was positioned, quite a bit of his wife's weight was down his right arm, making it more white, detached, and otherwise unbearable. The sound was coming from her. Her sobs seemed to vibrate the bed in the hospital room. Sakumo struggled a while, but finally noticed the others who were in this room. There was a figure who looked a lot like Dan, perhaps it was, dressed in medical white, with a gloomy expression across his face. Then there were two women standing near him. The first was a woman he recognized, vaguely, from another village. Suna. The second was from his own. Tsunade. Sakumo groaned, and turned his ears and sight away, wishing he could have simply died.
Tsunade swallowed hard, while Chiyo smirked. "Not even a thank you," she said. "From that horrified, disappointed expression. Well we're mortified too!" she said at Sakumo. "Of all people!" she exclaimed. "Konoha no Shiroi Kiba! And not even a thank you!" she grinned, clearly stifling a laugh and giggle raising a hand to her mouth to cover both.
Sakumo's wife raised her head slowly, bringing a hand to her own salty lips, gathering herself a little after his wake and the Suna woman's comment. Suddenly, Sakumo's wife dropped herself onto the floor from the chair right in front of Chiyo, bowing deeply and humbly; "Thank you," she cried out from beneath a cascade of fresh tears, "Thank you, thank you, thank you," said she, sobbing.
Chiyo's face suddenly turned still. She looked at Konoha's White Fang one last time, and Chiyo nodded once, shortly, to something on the wall. Tsunade and Dan watched her turn and leave quietly.
Sakumo's wife stood, her hand clutching her elbow with her knuckles to her mouth. Turning back to her husband, she collapsed again over him, shaking her head and crying quietly. It appeared she would not leave his side.
Tsunade's stomach churned. She turned away, going in the direction Chiyo had. Dan followed his wife. "Thank you," said Tsunade, catching Chiyo in the hallway. "I'm so glad I caught you before you left."
"Hm, lucky thing you did," said Chiyo, trying not to boast. "He was very near death."
Tsunade shook her head upon the matter. Why oh why didn't she talk to Sakumo? She asked herself. Could she have been the last person he saw…? Sensing her distress, Dan rested a hand on her shoulder, for comfort.
"But…tell me…" Chiyo walked up to her rival. "Why?"
Tsunade could not say. She shrugged, without a reason.
"No? Nothing? Nothing was evident?" Chiyo questioned, further intrigued.
"I don't know," Tsunade burst out. "I really, honestly, don't know."
Chiyo clearly did not want to accept this as an answer, but reluctantly she let the matter drop anyway. "Well," she smirked. "Well well." As she turned, Tsunade spoke once more, "As much as it pains me," she said, "I'm sure once Sakumo-san knows what happened, on his behalf, I thank you as well."
Chiyo's smirk loosened, as if her smile really did know how to turn upside down at the corners. "You're welcome." Was all she said before she left Konohagakure finally.
Tsunade moaned.
"Are you all right?" asked Dan.
"Of course I'm not all right," Tsunade snapped, leaning against the wall. "How could this have happened?"
Dan pursed his lips blankly. He imitated his wife's first response and he shrugged. "Who knows…"
"Sakumo does," Tsunade answered. "Sakumo…in his own screwed up way. Knew. He knew exactly what he was doing," she said. There were scars on his wrist and a hole near his heart. Tsunade turned her head, closing her eyes from the image. Dan came near her, and held her shoulder, "Get off," she said in annoyance. When she opened her eyes, she couldn't overlook her husband's both hurt and surprised expression. "Sorry," she said, turning her back on him. "I've been moody," she offered.
"I get it," said Dan calmly. "Say…our anniversary is coming up. How about dinner tonight. Or maybe we could go see a movie or something. Get out on the town…or on a country road."
Their anniversary wasn't for another two months. "…Sure…" said Tsunade unenthusiastically.
The tone of her voice worried him, but Dan allowed her space. The lioness she was sometimes required it. "I'll see you tonight then."
"Fine," she mumbled.
Dan frowned.
.
