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Onze|Eleven

"…Sakura… Sakura… Sakura!"

She jerked, eyes flashing wide and bewildered; she inhaled sharply and one hand flew to her chest. Still, despite the abrupt yank into the world of awake, she was groggy as hell. Her back hurt and her neck was on fire.

"Awake?"

Emerald orbs looked up, blinking owlishly as they met amber-browns. "Y-yes… Tsunade-sama," the pinkette murmured just before she rubbed her eyes, grimacing. She heard a chuckle and a cup was thrust into her free hand.

"Here, drink this. And then go home. They'll be out for at least another twelve hours, if not more. You can be back then, alright? Eleven hours in surgery on two different men, help or not, is a big drain."

Sakura nodded mutely before she took a sip of the drink. Hospital coffee. There came a sigh as she watched her mentor walk away and down the hall. Then she got up, glanced at the surgery door she'd exited some time ago, and then left for some much needed food and rest.

It had to be around five am or so by the time she got home; maybe around five-thirty when she crawled into bed. When she woke up hours later it was to the smell of something good and a little racket going on in another part of her apartment. She was still groggy, but not nearly as bad off as she had been before. Thus, it didn't take much effort for her to get up, get changed, and meander into her main living space.

She smiled at Naruto, who was setting styrofoam boxes on the dining area table.

He grinned a looked a little sheepish, hand scratching the back of his head. "I didn't wake you up did I, Sakura-chan?"

She shook her head. "No, I was waking up anyway. This for me?" She gestured to one of the boxes closest to her.

He nodded vigorously. "Oh yeah! Got you a burger and fries! Tsunade baa-chan wanted to make sure you ate. Said you needed carbs…" He shrugged. "I got ramen. You're hungry, right?"

"Oh yeah, big time. Thanks." Without another word she sat down, opened her box, and dug in. It was greasy, but she didn't care. She needed it. Her mind and body felt like they were full of numb and cotton haze. Sleep had helped some, but food would definitely get her back to normal so she could go check on Itachi and Sasuke.

"So, how'd it go?" he asked between mangled bites of noodles.

"Long," she replied with a sigh and a slump of her shoulders. "I was on my feet for almost half of an entire day."

"Went good though, right? Sasuke's ok? Itachi?"

She nodded. "Yeah, they're good. I won't know the full details until they have some rest and wake up… but it should be fine." She shoved another fry in her mouth and chewed.

"You going there after?" He slurped the last of his noodles into his mouth and picked up the bowl, intent on drinking the broth.

Sakura watched him with some amusement. "Yeah, why?"

He downed it and set the bowl down with a clank on the table.

She watched with the same smile, her cheek on her fist as he licked his lips and wiped his mouth with the back of his sleeve. Same old Naruto…

"I'll walk you. Wanna see the bastard anyway!"

She chuckled. "That's fine. Let me go brush my teeth and get my things and you can."

He made a whooping sound, as if it was some great mountain he'd overcome.

Sakura just rolled her eyes. Naruto got excited over the littlest things…

Some things never really change.

…

The pinkette skimmed over a chart, checking to see what all they'd done for him that morning. Not too much… he hadn't even eaten yet. But, that was to be expected. Major eye surgery put a lot of pain around the face. She wasn't sure she'd have felt up to eating right away either.

Naruto was doing his best to be mildly quiet… which was somewhere at a normal level of speaking for the average person. It was good; Sasuke needed that after all that. But, he certainly wouldn't need anything of normal Naruto level.

She smiled as she flipped another page, listening as they chatted on. No, mostly while Naruto did and Sasuke grunted and commented here and there.

"Looks like it's all good. You're stable and my nurses are happy. All you need to do now is eat something in the next twenty-four hours and I'd say you're recovering nicely. Oh, and one of them told you not to take the bandages off without them for at least a month… right?"

Sasuke and Naruto's conversation stopped abruptly and Sasuke tilted his head the direction of her voice. "Right… but, she also said something about cutting that time in half…"

Sakura sighed and replaced the clipboard at the hook on the foot of his bed. She took a seat on the other side, across from Naruto. "This isn't totally new for us. We've done eye surgeries before… but never to this extent… never with something like the Sharingan.

"You can come by once a week once you're released and have someone like myself stimulate it with chakra healing when I'm not here. It will take some of the pain away and help with healing, but because this is so new I can't promise anything.

"In fact, if you want my honest opinion, I'd prefer you to stay with your brother and me in his house so I can keep a close eye on both of you. But, that's up to you and him."

She wasn't going to push the issue, but it would make it easier for her. At the end of the day though, it wasn't about what was easier for her. She couldn't argue it would be a bad thing. They needed it—time together.

"This is going to suck," Naruto suddenly said, changing the subject when Sasuke didn't reply to her suggestion. "You not being able to see for a month or so? And you're gonna have to take it easy. No training…" He looked to be pouting.

Sakura chuckled and moved to stand. "It'll be fine. You don't have to stop completely. No one said you couldn't do minor stuff, like katas, meditation, or some weight training. Just don't overdo it." She gathered up her bag off the floor.

"You leaving, Sakura?" Naruto asked.

She nodded. "I have to check on Itachi." She looked over at Sasuke. "Think about what I said. Ok? You should be released tomorrow morning.

"Either way, I'll be here to take you home." She waved. "Bye, guys." She turned towards the door as Naruto waved back and said goodbye. Behind her, she could hear him chattering away again; the sound dimmed away as she entered the hallway and left, allowing for the other sounds of the hospital around her to overcrowd her hearing as white noise.

Her booted feet half thumped and half clicked against the tiled floor. Around her, nurses and orderlies were moving around and going from one room to another. It was an atmosphere that always gave her comfort; it was familiar and easy for her even when the whole word felt turned inside out. And man, even in the middle of her elements yesterday… it had. She'd worked on people before, some of them were friends in one sense or another. However, never before had she had to work on someone she… no one she was that close to before. Not even Naruto. And it hadn't been the first time either. This had been her second time putting Uchiha Itachi's insides back together. Last time had been more of a band-aide because she hadn't had enough info. But yesterday… that had taken all of her skill set to accomplish, preparation or not.

But, she'd done it. And hopefully in a few weeks… he'd be able to see again. Hopefully, Sasuke and his bother could use their eyes however they saw fit without the fear of ever going blind again.

She exhaled, closed her eyes, dropped her head slightly, and smiled. It would be worth it.

Booted feet stopped and she turned to the closed hospital door. The smile remained as she opened the door and slowly stepped in. She was quiet as she shut it behind her and stepped beyond the sheeted threshold. A hand reached up, gently pushing the white barrier aside. It glided against her fingers and her soft emerald orbs came to rest on his form.

The smile returned as she watched him sleep. His lips were just barely parted and his hair looked a little bed head ridden. The bandages they'd put around his eyes remained secure, or so they appeared from her vantage.

Still just as silent as before, she reached down and picked up his clipboard. She skimmed over it, checking to see what they'd made sure to cover with his post-surgery care. He, like Sasuke, hadn't eaten yet. But, that was given considering he hadn't been awake today yet.

She set it back down with a small sigh and looked up…

…just as he was sitting up.

"…Sakura?"

His voice was soft, hoarse, and not at all unlike Sasuke's had been when he'd first woken up—or so the nurses had told her.

"I'm here," she murmured in confirmation. "Just let me get you some water, alright?" He nodded and she reached for a cup and the pitcher on the nightstand next to the bed. As soon as she'd filled the cup halfway she handed it to him and sat down on the bed. "Slowly… alright?"

"Yeah…" he rasped before taking a small sip.

She was right there, waiting and anticipating anything as he took his time drinking from the cup. Eventually, he lowered it and exhaled.

"Better," he managed clearly.

"More?"

"Please."

She poured more and handed it back to him. This went on for two full glasses more before he finally handed the cup over and moved to lay back.

"Do you want me to adjust the bed for you? So you can sit up?"

"That would probably be better," he agreed, pressing his hands to either side of the bed to hold himself up.

Sakura came behind him and pressed the button the bed to lift it into a better angle. The motor made a noise for some time before she stopped and started placing pillows behind him for support. "There, that should do it. I—." She moved to step back from him, but stilled as he reached behind her neck and held her. A thrill danced down her spine as his fingers curled into her hair and his thumb rolled over her cheek. She watched quietly as he tilted his head towards her, as if looking at her. He pressed her closer and she let him, leaning while she placed a hand on the mattress to keep from falling.

She closed her eyes as he pressed her forehead onto his; he inhaled deeply and she smiled.

"No matter how well I see after this… I'll always know when you come into a room, even when I can't see you at all."

"Oh?"

He smiled softly; she could feel it.

"Honeysuckle."

A warmth spread from the center of her chest and expanded… reaching and stopping only when it had extended to every possible point in her body. It tingled and danced around, making her feel… it was without words. How did he do that? How? Now one ever managed to make her feel…

She couldn't quite stop herself and she let herself sit down right there, as she let her nose drag softly next to his, as she let her lips brush just barely… a breath jumped between the two of them just before she pressed hers to his fully and opened.

It was fire, it wasn't molten, it was like fireworks, no… it was like a warm sun on a chilly morning… melting the frost on the grass and turning it into dripping dew. It was honey; sweet, warm, and sticky as it rolled over a hot bun. This… this euphoric thing between them just bloomed slowly; however, not like a single flower… like a few thousand that were all a part of the same plant. And with each new bloom a new facet was revealed to each of them, more fiery and effulgent than the last.

Finally, she broke away; not for air, but for sanity and control. Still, she couldn't help the gasp that passed between them. Nor could she stop the smile and the light chuckle as she took his hand in her two. "I'm fairly certain it's some kind of offense to fraternize with a patient while he's still in the hospital.

"And as your doctor, I can't really recommend it at this particular moment."

He was smirking at her. "How long till…?"

"About a month… perhaps longer. It just depends on how fast you heal. But, you've had a lot internal work done as well. So, that might drag the time out a little bit," she admitted as she rubbed her thumbs over the top of his hand.

"I'm breathing much better," he realized aloud, as if he forgot she'd worked on more than his eyes.

"You shouldn't have any trouble anymore."

He nodded and squeezed one of her hands. "When will I be able to go home?"

"Tomorrow morning, hopefully. I'll be here to take you and Sasuke."

"How is he?"

"Good. His usual self, if that means anything." She smiled again. "Naruto is keeping him company."

"Who's going to look over him while he's…" Itachi lifted a hand and indicated to his face.

"Well, a nurse should be assigned to him. But, she won't be there twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week."

He shook his head. "I don't like leaving him to himself when he's like this. It's not easy to cope with right away… even if it's not permanent."

Sakura was quiet for a moment. She understood what he meant and where it came from. Itachi didn't want Sasuke left for any period of time without sight. Granted, they weren't the same person and it wasn't the same situation, but for Itachi… it was too close to home and she couldn't really blame him.

"I offered him to stay with us, if you and he didn't have a problem with it."

"I'd prefer it."

"I assumed you would as much as I would. It'll be up to him though. Well, unless Tsunade orders it." She chuckled. "I wouldn't be surprised, at any rate.

"Are you hungry?"

He shook his head. "No, not right now. Maybe in a few hours."

She nodded. "Would you like me to bring you something from home to read?"

He shook his head again. "Actually, what I think I need is some more rest."

"Sure. I'll go check with some of the nurses and then—." She moved to stand, but a hand was slapped over her wrist and held.

"Lay with me for a while?" he asked softly.

She never got use to the easy sense of softness he always addressed her with, as if totally sure of himself and totally bare all at once. It always made something in side of her jump unexpectedly. The smile came back. "Sure." As gently as she could manage, Sakura slipped into the bed with him and curled up at his side. His arm wound and around her, she placed her palm on his chest, and let her temple rest on his shoulder. A yawn escaped her.

He chuckled. "Still tired?"

"Maybe a little," she admitted with a smile.

…

"Have I mentioned how much I hate this?"

"Only about five times so far," Sakura replied with a grin.

Sasuke grumbled.

She resisted the urge to chuckle as she led him down the street with Itachi on her right. She glanced over at him, smirking as she shared a look with Noin next to him—who was rolling her eyes.

"It won't be much longer now, Sasuke," Itachi said with some admonishment in his tone.

"A whole month like this… Kami. I'm going to murder someone."

Sakura chuckled that time; she couldn't help it. Her free hand came up and covered her mouth to stifle some of it.

All Sasuke did was sigh.

But she was happy he'd decided to stay at Itachi's. It wasn't really just about making it easier for her to keep an eye on both of them. No, beyond that it was about them.

She knew, in retrospect, that it would be hard for him—Sasuke. She wasn't going to be at Itachi's the whole time; now that he was self-sufficient, she could go back to normal activities outside of monitoring the two brothers. The surgery really didn't change much for him. This just made it easier for her, them being in the same house.

But Sasuke…

No, it would be good for him. It would be good for Itachi to be there for him again.

"We're here," she said aloud as they came to the little gate. She tugged on Sasuke as Itachi went ahead with Noin. Up the path they went towards the stairs and into the house.

"It'll go by quickly; you'll see, Sasuke," Sakura told him.

"One can hope."

"It will," she promised as they stepped through the threshold. She stopped and tilted her head to watch as Itachi went up the stairs with Noin. She waited until she couldn't see him anymore. Still, her eyes remained there. "Just remember how hard it was for him; it makes it easier."

Out of the corner of her eye she could see him go still; his lips parted and he didn't say anything right away. Green eyes turned to him then, watching as his head tilted down. He was getting lost in his own thoughts again…

"It's not easy to forget, Sakura."

For a moment she felt bad for saying anything; there was no need to remind him of the sacrifices Itachi made… hell, that they all made more than six months ago. In the end, she nodded and he squeezed her arm.

"No, not for any of us," she admitted with a long sigh. "Well, do you want to go to your room? Or do you want something to eat?"

"Food and then a nap. My head is killing me." He rubbed his temple gently, careful not to upset the bandages.

"That's residual Naruto."

He chuckled, finally. "Yeah, that idiot does tend to linger in the form of a migraine."

Then they were both laughing.

Perhaps it wouldn't be that long a month after all. Sakura could only hope. As she watched Itachi come back downstairs some time later and take a seat at the table, she realized she desperately wanted it to go by faster. Perhaps his anticipation was greater, but she couldn't help but feel it also… that desire to see the pitch of his eyes light up with happiness.

She wanted to give him that.

She would.

AN :: Took me a while, huh? Sorry about that. Anyway, here it is. One more chapter to go. It's been a fun ride, either way. I loved working on this and the responses I've gotten. What's more, I've really enjoyed the big surge in Itachi/Sakura post 4th war fics I've seen popping up. I won't say that had anything to do with me, but it's still awesome. I was getting tired of sifting through the ones where he kidnaps her. ^^ Itachi is a good guy and should be written as one; at least in fanfic, right? Anyway, thanks for reading and listening to me ramble. I promise next chapter will be one to remember. I'll work extra hard to make Itachi's unveiling as awesome as possible.