Hinari

Chapter 28

Sakura Hanamoto

Okay, review response time! Since I don't normally do this, I'll just do this for the previous two chapters.

Icegoddess52: Thank you very much for the compliments. It makes me feel loved.

Hinata-the-ANBU: Ehehe, that through for a loop, obviously, nice to know I'm capable of doing that. Thanks for the review!

Kiraxsama: Were you expecting that? Or something else? Anyway, glad you liked it.

Takuro once again passed it off as his imagination and left the room. He closed the door securely and plodded down the hall, his eyes cast at the linoleum floor, shoulders hunched and his hands stuffed into his pockets. He walked by Ino who was coming in to talk to Sakura. Ino paused when she saw Takuro go by. 'He looked almost exactly like Sasuke when we were his age.' She thought. Ino shrugged it off and entered the hospital.

XxXxXxX

A nurse entered the room where Hinari's body was and began work on the death certificate. The nurse stopped writing when she heard the heart monitor give a beep. She watched it for another minute, and it beeped again, the flat line spiking momentarily. She blinked and continued to watch. The longer she watched it, the steadier the heartbeat came. With shaking hands, she nurse pressed a stethoscope to Hinari's chest. Sakura had repaired the tissue there. Sure enough, she faintly heard an irregular heartbeat. Tearing the stethoscope off, the nurse ran out the door for Sakura's office.

"Sakura-sama! Sakura-sama!" She cried as she burst through the door, not even bothering to knock.

"What's wrong?" Sakura asked as she looked up from a stack of paper work.

"It's Uzumaki Hinari! She's alive!" The nurse exclaimed. Sakura's eyes widened and she dropped her pen. She stood up and ran back to Hinari's room. She gave the heart monitor a fleeting glance and pressed her ear to Hinari's chest. If possible, her eyes got even wider.

"I-Impossible!" Sakura stood back and saw a steady rise and fall of Hinari's chest as she breathed. "Never in my twenty years as a medic have I seen anything like this!" Sakura checked all of Hinari's vitals, and then rechecked them just to be sure. Sakura realized that Hinari was stabilizing quickly, but still unconscious, no doubt giving her brain time to recover from the lack of oxygen.

"Sakura-sama?" The nurse spoke softly.

"I really can't believe it; she really did come back to life. It's supposed to be impossible, but it's happened."

"Sakura? What's going on?" Ino asked, sticking her head through the door. Ino saw Sakura staring at the heart monitor.

"She was dead not ten minutes ago. How could it be possible?" Sakura ran her fingers through her hair. "Kaya-san." Sakura turned to the nurse.

"Yes?"

"Burn everything."

"E-excuse me?"

"Burn anything that may suggest that Hinari was ever deceased. Starting," Sakura plucked the death certificate from Kaya's clipboard. "With this." Kaya nodded and went about her business. "Now, I just have to tell Takuro now." Sakura took a deep breath. "That won't be fun."

XxXxXxX

Takuro sat in his room, staring at the ceiling. He'd ignored his sister, and locked her out of his room. He didn't want to be bothered. He rolled over and faced the window, the sun was setting outside and it was snowing, again. There was a knock at his door.

"Go away." He muttered. The door opened and his mother stepped inside.

"Tell you father that the doorknob needs to be fixed." Sakura said, attempting to lighten the atmosphere, it didn't work.

"What do you want?" Takuro asked, not bothering to check his tone.

"I have a surprise for you."

"I don't care." Takuro turned away from his mother.

"Oh, I'm sure you do. Hinari isn't dead." She said.

"That's bullshit."

"Language, Takuro. But I'm not lying. If you want, you can go back to the hospital, she's alive and well." Takuro rolled over to face her.

"I still don't believe you." He said. Sakura frowned.

"Fine, don't be the one to be there when she wakes up so you can apologize for temporarily killing her. Don't blame me when she hates you forever." Sakura opened the door and left. Takuro knew that she was doing that to make him feel bad. But he felt bad enough as it was. If Hinari really was alive, he sure as hell wanted to apologize, face to face.

XxXxXxX

Takuro slowly opened the door and entered the room Hinari had been moved to. He saw her lying on a bed, hooked up to a respirator. He pulled up a chair and sat down. He sat there, simply watching her. He didn't move much, only to get into a more comfortable position. Visiting hours had been over at least an hour ago, but no one had come in to tell him to leave. If he could, he'd stay there all night. Takuro just wanted to stay with Hinari for as long as possible. Eventually, he fell asleep, hunched over in the chair.

XxXxXxX

"Wakey, wakey, eggs and bacey." Takuro woke up to see Tsubaki grinning like a madwoman.

"What time is it?" Takuro asked as he rubbed his eyes.

"Almost noon." She bopped him on the head. Takuro winced but said nothing. "Man, you two are the craziest people I know." Tsubaki said.

"What makes you say that?"

"The fact that you're practically in love with her, and you go and kill her, even if it wasn't for very long."

"I wasn't myself." Takuro said defensively.

"I see. So, what are you going to do when and if she wakes up?" She asked him.

"Apologize."

"That's it? You're not gonna sweep her off her feet or some mushy crap like that?"

"Would that be a good idea?"

"Probably not. You could at least treat her or something." Tsubaki giggled. "You'd make a bad boyfriend."

"Why's that?!" Tsubaki shook her head and patted him on the head.

"Takuro, Takuro, for all the fangirls you've got, you sure are clueless about women."

"I'm not even thirteen yet! Cut me some slack!" Tsubaki laughed again.

"That reminds me, Christmas is just about here. What are you gonna get her?" Takuro shrugged.

"No clue."

"Figures. Oh and by the way, my birthday is next week. Just to remind you." Tsubaki hopped towards the door and opened it. "I'll just leave you two alone now, bye-bye." Tsubaki slipped through the door and shut it. Takuro massaged his neck; he hadn't realized how stiff it was until now.

'What's up with Tsubaki lately?' He thought. Hinari was still asleep, though he figured that she would be for a little while until her body was fully functioning. He sighed and went back to watching Hinari sleep.

After a while, he was starting to get very bored, he wanted to do something, but he didn't want to leave either. After staring out the window for several minutes, he stood up and left to at least go eat something. Takuro trudged towards Ichiraku, he struggled to get through the snow, and it wasn't easy since it nearly came up to his knees. He made it to the small stand and sat down at a stool beside Iruka.

"Oh, hello Takuro, it's been sometime, hasn't it?" Iruka greeted him.

"Hi Iruka-sensei."

"How are Tsubaki and Hinari?" Iruka asked.

"Tsubaki's being a little weird, and Hinari, she-," He didn't finish his sentence, or rather, he didn't want to.

"You can finish that sentence you know, I've always had a feeling you had a soft spot for her." Iruka grinned when Takuro looked away and blushed. "Am I right?" Takuro nodded.

'Does everyone know that I have feelings for her?' He asked himself. Takuro found himself staring into the depths of noodles and broth that sat before him. After a moment of sitting there, he picked up some chopsticks and ate it. The hot ramen warmed him after his trek through the thick snow.

"I wonder why the weather's gone so haywire. It doesn't snow this much here, whenever it does snow." Iruka commented.

"I've never seen anything like it myself." Ayame said as she prepared a bowl for herself. Takuro listened to the conversation between Iruka and Ayame.

"Maybe it has something to do with that report I file a couple weeks ago." Iruka murmured.

"Oh?"

"Yeah, apparently, up in Water Country, an entire clan was wiped out. A powerful one at that." Iruka said.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Takuro asked.

"That clan was known for a kekkei genkai that manipulated water and turned it to ice or snow to use at will. That's what the report said anyway, I don't know how accurate it was. All other major countries were handed the same report to their Kage since the murderer was found dead as well. There weren't any survivors, but the bodies of the two youngest were apparently never found. It's possible, that with the release of their abilities, it's thrown the weather off."

"Oh my, it sounds almost like what happened to the Uchiha clan. Sorry Takuro-kun." Ayame said.

"That's fine, it's the past and there's no need to brood over it." Takuro told her as he finished his bowl. He dug into his pocket and placed some money on the counter "Thanks." He stood up and began his long trudge through the snow back to the hospital.

XxXxXxX

Hinari was still asleep when he got back, but there was a bouquet of lilacs sitting in a vase on the table beside Hinari's bed. Curious, Takuro read the tag tied to one of the stems. "Hope you get better soon, I know how much you hate it in hospitals. A.U." Takuro raised an eyebrow. 'Who the hell left this here?' Frankly, he felt jealous that someone had given Hinari flowers, but whoever did, didn't stick around very long.

"Aw, is someone trying to steal your girlfriend?" Takuro looked back to see that Tsubaki had returned.

"Hinari's not-,"

"She's not your girlfriend, but you might as well say she is." She stuck her tongue out at him.

"Why are you being so weird lately?" Tsubaki shrugged.

"Who knows? But whatever, its no big deal, might go away soon enough." Tsubaki stared out the window for a few moments. She looked at Takuro and saw that he was smirking. "What?"

"I know that look,"

"What look?"

"You like someone." Takuro said bluntly. Tsubaki blushed and looked away.

"N-no I don't."

"Pfft, sure. Who is he?"

"What does it matter, he'd too old for me anyway."

"Why's that?"

"He's seventeen." Takuro raised an eyebrow. "It's a five year age difference, as if my parents would even let me go out with him, and that's even assuming he likes me."

"Aren't your parents three years apart?" Takuro asked.

"Yeah, but that was different, their marriage was as much for love as well as political reasons." She said. "A union between Suna and Konoha. With one of Konoha's more influential clans with the older sister of the Kazekage." She said. "Why'd your parents get married?"

"Dad didn't want a woman that'd cling to him all hours of the day. That was what he told me anyway. Mom was strong enough and independent enough for him. Though that wasn't always the case from what I've heard." Takuro laughed. "Mom used to be one of his fangirls."

"Your mom, was a fangirl?" Takuro nodded, and Tsubaki burst into laughter. After a minute or so, she stopped suddenly when they heard Hinari groan.

"C-could you keep it down?" Hinari mumbled as she slowly opened her eyes.

"Hinari, you're awake!" Takuro grinned.

"Takuro? What are you doing here?" Hinari looked at him strangely.

"H-Hinari, what do you last remember?" Tsubaki asked cautiously. Hinari gave Tsubaki a strange look as well. Hinari thought for a moment.

"Aren't the genin exams in a week?" Hinari asked them. Tsubaki and Takuro looked at each other for a second, and Takuro leapt from the chair and tore out of the room calling for his mother.

XxXxXxX

"Well, she has amnesia, that much is certain." Sakura said. "She seems to have lost her memories of the last six months or so, if she still thinks she's in the Academy."

"What do we do?" Takuro asked.

"I'll go speak with the Hokage; I'll be back in about an hour. Keep an eye on her." Takuro nodded and his mother walked away. Sakura headed down the hall and sighed. 'Was it the brain damage she sustained that did it?' She asked herself. 'It's possible, the absence of oxygen for the hours she spent dead. Jeez, this is not going to be easy.' Sakura found herself outside the Hokage's office already. She knocked.

"Come in." She heard Konohamaru call from inside. Sakura opened the door and stepped inside. "Oh, Sakura-san, what brings you here?"

"It's about Uzumaki Hinari's condition sir."

"Oh, come, sit down and tell me." Sakura did so and took a deep breath.

"As I told you yesterday, Uchiha Takuro and Uzumaki Hinari returned from their mission, but Hinari was dead. Takuro brought her to me, but by then, there was nothing I could do. I was preparing her death certificate when a nurse informed me that Hinari's heart was breathing. After confirming it, I burned any evidence that may have suggested that Hinari was dead." Sakura paused.

"Go on."

"After informing Takuro that Hinari was alive, he opted to stay at the hospital with her overnight. And today, after being unconscious for several hours, she awoke, but has no recollection of the last six months. She doesn't know that she's already graduated." Sakura said. Konohamaru massaged the bridge of his nose.

"Hinari has been harder to care for than her father." He muttered. He looked up at Hinari. "Inform Uchiha Takuro and Nara Tsubaki that they are to always remain with Hinari to help bring her memory back. Hopefully, it won't be permanent."

"As do I."

"You are dismissed." Sakura stood, bowed and left.

XxXxXxX

"Can I leave yet?" Hinari asked when Sakura entered. Sakura considered it.

"I suppose so." She said. Sakura then turned to Tsubaki and Takuro. "I've got orders from the Hokage that you two are to be Hinari's caretakers until she gets her memory back, starting now."

"Okay." Tsubaki said. Sakura looked at Hinari.

"I know that things are confusing right now, but please bear with it, and Takuro and Tsubaki will help you out. They're your best friends, and will make sure to try and bring your memories back." Sakura gave Hinari a smile.

"Okay." Sakura straightened.

"Okay boy, out, she needs to get changed." Sakura shoved her son out of the room. Tsubaki rummaged through the small closet in the room and pulled out Hinari's pants, jacket and cloak.

"She doesn't have a shirt."

"Oh yeah, it had a nice big whole in it so I threw it out." Sakura said. "Tsubaki, you can get into her apartment right?" Sakura asked.

"Yeah,"

"Go and bring some suitable clothes." Sakura told her. Tsubaki nodded and left.

"Um, can you tell me what happened? How I lost my memory?" Hinari asked.

"I suppose I could, or you could hear it from the person that was the cause of it."

"Who was it?"

"Takuro. He'll tell you, but please try to understand when he does." Hinari nodded.

"All right." Hinari saw the flowers and took in their scent. "Who brought these?"

"Your sister did. Her name is Arashi. Maybe tomorrow, I'll bring you to see her, but Takuro and Tsubaki can't know about her. No one can, understand?"

"Yes." Presently, Tsubaki returned with a bundle of clothes. She handed them to Hinari. "Thank you." Sakura helped Hinari stand up so that she could change. Soon, Hinari was bundled up and ready to leave. Sakura signed Hinari's chart off and helped her walk.

"Your motor skills might be a bit slow at the moment so, they can help you by supporting you while you walk." Sakura told her. Hinari nodded as Tsubaki took one hand and Takuro took the other.

"Okay Hinari, let's get you home." Takuro said.

"Home?"

"Yeah, when you graduated, the Hokage got you this little apartment to live in. It's not too far away lucky for you." Tsubaki told her. The going was slow, the snow hampered them, and Hinari was very unsteady.

"It'll be dark by the time we get there." Takuro grumbled. With that, he swept Hinari into his arms and carried her. He sunk into the snow further, but at least they were moving faster now.

XxXxXxX

"I'll stay with her, she'll probably ask how she ended up like this, I can tell her at least." Takuro said. Hinari had gotten home and had fallen asleep almost immediately. Tsubaki nodded.

"I'll come by in the morning." Tsubaki left, now Takuro was alone as Hinari slept again.

'She must still be low on energy.' He thought. Takuro went through Hinari's closet and found a few extra blankets. Laying two of them out on the floor, he lay down and covered himself with the third. 'I hope that her memory does come back.' He thought as he fell asleep.

XxXxXxX

Takuro awoke to Hinari tossing and turning in her bed, she was having a bad dream based on the things she was murmuring. "No…please…T-Takuro…" He got up out of his makeshift bed and went to her. Sitting on her bed, he pulled her into his arms and cradled her tightly. Slowly, he rocked her back and forth like she was a small child.

"Shhh, its okay Hinari." He whispered into her ear. Hinari became still in his arms. She'd fallen into a deeper sleep, one that did not plague her with nightmares. Takuro attempted to put her down, but she'd gripped his shirt tightly in her sleep and didn't let go. Takuro let out a soft sigh. 'Now what do I do?' He thought. Slowly, he lay down and Hinari curled up to him. He turned red and thanked any god in the world that she wasn't awake. Eventually, Takuro relaxed and fell asleep with Hinari wrapped in his arms.

I'm sure you can guess who Tsubaki likes, there's only one character in this story that's seventeen. Don't forget to review, and yes I know, it's getting a bit cheesy, but what do you expect?