Chapter Twenty Five
"Sakura- Sakura wake up," a hand on my shoulder shakes me to consciousness, my eyes flutter open softly, the gray blur before them clears to see a familiar face staring back at me. Sitting up, I feel weighted down by the heavy white blanket.
"N-Naruto?" I ask, tired and sore, he looks to me attentively. "Where am I?" I try to sit up and stiffen my elbow so that it will hold me up, but I crumple back into the soft pillow behind my head. He stands a bit closer to the bed, taking my arm from under me and keeping a sorrowful look on his face. He doesn't reply to my question, but instead turns and sits down in a chair beside the bed I was in, keeping his gaze on the ground.
Why is he here? I bite my lip and take in my surroundings. I was in a pure white room, decorated with a couple flower vases and a large open window. The room itself was not so impressively large, but the bed I lay in enveloped me in massive white blankets, and beside me a pulse monitor beeped away, assuring me that I hadn't died yet. I gaze at it and breathe in the smell of medicine, so it's a hospital. What am I doing in a- my thoughts freeze and I find myself biting my lip harder and trying to swallow back what fear I had. I killed Sasori- oh god- the Akatsuki- they're going to massacre me when they get their hands on me. No! I can get out of this! All I have to do is ell them that I killed him because- because- I look back at Naruto and realize why his face was so stricken with sorrow- I killed Sasori because he killed Sasuke- right? Naruto was leaned over in his chair, his hands on his forehead and his elbows leaning on his knees.
"Why did you kill him?" Naruto asks, his voice sad, he looks up to me, his eyes watery and pained. I look to him, shocked- could he be so emotional about me killing Sasori? Or could he- could he be this upset because he still cares for my well being, and as a murderer- I'll be locked up? He used to have a crush on me…I can't trouble my head with these thoughts! Looking down, I play with my hands.
"I don't regret killing him- he-" I pause, thinking over my words, "He deserved it." Naruto is silent for a moment- then looks up at me, enraged, his eyes flaming with passionate hate.
"How could you say something like that- he was your comrade- you traitor," he balls his hands into fists, the veins on them bulging in his skin- what's wrong with him? This can't be about Sasori- can it? Why is he so angry about this?!
"Naruto! He was an Akatsuki member- why would this bother you?!" I cry out at him- not wanting hi to become violent. He looks to me puzzled, a look on his face that I haven't seen for years.
"Sasuke- he wasn't an Akatsuki member. Sakura- what are you talking about?" he asks, looking me in the eyes, his face becoming less tense.
"Wha-?" I look at him, confused for a moment. "I didn't kill Sasuke! I killed Sasori!" I shout- angry at how angry he had gotten, concealing how much I wanted to admit that my goal was to kill Sasuke.
"What are you talking about? There was nobody but you and Sasuke there- him with a kunai in his back and you almost passed out from the dust of the building!" he exclaims, angered again. I shake my head at him.
"No! Sasori was there- he poisoned me I guess and he- he killed Sasu-" I get cut off by a plump, short nurse waddling into the room, a white uniform on that looks like it was a couple sizes to small.
"Visitation is over, we don't need her to become over excited beforehand, or it won't go as it has to," she says softly, busying herself with the medical things around me. Naruto looks down at me, then up to her semi-sadly.
"Why did they schedule it so soon?" he asks, a tone of regret in his voice.
"She's an Akatsuki operative- she-" I cut her off this time.
"Akatsuki member- number nine-" I say- holding up my right hand to show her the red ring that sat on my finger. Naruto looks to me, shaking his head.
"Your not helping your situation any," Naruto says softly. Standing up, he nods to the nurse and leaves.
"Excuse me- but what did they schedule so soon? What are you two talking about?" I ask, confused, and as always, curious. She shakes her head sadly to me, a thoughtful smile on her lips.
"Just sit back then, Miss Sakura, close your eyes and relax," she pats me on the shoulder and I follow as she directed. My left eye peers out from under its lid and I watch as she fiddles with a small purple bag as she tries to connect it to my IV. Realizing what she was going to do, I bite my lip a little, then breathe out deeply.
"Are you killing me?" I ask, opening both of my eyes and staring at the ceiling above me. She pauses, staring at me, a bit of worry in her face. I think for a moment, and speak again. "I don't mind much, I- I have made my goal- I thin I can be happy now," I say, thinking back. She nods to me and trembles as she again fumbles with the purple IV bag. As I watch it slip into the tube that was connected to my arm, I can't help but feel complete.
All I wanted was to avenge Itachi- did I really do that? Can I be so sure? How can I rest here if I- I push aside my troubled thoughts- I can't think like that! It's too late to turn back now. I close my eyes, reassuring myself as I hear the nurse that was beside me stifle a bit of a cry. The room around me dims some and as it does, I feel a warm pair of arms wrap around me, holding me close in them assuring me, and as the room finally disappears, Itachi's face fades into my sight, smiling and leaning closer to me. I smile back, tears rolling in my eyes, and lean closer- sliding them closed. As our lips finally meet, the room that once surrounded me disappears, and I am alone with my true love for the first time.
My Dear Friends-
I apologize for my abrupt and lengthy absence, I was unable to get to my favorite sites and finish my story, I know that the timing of it (right before the last chapter) was very odd, but I wish to assure you that it's not my fault! I am sorry for any worrying that there might have been on your behalf, and would like to assure you that I am well!
Please forgive me!! I've missed you all so much!!
Much luv
kitty