This is what i like to call a very late update, and i must say that i had a tough month, but very pleasant and my happiness finally came back from her vacation and everything seems perfect now, hopefully nothing will pop my bubble, but anyway...
This story is becoming a real challenge taking in consideration all the things you've said in your reviews; some of you like the plot i placed on the latest chapters and some of you didn't... again i must say that having these many reviews only make me more nervous and i feellike i don't know what to write anymore; i want to please you all, but since i know that's impossible i'll stick with my original idea whether you like it or not...
On a more funny thought i read the last chapter yesterday and then i read the reviews and i was like: "Oh, please! I'll just kill them all and finish this ridiculously reviewed story... (at least for me it is)" (thank you for those reviews because they encourage me to write more chapters even if some are against the plot...) but then i read again and Naruto made my heart warm and i decided to write another chapter...
Someone told me once that i should ignore the bad reviews against the plot and simply tell them to go write their own stories if they don't like mine and... well i don't really have the nerve to be like that, but yes... pretty much. If you like it then good! if not then go and find your story...
Anyway...
Hope you enjoy this chapter... :)
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35
Her sudden realization
Sakura was now performing a really difficult surgery in Suna's Hospital; her brow was covered in sweat; partly because of how focused she was on her task and the other part merely considering her sickness as of lately.
The group of students with her at the bed was the most experienced one, the rest of her class was outside the room looking through the glass with their notebooks at the ready to take the needed information she would surely ask of them later.
It was one of the most difficult surgeries she had ever worked on; there was poison involved; her specialty and several other misfortunes for the patient, but even then she was confident he'd live and her students would learn a lot.
She felt as one of her students wiped her brow and she thanked him softly giving him a quick glance; her green eyes strayed to the glass where everyone was watching and just as soon she returned her eyes to the body.
Once again she became so engrossed with her task that she didn't notice the whole group outside as they turned their heads and started to talk amongst themselves when no one else than the Hokage arrived with his hands deep in his pockets and a light frown on his face as his eyes fell on her.
Next to the newcomer, Sasuke and the Kazekage himself stood with indifference while they waited for the surgery to end; just a few steps behind them Shikamaru, Temari and Kankuro stared as well.
While he tried to stay put he could also feel his own chakra stirring in an all too familiar wave of longing; a deep and ling sigh made his chest heave and he knew his eyes showed nothing but admiration and love for the woman inside; he needed her so much that he couldn't wait to talk to her.
"How long is it going to take?" he questioned ignoring the looks he was receiving from Sakura's class.
"She's been in there for 2 hours already, but she explained it'd be a difficult one…" Temari said with her arms crossed over her chest giving a few glares to the students.
"Our meeting is in an hour, Naruto." Gaara whispered with interest as he saw the deep look the Hokage was giving the pink haired doctor; to see the care and love so blatantly in someone else's eyes was something foreign to him, but he couldn't explain why it was so interesting to see him like that.
He had witnessed the blonde proclaiming his undying love for the doctor before and now it was as if that mere thought was out of the question; why was it so easy to do it before but now it was like the unthinkable?
"Yes… I'd like to talk to her though. It's been two months and I really need to sort a few things." Naruto mumbled not taking his eyes off her.
Gaara nodded and they all continued to watch in silence when she suddenly stepped away from the body with her gloved hands covered in blood and instructed one of her students to sew the wound.
He was mesmerized; the only time he had truly paid her mind before this one had been when Kankuro almost died poisoned and she transformed into something he would've never thought she'd become.
Because he had seen her strength and he knew she was deadly good with controlling her chakra and because she was the smartest girl he had ever known, but to realize she could save someone from the death with all those techniques and knowledge… she had become admirable in his eyes.
Had he ever told her that? That he admired her? That he trusted his life on her hands? That the only reason he did all those dangerous things was because he knew she'd bring him back?
He regarded her green eyes, so unfazed by the gore in front of her; the way she absently wiped her forehead with her wrist and stained her skin with blood, the way she'd say something and her students would nod and obey and then she finally took a deep breath and pulled her gloves off.
He saw her walking to the back side of the room while their students took charge of the man in the bed; he held his breath as he saw her walking out of the surgery room with her pink hair still tied in a messy bun and a pensive look on her face.
The group of students walked to her encounter finally forgetting about him and he watched as she explained some things and assigned homework regarding the surgery, most of them complimented her and he smiled fondly at her blushing face.
He guessed she had felt his eyes on her for she raised her head and her green orbs finally collided with his blue ones; they widened to a plate's extent and her face paled; his grin widened only a bit before he felt a slight tug of pain at the memory of his lonely awakening the day she left.
He looked down and took a deep breath; he really needed to control his feelings less she was to misguide his actions and think whatever she always mistook his words for…
"I guess that was a good job?" he heard Sasuke's voice said and he looked up to find her in front of him; he frowned at the sight of her reddened face and the light sweat o her temples; she wiped them as if on cue and glared at Sasuke.
"I guess you wouldn't know a thing of what I did there, but yes… thank you…" she groaned.
"I think you should get ready for the meeting; we'll begin in 20 minutes." Gaara announced and when she nodded he finally turned to leave along with Temari and Kankuro.
Her eyes couldn't help but be pulled back to his face and she bit her lower lip in fear; he was not looking at her; he was staring off into the surgery room with a tight jaw…
She was mesmerized once again by him and his light shade of golden beard on his perfect jaw; his nose and his neck… she averted her eyes and glared again when she saw Sasuke smirking down at her.
"Well… we'll see you at the Kazekage's quarters." Shikamaru announced and then Sasuke followed not before giving her a pointed look and a grin; she gaped, but couldn't even speak.
"You're amazing." His deep hoarse voice made her shiver and look again at his face, but he was still not looking at her. "I mean the surgery… I surely don't know a thing, but… it was… amazing…" he finally looked down at her and she nodded averting her eyes to the ground.
"Thank you…" her mumbled words barely audible.
She turned to command her students only to realize she had been left alone with the Hokage; her body froze and it was as if she could feel every single nerve on her body tingling in fear and nervousness.
"How are you doing?" he asked and she turned again with wide eyes; her mouth opened with unspoken words.
"I… I've… The heat… the weather." She muttered hoping he'd understand; he nodded with a frown and tightly closed lips.
"How about your classes?" he asked again and she tried to relax a bit more, but her legs were like concrete.
"Good… They're all… great students." She lamely replied; she couldn't believe they were talking about so measly and unimportant stuff and not about the night they shared before her departure.
She could almost feel offended by his indifference; she wanted to actually yell and tell him to ask… to ask her why she left even if she didn't know the answer herself. She wanted to ask if he finally gathered enough courage to tell Hinata to date him… She wanted to tell him that he would never love anyone else like he had loved her.
"Lord… such selfish thoughts…" she muttered running a hand down her face in pure frustration; she couldn't deal with him at the moment. "I have to get ready, so I guess I'll see you there in 15 minutes…" she took a deep breath and with renewed bravery turned away and walked from him.
Naruto heard her soft murmur; he had learned that she tended to say important stuff when she muttered and he couldn't even fathom what she had been thinking, but he knew that she had to understand that he cared even for those small things… all of her and her weird antics and behavior.
He felt anger again; she loved to walk away from him, she loved to leave him with all the turmoil she caused; she liked to create beautiful landscapes with just a look of her green eyes and then just like that burn them all down and he was finally tired of cleaning the ashes for the next scene…
He took a step forward and grabbed her forearm hard enough for her to turn with confusion all written on her face; but her anger dissipated as soon as she felt the heavy chakra that belonged to the fox; it encircled her like a blanket and weakened her on the knees.
Before she could argue about his toughness and manhandling she found herself pressed against the wall and both of his hands holding her face in place; her eyes widened even more than before when his lips pressed on hers.
His eyes were not completely closed and somehow she could only reciprocate the kiss even if it only fueled the sense of guilt in her gut; she had always tried not to seem to be taking advantage of him, like she was using him, because she truly loved him, but it always came out like that…
She tightened her hold on his shirt just over his chest and her other hand sneaked around to grab a fist of his blonde locks; she was too lost to be concerned about it when he lifted her up against the wall; her right knee resting on his hip and his hands holding her in place.
Her breathing became ragged and she felt like she couldn't get enough; she feared he could hear her heart beating wildly in her chest, but she never stopped and prayed he wouldn't either.
He never stopped until he felt her chest raising and falling erratically with little oxygen; he pulled away from her and let her feet on the ground pressing her so she wouldn't fall; his hands returned to her face and delicately he pushed a few strands of pink hair behind her ears.
Her eyes were still closed and her mouth slightly opened; her hands resting lifelessly on his shoulders; she couldn't remember what she was doing before being in his arms like this, but she knew it lacked importance.
"What…" she mumbled regaining her senses with an airy voice
"You need to change and be in the Kazekage's quarters in 10 minutes, Sakura-chan…" her eyes went to his mouth and blushed when he smiled at the end. "We'll talk later…" he said and kissed her forehead before stepping away from her.
He made sure she was fine before walking away with a swelling chest; he was happy… just a kiss and he was the happiest man alive once again; he looked back over his shoulder to see her swaying steps as she walked to the other side…
Oh, how he loved her…
…
Sakura opened the door to the nearest bathroom and swiftly made it to the sink; splashing her hot face with water and drying it with a towel; she stared at her reflection in the mirror and blushed at the memory of the kiss…
She was about to whine and possibly cry in glee and guilt when the door of one of the stalls opened and out walked a girl wiping her eyes with a piece of toilet paper; she looked up and Sakura's green ones locked with Matsuri's black ones.
"Oh… Sakura-san, I heard you were to perform today… How was it?" the girl asked as she came to wash her hands; Sakura stared at her warily.
"It was good… and huge success." She smiled; she noticed the girl's absent mind and had to question about it. "Is everything alright, Matsuri-chan?" she asked softly.
The girl took a few moments to sort her thoughts and then she finally turned to the pink haired doctor with a serious face that unsettled Sakura, but she waited patiently.
"May I ask you something very personal, Sakura-san?" she asked and Sakura nodded a bit unsure about it.
"Do you love someone?" she questioned softly and when Sakura changed her posture the girl rushed to explain. "I just don't know how to react about something… and I think you could help me…" she gave a small and nervous smile; Sakura gave up and nodded.
"I do love someone…" she admitted quietly.
"I fell in love with someone I shouldn't have… He deserves so much better than me but he still likes my company and he treasures our moments." Matsuri spoke in a low tone and Sakura related to her thoughts. "I just don't know if I am ready to tie him down to earth and stop his flight…" she explained and Sakura frowned.
"Is this about Gaara?" she asked with a quirked eyebrow; for a woman, Sakura was not very good at following hints, she preferred it to be direct, but she knew Matsuri was facing a hard time.
"Yes." Matsuri nodded softly. "Temari-san suspects that we are seeing each other on more than just training and I am not sure if she likes me…" she grimaced and Sakura smiled.
"She does like you, Kankuro too… in fact Temari thinks that you'll end up with him at some point, just she hopes Gaara will get to live more before that happens since he's been closed down most part of his life…" Sakura explained and watched as she lowered her eyes.
"I think she'll hate me…" she dragged and her lower lip quivered making Sakura frown in confusion.
"Why would you think that…?"
"It's been a month since my last period. I'm having nausea and other symptoms… and just a few minutes ago I had my blood's test results and… I am pregnant." She explained and Sakura blanched.
"Dear Lord…"
Dear Lord! Are we pregnant?!
"What? What?! What are you even talking about?!" Sakura was scandalized as she heard her inner's voice.
"I know it seems like the craziest thing, but… I love him… What should I do?" she was now crying softly.
Do we have nausea?
Attributed to the heatstroke we had when we got here and our inability to adjust to this climate.
Do we have our period?
It's happened before and you know it! Whenever we fell under pressure and stressful situations!
Do we have body ache?
I've had a lot of work lately! It is only normal! Stop thinking about stupid stuff and focus on Matsuri-chan!
"You should tell him, Matsuri-chan… It's the right thing to do. He needs to know." Sakura felt a bit weird saying this because she wasn't sure if she'd tell Naruto if she was the one pregnant.
Even less considering the chaotic relationship they were facing where they weren't sure if friendship or love was more important, they merely were following on instincts when they face each other and not telling truths or lies, merely being quiet.
"Yes… but I fear he'll be mad…" the girl whispered softly.
"Matsuri… It is not as if this happened just because you wanted… He got half of the blame in it." Sakura said and ever so subtly she felt a tug of pain on her lower region; she felt breathless as she softly stroked her belly. "Dear Lord…" she felt true fear in her system and she knew she'd be running a blood test first thing tomorrow.
Matsuri finally looked up at Sakura's face and gave her smile; she seemed all better now as if her doubts were really silly to even be considered; she had only needed a slight push in the right direction, but now Sakura was the one at loss for words…
"You're right… besides I know he won't be mad I just felt overwhelmed by the news… Thank you so much, Sakura-san!" she hugged the pink haired doctor and then stood with a cheery attitude.
The door opened breaking them apart as the nurse walked in with a worried look in her face.
"I am sorry to disturb you, Haruno-san… but the Hokage and the Kazekage are waiting for you to show up at the meeting." She said and Sakura nodded.
She stood with an unreadable face; she was a bit too shocked to be part of this huge nonsense; Matsuri pregnant with Gaara's kid… and she was starting to think she was on the same boat?
No… simply out of the question and she would know it for sure tomorrow, but right she needed to hurry up and go to the meeting… she stood and started to walk to the door ignoring the concerned looks both women gave her.
Her left hand was still over her belly and her green eyes focused on the floors letting her feet take her there on pure memory. She couldn't be pregnant; she still had so many things to do and to prove to Naruto; she couldn't fail him now… she still had to become stronger…
"It cannot be…" she muttered softly; her eyes narrowed sharply as she felt the usual wave of heat that had been annoying her ever since she got to Suna; her senses on alert and clear on what they should analyze…
Yes, the heat was foreign to her body, but not to her memory, because now she knew when and where she had felt this kind of feeling, this choking sensation that weakened her knees and made her breathing ragged…
She really couldn't be pregnant…
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Hopefully I won't take too long to update the next one since we're nearing the end... lol
Don't freak out... this is long enough, don't you think? ;)
See ya, weasels!