Chapter 13: A Reason To Live
Sakura sighed and plopped down on the chair beside her treatment room bed. It was midnight and she had been working since the morning before, trying to save Itachi Uchiha from the cold clutches of death. She had succeeded, but his condition was still far from stable, and she was exhausted. A tall figure quietly entered the room and stood there silently for a moment. "Is he going to be ok?" Kisame asked, indicating the still form of his bandage-covered partner.
"It's hard to tell right now." The kunoichi replied, "I've done all I can for him. We'll just have to wait until he wakes up. In the meantime, it would make him much more comfortable if you want to move him to this bed for me." She said, pointing to the one near her.
"Alright." The swordsman said, gently sliding his arms under the limp Uchiha and carrying him to the mattress. He bent over and laid him down on the soft sheets. As he pulled the top blanket up to Itachi's shoulders and stood up, he gazed sadly down at the great shinobi. Never had his ruthless partner seemed so vulnerable, and it left him feeling uneasy.
Sakura stood up, "I'm going to sleep. You should get some rest too."
Kisame nodded and followed her out of the room. He then proceeded to head slowly downstairs, but instead of going to his room, he walked outside to watch the sun rise.
Anoreen didn't return the next day, or the day after, and Sakura began to worry. "She should have been back by now." She said to herself as she looked out the kitchen window on the third day. Itachi hadn't moved since the day she had gone with Kisame to bring him back, and was slowly getting weaker, if that was even possible. Kisame had resorted to sitting in the courtyard by the pond, and had yet to come in and eat. "Where could she be? I have a feeling that she's Itachi's only hope, and if she doesn't come back soon..." she trailed off.
Suddenly the door burst open, and Anoreen stepped inside, "I'm home!" she called.
"Anoreen." Sakura said, turning to face her.
The blonde looked in the direction she had heard her name called from, "Oh, Sakura. I saw Kisame outside, where's 'Weasel'?"
Her sister looked down at the floor, "Anoreen... I did everything I could, but..."
Anoreen's eyes widened in horror, "He's not...Sakura please don't tell me he's..."
"He's not dead, but..." the pink-head trailed off, "he won't wake up."
She closed her eyes. "Take me to him." She said shakily.
"Right." Sakura replied. She led her sister up to her room and over to the bed where the Uchiha lay, motionless.
Anoreen walked slowly to the bedside of her lover. "I'm back 'Weasel'." She said as if nothing was wrong, "...You look so sweet when you're asleep, but don't you even want to wake up to see me?" she cupped a hand on the side of his face as tears began to roll down her cheeks. Then she broke down and flung herself onto his chest. "Why won't you wake up? I love you! Is that not reason enough to live?! 'Weasel'!" she cried, "Please, I'm begging you! ...Itachi say something!"
Sakura's face darkened sadly. She knew exactly how her sister felt. She had been devastated when Sasuke was presumed to be dead in the land of waves. The only difference was that it had only been a temporary state of death and he had woken up shortly after, whereas it would take a miracle to bring Itachi back from the state he was in. Or so she thought, but just as Sakura was going to pull her sister away, Itachi's eyes flickered open and he rested a shaky hand on the back of a still sobbing, Anoreen.
"'An'." He said weakly. She immediately stopped crying, "It's hard to breathe with you on me like this."
Anoreen looked up, "Itachi-kun!" she cried, wrapping her arms around his neck and almost choking him. "I thought I'd lost you!" she said as tears of relief rolled down her face.
"'An'." He said, gently nuzzling her neck. "I'm sorry."
Anoreen felt loving arms wrap around her back, and she clung even tighter to his neck. Itachi pulled her the rest of the way onto the mattress beside him, and held her close. Sakura smiled. Anoreen would take care of him; it was time for her to leave.
As she made her way downstairs, she heard the door open and close yet again. She curiously peered around the corner to see who it was. "Sakura." A familiar voice said.
"M-master Pein, Konan!" she exclaimed in surprise, "You're back!" Sakura stepped out from the stairwell to see a lower rank, Akatsuki rookie come in behind the two with a body slung over his shoulder. "Who is that?" she asked curiously.
Pein remained emotionless, "Bring him here." He instructed the rookie.
The second man came forward and dropped the unconscious body on the floor in front of her. She stiffened, "Anoreen is so not going to be happy about this."