AN:/ Because I like writing this so much (but mostly because I got so many reviews) on this piece…I have decided to drag out the ending as much as possible. Be happy people. Be very happy. I tried to get some fluff in there but…well you decide on how it came out. It's not Naruto, Sasuke, Neji or Kiba fluff so look out.
Disclaimer:/ As you are well aware Naruto and all It's dang awesome rights do not belong to me. Thus the reason I am condemned to fan fiction like so many other poor souls.
Chapter Ten
Recovery
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And if I bleed, I'll bleed,
Knowing you don't care.
And if I sleep just to dream of you
I'll wake without you there,
Isn't something missing?
Isn't something…
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The nurse with mustard yellow hair sighed sadly looking down at the unconscious girl that had been brought in a little while ago with a crowd or rather concerned children on the verge of tears begging for the staff to save their friend.
Looking over the pink haired child of no more than maybe seven, most likely six, it appeared she took a little tumble and passed out from lack of energy and a slight bump present on the corner of her head off to the left.
"A little one up and out this late? It's no wonder she passed out," she murmured to herself shaking her head slightly with closed eyes. "Don't they know it's not healthy to stay out this late?"
People rushed busily outside the halls ushering other along and delivering goods that would be used to help heal the battered a wounded. The loud rattle of a medicine cart passed by and for a moment the mustard haired nurse feared the noise would wake up the slumbering child. But it didn't. That was a surprise.
"The poor thing must be out like a light," the nurse murmured not so quietly to herself as she scanned over the message printed on the chart she held in her highly trained hands with care.
On her notes it told her the young girl's name was Sakura, the last name was not printed causing her to frown. She was six years old and a new addition to the village hidden in the leaves. She lives alone with her father being the only know family currently alive. It looked like something else was written underneath her father's name but had been crossed out too many times to read.
"Hey Chiyuki…you busy with the little one or are you free yet? Our shifts end in a little while so we can go get something to drink if you want." A brunet haired nurse with a pair of happily glowing lavender blue eyes.
"That sounds like a great idea, Airi. You know a new coffee opened up not far from here and the pull all nighters. I've been wanting to go there for a while but haven't had the time." The nurse addressed as Chiyuki replied with a smile waving the chip board in her hand a bit.
"How long till you think you'll be done with this one?"
"Not long just a little bump on the head and exhaustion. I'll be done in two seconds three top."
"Okay, don't rush yourself I'll be waiting. Ja ne Chiyuki chan!"
"Ja ne Airi."
Moving on Chiyuki read the supposed report on why she was emitted into the hospital noticing it was a bit more complex than she originally guessed. It appeared a rouge ninja had a death wish and attacked the Hyuga compound during a evening party and used the girl as hostage for some time. That must have been where the bump came from. There was a possible wound on her back since there were hints of red seeping through her shredded and dirtied garment.
Looking up she guessed that was why the girl was laying on her stomach with her head turned away.
"Poor thing. I guess I had better get to it a cheek on you." Chiyuki Stated to herself setting her clipboard down on the side table and beginning to indo the ornate obi that wrapped around her waist without disturbing the girl's slumber too much.
Soon the once elaborately decorated, now ruined, piece of material was removed and discarded in a special bin meant for such trash.
Next was the kimono's outer layer. This was just as ruined as it's matching Obi, if not more so. Grass stains were the least of it's problems compared to the many rips and tears smudged with mud and what looked like blood. "So she was bleeding after all." She used discarding the garment in a hurry.
Now all that was left was the smoky gray Yukata that was worn under the kimono. Peeling off the back the nurse instantly felt something wet and sticky, recognizing it as blood. She knew what was coming and after working so many years in the field. The woman had a strong stomach for gore but what she saw on the back of a small child took the cake.
Her scream could be heard two floors away.
"AHHHHHHHHH!"
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Hiashi Hyuga grimaced at the sight and found it hard to keep his stomach from retching at the sight. As a shinobi he saw rotting bodies covered in blood on the battle field man a time but seeing such marks on a child seemed to be a completely different thing in his eyes.
Sayawoharau Shinken growled under his breath digging his nails into his palms hoping the physical pain would take his attention away from the sight of his granddaughter suffereing from the wounds his son inflicted. What could have happened to that man to turn him into a person who could do this without remorse? To a little girl no less.
"This did not happen last night."
Sayawoharau turned to the Hyuga and sighed shaking his head with closed eyes. "No, it did not. These are old scars only partly healed by her bloodline limit. She is too young to access it but was forced to do so, due to the severity of her wounds it would appear."
"By how did those wounds get there? I've seen her with Hinata and Neji and she moves as if there isn't a thing ailing her." Hiashi retorted. "These wounds look really old, and she's so young. It doesn't make any sense."
"It dose to me…"
"Explain yourself." Hiashi quickly commanded in a stern tone that surprised the older man.
"Do you see yourself in such a place to address me in such a way Hyuga?"
The addressed man grunted turning his full attention to the man beside him. "Yes I do. That girl is a key in Hinata's life. A very large art of the next heiress becoming head of the Hyuga clan resides in the confidence your granddaughter gives my child. So yes I do see myself in such a place to address you in such a way "
For a while the Shinken clan leader didn't look like he would say anything but decided to break the silence and answer the question. "I had a son that left my clan a long time ago for unspecific reasons. I do not know what became of him and for a long time I was unaware of his actions. It seems her married a woman from the Haruno clan and had a child. The one you see before you here."
"Wait Sakura is from the Haruno clan as well?" Hiashi asked butting in.
"Yes from the Haruno clan. This is the reason for her hair color. I knew he was seeing one of their girls but I didn't give it much thought."
"They should know about this."
"They will know but for now stop interrupting me and let me finish." At the old man's words Hiashi ceases his questions and chose to listen without words of his own. "As I said, my son must have had a child and weather in childbirth or by some other the mother died leaving my son and my granddaughter alone. That boy could never keep a job so I would imagine they moved around a lot. He always had trouble facing his inner demons. He was never gentle with those around him and would take out his anger in the most brutal ways. Sakura was the only one there when his fits came out. She was the only thing he could see to help him ease his anger."
Hiashi's pearl white eyes widened in shock. He knew what the older man was going to say and yet couldn't bring himself to believe it. "No…"
"Yes the reason for these scars are because of her father. The very man who helped bring her into this world beat her to ease his own anger."
"That savage. Her own father? How could such a human do such a thing. Let alone a father to his daughter?" The Hyuga asked turning his shocked moon white eyes towards the slumbering girl.
"I wish it wasn't so but it is…" Sayawoharau breathed with a tired voice as he to turned his eyes to watch his dear grandchild.
Hiashi reached out and hesitantly fingered the tattered bandages that she had been wearing under her kimono. They were dirty and bloodstained. One of the reasons why some of her scars were infected and needed overnight treatment.
He looked down at Sakura who was still laying on her stomach exposing her scarred back and arms to the world without knowing. The doctor would be coming in soon.
"She looks so peaceful sleeping like that. How can she be so calm?" He asked.
"It's part of her mutated blood line. Her nerves are damaged in the back and arms where her scars are. She can't feel anything. She's completely numb to all the pain. This would have killed her in a few years if we didn't find out." Sayawoharau explained calmly with unwavering eyes. The older man than turned on her heel and began to exit the room.
"Where are you going?"
"To find my son and fix something that should have been fixed years ago."
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"Shhhh. If you wake her the nurse will be mad at us."
"But I want to see Sakura chan looking at me. I don't like it when her eyes are closed like that it looks like she-"
"Don't say it. Don't even think it. She's just resting a bit."
"Sasuke is right, we all sleep even Sakura chan, she needs to sleep, Naruto."
"But still Neji…"
"I told you guys to be quiet! If Sakura chan wakes up from your loud mouths you're all getting knuckle sandwiches."
"Sorry Hinata chan." Three voices chorused.
"I was quiet Hinata."
"Yeah you were now stay quiet, we didn't come her to wake her up Kiba."
Sakura heard voices and rustling around her. A weight settled at one end of her bed and she felt someone pull a blanket up further over her bandaged body.
It was about time she woke up.
She breathed in deeply and rolled over a bit onto her side opening her eyes slightly. "Did I miss the morning?" She asked with a small yawn.
"Sakura chan! You're awake!" Hinata cried jumping on top her friend and engulfing her in a large bear hug. "Was it the boys that woke you up? If it was I can pummel them for you."
"Nah I have slept way too long already. I was going to wake up whether they were here or not." Sakura chuckled wincing slightly as the pain in her body died down.
"Sakura chan I'm so happy you're awake. The nurse said we could come in if we didn't wake you up but she never said anything about you waking up yourself." Naruto chirped smiling brightly.
"Did you all come to see me?" Sakura asked looking over at Sasuke, Neji and Kiba who were also standing in her room with her.
"Of course we came to see you! When we heard about what happened at the part to you and Hinata we were so worried we made or parents bring us here so we could wait for you to wake up." Kiba exclaimed happily throwing his hand behind his head.
"We weren't going to go home until we were sure you were alright. You were in this room for a very long time and my uncle said it was because they had to do something called surgery. I was really scared for you when I heard about this, Sakura chan." Neji added gently laying a hand on top of Sakura's own.
"H-how long was I asleep. I couldn't have been asleep that long." Sakura asked turning a shade paler for some strange reason.
"You were asleep for two days Sakura chan." Sasuke quickly piped up feeling a bit left out at not being able to say anything to the wounded girl he had a obvious crush for.
"T-two…d-days?" Sakura stuttered starting to shake visibly.
"Sakura-Sakura chan what's wrong?" Hinata asked being the first to notice this.
Two days…her father would kill her for not coming home. He would kill her for not coming home and for letting people see the marks on her back he made her swear to never show. When she went through surgery they must have seen her back and arms since she was now dressed in bandages and a light blue colored hospital gown.
Sakura shook her head forcing herself to chuckle. "It's nothing Hinata chan. I'm just really hungry that's all. I haven't eaten in a long time."
"Well duh two whole days without food? No wonder you're hungry. Don't worry about it, I'll get something for you to snack on until the nurse comes back." Hinata cooed before turning to the four boys and glaring. "You four, my baby is hungry! Get her some food!"
The four 'eeed' under her deadly glare and shrank back nodding hastily at her narrowed moon colored eyes that seemed to be burring their insides out. "Hai! Hai!" And with that they took off running.
"You didn't need to scare them so badly Hinata chan."
"But you should have seen them fretting in the waiting room! And then when we came in they were all fighting over who would give you flowers and who would get to see you first. Arg it was so annoying listening to the fight all the time. I mean they were supposed to be quiet so they didn't wake you up. But you know what. They were still loud." Hinata rambled on waving her arms and hands in the air.
Sakura blinked. "They brought me flowers?"
Hinata stopped talking and nodded pointing to a vase sitting on her side table fill ed with yellow daises from Naruto, a rose from Sasuke, bluebells from Neji, and Carnations from Kiba.
Sakura's eyes softened and remembered something about a white flower and a brief stay on the outskirts of the mist village.
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"It's a lily. Isn't it pretty?"
Sakura remained poorly hidden behind the rock she had found in the middle of the grassy land.
"I'm not going to hurt you."
She heard that voice again and dared a peek at the young boy sitting among the flowers and waving grass. He saw her looking at her and smiled waving a bit. Sakura sucked in her breath and ducked behind her rock once again. The tiny pink haired child couldn't hear him anything anymore and so she breathed a sight of relief thinking she was alone once more.
"I'm still here." He whispered sitting down next to her as she gasped in shock and fell backwards in serprise.
He chuckled seeing her flustered face and offered her his hand. "You don't need to act like that around me. I am not here to hurt you."
Sakura frowned sitting up and smoothing out her wrinkled cloths and trying to appear as neat and clean as her rags would allow. "I didn't think you would hurt me."
"Then why did you hide from me?" He asked with a wise smile that seemed to enjoy the conversation.
Sakura stuttered turning red from embarrassment at not being able to come up with and answer. Muttering something along the lines of 'I wasn't hiding' she dropped her head in shame.
Anyway what are you doing all the way out here? You look really young to be without your parents. Where are your mother and father?" He asked looking around for the said people.
Sakura pulled her small skinny legs up to her chest and rested her head between the two bumps and wrapped her arms around her folded legs. "I don't have a mother. She died."
The silver haired boy looked shocked and a bit ashamed at her reply offering a sad smile. "I'm sorry to hear that."
Sakura nodded not really caring what he said. Whatever it was it would bring her a mother like everyone else. It wouldn't bring her a friend, it wouldn't stop her dad from hitting her at the tender age she was.
"My name is Kaguya Kimimaro. It's a pleasure to meet you. What is your name?" The silver haired boy named Kimimaro asked wit a tender smile aimed her way in hopes of cheering her up.
Sakura sniffed and pulled her legs down just a bit. "My-my name is S-Sakura."
"Ahh Sakura is such a pretty name. It means cherry blossom. I've seen the trees only once but I can still remember them as if they were right in front of me. Your name suits you, with your hair color and all. I would not be surprised if you grew up to become as beautiful as the cherry blossom trees themselves."
Sakura blushed looking down. This time it wasn't from embarrassment. "W-what are you doing out here?"
"I'm picking flowers." Kimimaro answered with a smile holding up his white lily so that she could see them. "What are you doing here? Are you looking for flowers too?"
Sakura shook her head letting her legs fall out of their folded position. "No I…I'm just…well doing nothing. My daddy is asleep so I have to leave him alone so he won't wake up before he needs to."
The young silver haired boy with red rimmed jade eyes frowned lowering his flower to his lap as his face adapted a look of concern. "Sakura san, you shouldn't be out here all alone if your dad is asleep. It's not safe. Not everyone here is as nice as I am. There are a lot of bad people in mist that you need to look out for. I've seed one or two of them sadly and I don't want to ever again."
Sakura shook her head and laughed. "I'll be okay. After all, you weren't a bad person."
"How can you be sure of something like that?" He asked arching a single eyebrow in disbelief.
Sakura laughed anticipating this answer and pointed down to the flower resting in his hands. "I don't know why but I know that someone who is drawn to this flower can't be truly evil from the bottom of their hearts. This lily stands for purity. You wouldn't have picked it if you had evil thoughts in your heart at the time." She then picked up the flower and held it up to his face and frowned. "But for you, when you picked this flower and this flower alone, without any others, it signaled your lonely heart. Are you lonely Kimimaro?"
The white haired boy gaped a bit, surprised that this girl he hardly knew already knew so much about him from a simple flower. His jade eyes softened a bit and he smiled shaking his small head from side to side in a now manner.
"No…not anymore Sakura san." He answered smiling brightly for her.
Sakura smiled and laughed happily seeing his smile showering him with one of her own. Pretty soon she would have to go back home to her father and travel with him to their new home in mist, leave behind the white haired boy who she had been secretly watching for several days now.
Yes Sakura had stalked Kimimaro like the rest of his fan girls, but not for the same reasons. She had meet other boys and seen how they acted towards her. Call her names, pick on her, push her into the mud. They were all rude and rough and she could tell this before she even meet them by the look in their eyes.
But Kimimaro was different. He wasn't like that and it puzzled her.
Glancing up at the sun she frowned seeing it was about to set and send this part of the world into twilight. She would have to be home soon.
Closing her eyes she stood up and brushed the stay blades of grass of her pants making sure there were none left on her.
"Sakura san? Are you leaving already?" Kimimaro asked looking up in confusion at the standing girl.
Sakura smiled sadly and nodded. "Yeah I should have been home by now. It's late for me since I live a ways off."
Kimimaro looked down at his hands where Sakura had left his white colored lily and then looked back up at the said pink haired girl who was about to leave with that same lonely look hidden behind her eyes.
He knew she had been watching him but thought she was not like all the other girls that would oogle him outside the cage he was condemned to. The same cage he would have to go back to once they found him here. She looked like she was locked away in a different kind of cage.
"Sakura san, can I ask you something before you leave?" Kimimaro asked standing up next to the pink haired girl a good three inches taller.
"What is it Kimimaro san?" Sakura asked not at all sad that she was delayed in her leave.
"Well it's two things. One, I want you to call me Kimimaro kun. And Two, I want to call you Sakura chan, Sakura chan." He confessed smiling happily as he took the lily from his hands and pinned it behind a lock of her Sakura colored hair realizing it matched the shade of the blush on her cheeks.
"Kimimaro kun?"
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Yes, I bet you didn't expect Kimimaro kun there at the end did you?
Ugh so tired...I'm going to go sleep now...
ja ne