Chapter Twenty-Five:

There's no present. There's only the immediate future and the recent past. - George Carlin

Sunday 6/4/18

The nurse visited again and said I looked better in my own room, she didn't really think so, I can tell, she just wanted me to stay here and not in her care.

1:23pm

Sasuke came in and took 'Sora-Watch' while Naruto studied. They seem to talk now. My mind sat there and urged me to ask, to speak, but I was too busy trying to get rid of the headache I had from lack of sleep.

Monday 7/4/18

I'm missing so much school, I'll fail soon… I don't care, if I fail I can go find Gaara…

Tuesday 8/4/18

Sasuke was back again today, and this time I asked. "Why are you and Naruto speaking again?" I asked blandly when he entered the room.

He raised an eyebrow. "Wow, it talks." I give him an 'I really don't care' look, and motion for him to continue. "Because of you, I was worried too, you fell into a pool for a long while, I wasn't exactly quick about saving you since I couldn't figure out why you'd fall in a pool and not come out again."

I nod. "And?"

"And so Naruto and I started talking again."

"And?"

"'And' what? Isn't that it?"

"No, And." I didn't ask this time, he knew what I meant.

He sighs. "I don't know, he wants me to go back to Konoha, Sora, with you." he fixes his gaze on mine. "He has plans that don't exactly run along the same lines as ours, and here we have a choice, to follow what we have in mind, or give him what he wants."

I understood what he was saying. "You've had your freedom, two whole years' worth, go home." I tell him. "Itachi is long gone."

Sasuke's fist clenched and he goes deadly quiet for a moment. "I… I don't know what you mean; I'm here for a good education."

"Yeah, aren't we all?" I look at him and smile wryly.

He returns it and sits on the edge of my bed. "If I go back, I'll never leave again. That's why I can't return."

"I would say the same. Until I let go, I can't return. And who knows when I will." I say sadly. He nods.

"Your awful talkative today, poor Naruto has been longing to hear you talk and you save it all for when I'm on Sora-Watch."

"So I don't slit my wrists?" I ask.

"Yeah, but it's not like we ever trusted you with knives." He grins, and lies back across the bed, I shuffle over and he lies next to me. "It feels like home." He says.

"I know." I add quietly, and we stay like that, appreciating the fact that there is some common cause we're both fighting for, and a common cause we're not willing to give up on, the people we love.

Wednesday 9/4/18

I got out of bed today. My food was on the table next to the door, and I couldn't stand smelling it and not tasting it any longer, so I got up, I felt weak. Really weak, and scared, as if the world was suddenly twice as big as it was before. Maybe I've shrunk. I opened the window too, the sunlight was really nice, like warmth after so much cold.

Saturday 12/4/18

Kimimaro came in today, with a box of chocolate and a lovely pile of work from English. "I brought you work to keep you from getting too bored." He grinned.

I took it and glared. "Thanks for the lovely birthday present. Schoolwork."

"That's what the chocolates where for." He grinned and put them on my bedside table. "It's mainly poetry and metaphor work, word dissections too."

I groan. "Damn. They always use violent words to make English sound exiting then let you down when they hand you another copy of 'tiger, tiger burning bright…'"

Sunday 13/4/18

I slept again. I feel better, but sadder. I dreamt He'd been there, and he said "Follow me," and on the other side Naruto was there, and he said "I need you." and instead of choosing, I'd stood still and lost both.

Monday 5/4/18

I got Naruto to get more work; English was actually quite refreshing to do. It took my mind off a lot, since I had a lot to do. I've missed heaps.

Tuesday 6/4/18

More work. I have about a TONNE of math. Sasuke comes in, I like talking to him. I think he likes talking to me; because we can talk knowing the other won't throw a spaz or tell anybody in the entire world, unlike Naruto, who would report us to a psychiatrist.

Thursday 8/4/18

"Naruto has another Biology test coming up, he told me to make sure you haven't slit your wrists." Sasuke said blandly as he entered the room.

He handed me a wrap (Mmmm. Chicken) and sat on the end of the bed. "So, how is he?" I ask through a mouthful of wrap.

"He's good, a bit nervous, but I guess he's always like that, you worry him twice as much as he worries about me, you know."

"Why?" I frown.

"Because I won't leave here, he knows that, but you will, and frankly, he doesn't mind where we are as long as we're all together, and I'm tied here, but you aren't, in fact, your more then just not tied down, you want to leave as soon as possible, that is what makes him nervous."

"He knows I have to leave sometime." I say quietly. "He always knew."

Sasuke had a tender moment, and put his hand on my shoulder. "I know," he said quietly. "He won't take it well, if you even do."

"What do you mean?"

"Leaving is just as hard, if not harder, then staying, Sora."

I shake my head. "No, being the one to watch somebody you love walk away is the harder, it kills."

Sasuke shook his head. "Just wait, walking away and knowing that the person watching feels that makes it twice as bad."

I snort. "No, and plus, you and him have made up, I know that since he visits you more then me now." I glare, Sasuke grins.

As realization hit, it was weird, I could leave soon, just until he settled in, I could leave…. Sasuke saw it, he was perceptive, and he knew what was going through my head. Sasuke and Naruto were friends now, well, more then friends, again, and that meant my job was practically done; all I needed to do was make a believable 'slow' recovery, and then go! I was free, I could leave… It was a scary, wonderful feeling, thrilling. Suddenly I could take control and find Gaara, not sit here and try to bribe chance in brining him to me, then falling hard when it refuses.

"Sora, don't move too quickly, once you do, you'll lose your chance, plan this." he said. "It's too important to screw up."

I nod dumbly. "I know… but, it's weird… I feel like I have an obligation still, but I don't, we found Sasuke… and Naruto has given up on going home… I have nothing left here that ties me…"

"Just be careful."

"You'll make sure he's okay, right?"

Sasuke smiled. "Yeah, I promise."

Friday 9/4/18

It's weird, being free to leave. Suddenly I'm scared. I have no clue in which direction to travel. Where the hell IS Suna? What train do I catch? Erg. I need to go to the library sometime.

7:14

Not now, though, later. When I am 'better'.

Sunday 11/4/18 – Naruto AND Sasuke came today.

Both of them. I usually see Naruto most days, and Sasuke occasionally, and on the days when Naruto can't make it in Kimimaro comes and gives me my work.

But both came. It's a good sign, if you ask me. Tayuya is insanely jealous that he cares enough to come visit me all the time.

After they left, Kimimaro came in too. "Haven't seen you for a while." I said, smiling in my now usual not-really-there smile.

And for the first time, I notice the fact that his smile is exactly the same, and my heart goes out to him, who is he waiting on? "Sorry, I couldn't get in." he apologized.

I smile, putting more effort in it in a hope to cheer him up too. "Sit down, and tell me what kind of torture you brought today."

"English, and I got your Human Mind for you as well as Art." He smiled at me, and I smiled back, and I don't know why, but for the first time in almost a month it seemed a touch realer then all the other fake ones.

"Art? Since when do we get work for that?" I asked, frowning.

"Don't know. I don't take art." He smiled. "You should ask that Uchiha kid who comes in so often, hmmm… wasn't it just a few weeks ago you claimed you didn't know him?" he asked, eyebrow raised.

I shake my head. "I don't know, I think I'm just loved by hot randoms." I sigh. "Oh, the cruelty of the world."

He laughs, déjà vu again, and my stomach exploded in butterflies and I grimaced. I know where I'd heard laughter like that. "Sure, but I'm used to you having secrets. I used to think you had none, you know." He notices my pale face from his laughing and stops smiling. "You okay?"

"Yeah… And no, I don't have secrets, none of my own anyway. You just don't ask the right questions." I grin half-heartedly again.

He seems relieved I'm okay, and smiles back. "Really, I don't ask the right questions, do I?"

I shake my head. "Course you don't."

"Okay then, where did you live before this?"

"Konoha."

"Did you like it?"

"Loved it, up to a point."

"Who were your friends?"

"Naruto, who's my cousin, two other boys, and Hanuro Sakura." I smile, hoping he wouldn't notice I was happy to give the full name of one but not the others.

He noticed. "Two boys?"

"Weird for a girl, I know."

"No, I mean who wer-?"

"You ask too many questions! It's my turn!"

"Where did you live before here?"

"Nowhere."

"What?"

"Nowhere. I didn't have a home; Orochimaru-Sensei found me and took me here."

"Oh… I'm sorry…"

"No, don't worry, I think you have a longer and worse story then mine anyway."

I half-smile. "I'd hope so, seeing as yours must be scarring if it was worse."

He smiled back, and our eyes locked, and there was just this pure understanding that went in-between, and déjà vu hit again, but this time it was dizzying, and for a moment I saw Gaara where he was. And instinctively moved foreword, then he said "Sora, you okay there?" and I snapped back, he was Kimimaro again, and I shook myself.

Weird… I smile. "Yeah… I'm fine…"

HELLOOOOO!! WHHHAATTSSSSUPPPP!! How you all doing? Good? Now, I may have to ask another favour, do any of you know any good stories? Pleaassee. Recommend them!! I am SO bored occasionally. (actually, not really occasionally, more like …erm… always?) hehe, anyhoo, recommend stories, even if their your own, I don't mind! I review lots…. If that makes anything better… hehe.

Anyhooo, LUURRVVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE YOU! Review puh-leaasee! Love, to-love-is-to-lie.

P.S. I LOVE YOU!!

P.P.S. Don't let me die of boredom. Recommend story (maybe even what it's about if you feel extra energetic in the typing-department).