Sorry this chapter took so long. I've had some family issues, along with some computer ones. That, and I'm a slow writer. ^^;; Arigatou, to you all!
~*~
"Naruto," he repeated for the third time. "You've been in a coma."
Oh. Was that it? Just a stupid coma? How long could a dumb coma last? There had to be more to it.
"For. . .how long?" I was straining to speak. Surely a coma couldn't have done this to me. . .?
"For the past six years."
~*~
I stared.
I stared because I was awaiting that strange, aged eye to suddenly start glimmering with concealed mirth, and that hidden mouth to suddenly speak to me, shouting how foolish I was to have believed him.
I stared because this was absolutely insane. I just couldn't have been in a coma for six years. It was just. . .insane!
And, after seeing no sudden outbreak of glee in Kakashi's eye, I not only realized this was insane, but it was also. . .true.
I felt my insides twisting into uncomfortable knots; my stomach was lurching, though I was unsure to how I could still have anything in there.
I looked at them all with pleading eyes. Pleading for them to tell me it was a joke, pleading for them to burst out laughing, pleading for them to do anything.
Except this.
I let my gaze float slowly from the three beings around me to the ceiling. I didn't know what to do. I didn't know what to feel. I was unsure how to react, how to behave to this new discovery.
I need to be left alone. . .go away. . .let me think. . .let me think about. . .hell I don't even know what to think about!
Inhaling in the least painful way I could muster, I managed to rasp out, "Go away."
It came out a lot harsher than I had initially intended it to. I sensed, rather than saw, both Iruka and Sakura flinch. I heard the drag of feet as three ninja exited the room I now occupied.
Six years. . .what am I going to do? I thought solemnly. All ability to speak, even if I was only going to speak to myself, had now abandoned me. My classmates. . .they are all ninja now. And me? I have the skill level of an ammature shinobi.
Why am I still alive? Why did that jump not kill me?
I closed my eyes. That would have killed anyone else.
You're forgetting the one thing about you that makes you so different, Naruto. A voice in my head nagged. The burden that you have carried with you since the day of your birth.
The fox demon. The. . .fox demon kept me alive! That damned beast kept me alive, just to spite me!
I felt fury explode inside of me, spreading quickly throughout my being. The one thing that I hate the most and that ruined my life is the one to save my life, when I don't even want to be saved!
Angry tears leaked from my eyes. "Dammit. . ." I whispered, voice shaking.
My mind pulsed silently as thoughts rushed through my head. I felt my eyelids getting heavier.
Eh. . .all this thinking has made me tired. . . I let my lids slide close, and soon I was lost in the world of the unconscious again.
~*~
It comes, it comes, fangs dripping, bloodied. Breath rancid, jaws tearing, flesh ripping.
Pain, blood, regret. Screams his last scream, breathes his last breath. Incoherent words escaping, trailing, dying.
I jolted awake, my heart doing an almost perfect imitation of a trapped rabbit. I would have thrown up again if anything has been in my stomach.
A shudder ran up and down my spine as my heart slowly but surely returned to it's normal pace.
Curiosity took over my shock and fear as I thought, why am I dreaming about this? Why Sasuke? Hey. . .where is Sasuke, anyhow?
I didn't waste much time on my ponderings. I glanced at the window. It seemed as if I had only blinked, but it was night already.
What am I going to do. . .?
~*~
I don't know when it was, but at some point I had fallen asleep, only to be prodded awake by someone, well. . .prodding me.
I let out a sleepy grunt, and cracked one eye to peer at my awakener.
Sakura peered down at me. She smiled broadly and said, "Oh, you're awake. I got a little worried that you'd fallen back into the coma, Naruto-kun."
Naruto-kun? When did it become Naruto-kun? Last time I checked, it was idiot not Naruto-kun
She smiled again at me and brought a bowl out from somewhere out of my range of sight. Seeing the bowl of food suddenly caused me to realize I was furiously hungry, and to add emphasis, my stomach let out a starved growl.
I tried to lift my arms, only to find that they would not budge. How was I going to eat if I couldn't move my arms?
As if hearing my thoughts, Sakura said brightly, "I'm going to feed you."
Whatever dignity I had left was stripped violently away from me once I heard her words. I should have been pouring joy that Sakura, the girl I had oh-so-adoringly drooled over for the majority of my childhood, was going to feed me.
And for some reason, I wasn't pouring joy.
As she carefully spooned the rice into my mouth, I had come to hate her touch, her smile, her looks. I did not know why. She was, indeed, an absolutely beautiful young woman, with gorgeous eyes, luscious curves, and perfect lips, but I just couldn't bring myself to return to my childhood crush.
"Where. . .is Sasuke?" I asked wearily, though I didn't feel in the least bit tired.
Sakura jumped when she heard me speak, then looked stiffly at me. She was hiding something.
"Eh. . .Sasuke-kun is. . .he is. . .not here right now. . ." she stuttered, blanching away from my gaze.
"Where. . .?" Dammit, I hate having to tap into my chi, which is weak already, to just talk !
Sakura's eyes twitched from die to side, as if she was looking for a way to escape.
And then I wondered vaguely. . .why was I questioning about Sasuke?
Just when I thought Sakura was about to explode, Kakashi entered the room. Immedeatly Sakura jumped up and scuttled from the room, winking at me. I mentally blanched.
Kakashi sat down where Sakura had. And then, he did something that completely blew my mind.
He lifted me, wedding-style, from my bed.
((A/N: No, this is *NOT* a KakaNaru.))
"W-What are you doing?" I demanded. I tried to sound harsh, but it really came out a tad dreamy and out-of-touch.
Kakashi looked at me calmly. "Well, you've been lying there for six years, Naruto. You can either lay in that bed for another six years, or you can let me help you."
"Help. . .?"
He looked at me, his single visible eye sparkling in amusement. "You never were a bright one, kiddo." Before I could object, however, he continued, "I'm going to teach you how to walk again."
Kind of ironic, that my old sensei was the one that would teach me how to walk again.
"I figured since you'd eaten you'd have a little more energy." Apparently he'd been walking while he was talking, and we were now in another room.
This room was much bigger than the last one. It was, to my dismay, white. Random objects were scattered over the floor: a ball the size of a chair, some elastic bands, some metal device, and a good few other things.
((A/N: * Perverted author is trying desperately not to think of how dirty that sounded*
Shibby: Baka hentai!
Author: Shaddap!))
Kakashi plopped me in a chair I had failed to notice (it was white), and walked over to a pantry I had failed to notice (you guessed it, white).
My head drooped forward as I sat there, planning on saving my energy. It was then, for the first time, I noticed that I was where what appeared to be a white dress.
"Kakashi sensei, what the hell am I wearing?!" Now this came out harsh and loud. Surprised, he looked at me, diverting his attention from the pantry.
"It's just a hospital gown, Naruto. Don't overreact." He said calmly.
"There is no way in hell I'm wearing a gown!" I wondered vaguely where I got all this energy from.
"Prance around naked, for all I care. It's either the gown or nothing at all." I scowled, which, seeing as my head was still sunk against my chest, was a completely wasted gesture, but said no more.
~*~
The 'workout', or 'physical therapy' as Kakashi calls it, was absolutely exhausting.
I lay staring at the ceiling above me. I wasn't supposed to got to sleep. Not yet, at least. Kakashi told me to stay awake long enough to eat my lunch, and that Iruka would be here soon with my food. A memory tugged at the back of my mind.
"Close your eyes, Naruto."
The young boy did so, sealing his eyelids shut. After a moment's pause, Iruka spoke up again.
"Alright. You can open your eyes now."
He did so and saw, to his amazement, that Iruka lacked his headband.
"Congrats, graduate."
A light smile tugged at the corner of my mouth at the memory of my graduation day, if you want to call it that.
"Naruto?" The same, fatherly voice from my memories broke the silence. I cast my eyes to the side to see the same, fatherly figure standing in the door way with the same, fatherly expression on his face.
"'Lo, Iruka-sensei." I called out, feigning an energetic voice (which was rather difficult, mind you).
He merely smiled at me with the same, fatherly smile as he set the bowl of rice on the nightstand.
I didn't talk much, I merely ate. Iruka, however, was blabbing a mile a minute. When I asked why he was talking so much, he told me it was 'occupational therapy'.
He continued to tell me of the occurances of the world I once knew, until the bowl of rice was empty. I was rather disappointed when he stood up to leave.
And then it hit me. Iruka hadn't said a single thing about Hokage.
With renewed vigor, I called out, "Iruka-sensei? What about Hokage?" My voice betrayed the pure curiosity behind my question.
For a moment I thought he was ignoring me. But, just as I opened my mouth again, he let out a sigh.
"I think it's best I don't tell you, Naruto."
"Eh?" I arched my brow, pushing myself upright. "What do you mean?"
Again, it looked like he was ignoring me. I felt a twinge of irritation at his antics, before he turned and smiled at me.
It was a smile that was faked, put up as a rampart so as not to betray what one is truly feeling. I knew of experience. He was happy, Lord only knew what Iruka was feeling.
But one thing's for sure. He didn't want me to find out.
"Go to sleep Naruto. I'll wake you for your dinner." Iruka's voice also bore that false cheeriness. It annoyed me to no end.
Before I could inquire him again, Iruka had left the room. With a huff, I realized I had no choice other than to sleep. I sunk back down to the pillow, glaring at the white interior surrounding me. The white soon turned to black as I felt my eyelids sliding shut, against my will.
~*~
I awoke, trembling violently and gasping. The nightmare was becoming a plague to my mind. With an involuntary whimper, I realized I was going to throw up again.
I dragged myself upright (it always seemed I had energy when I needed to hurl), surprised to see a garbage can next to the bed, yet grateful all the same.
Once I was through retching, I flopped back down on the bed, wiping my mouth weakly on my sheets. Screw hygene. . . I thought grumpily.
I merely lay there for about half an hour before Iruka entered the room. I saw his face briefly scrunch in disgust.
"Threw up." I informed him lamely, not exactly in the mood to eat anymore.
He nodded solemnly, setting my food (rice) on the nightstand and removing the offending garbage can from the room. He returned shortly after, sitting and picking up the rice once more.
"I'm not hungry." I told him.
"You have to eat, Naruto, whether you like it or not." He said sternly. I grunted, not impressed.
Iruka sighed, before saying again, his tone a little lighter, "Come on, please?" He smiled; not that fake smile, but an honest to goodness grin.
"Fine." I grunted again, a pout stealing across my lips.
Iruka was actually rather quite this time, as was I. That is until he stood to leave.
"What about Hokage?" I brought up the subject once again, hoping this time he'd answer me.
Instead, all I got was the same fake smile, along with the cheerfully fake words, "Go to sleep, Naruto. Sakura will be in tomorrow morning with your breakfast."
"But. . .I'm not tired!" I objected. My protest fell on deaf ears; he was already gone.
I stuck my tongue out at the doorway. "Old fart," I grunted, lying back down. My new insult only reminded me of Hokage.
Where is he? And then I remembered that, not only was the old man missing from the picture, but so was Sasuke. I had forgotten all about him.
I sighed. "This sucks."
~*~
I think this chapter was a little lest angsty, don't you? But don't worry. Angst will be in the next chapter (hopefully)!
TBC
Review!
~*~
"Naruto," he repeated for the third time. "You've been in a coma."
Oh. Was that it? Just a stupid coma? How long could a dumb coma last? There had to be more to it.
"For. . .how long?" I was straining to speak. Surely a coma couldn't have done this to me. . .?
"For the past six years."
~*~
I stared.
I stared because I was awaiting that strange, aged eye to suddenly start glimmering with concealed mirth, and that hidden mouth to suddenly speak to me, shouting how foolish I was to have believed him.
I stared because this was absolutely insane. I just couldn't have been in a coma for six years. It was just. . .insane!
And, after seeing no sudden outbreak of glee in Kakashi's eye, I not only realized this was insane, but it was also. . .true.
I felt my insides twisting into uncomfortable knots; my stomach was lurching, though I was unsure to how I could still have anything in there.
I looked at them all with pleading eyes. Pleading for them to tell me it was a joke, pleading for them to burst out laughing, pleading for them to do anything.
Except this.
I let my gaze float slowly from the three beings around me to the ceiling. I didn't know what to do. I didn't know what to feel. I was unsure how to react, how to behave to this new discovery.
I need to be left alone. . .go away. . .let me think. . .let me think about. . .hell I don't even know what to think about!
Inhaling in the least painful way I could muster, I managed to rasp out, "Go away."
It came out a lot harsher than I had initially intended it to. I sensed, rather than saw, both Iruka and Sakura flinch. I heard the drag of feet as three ninja exited the room I now occupied.
Six years. . .what am I going to do? I thought solemnly. All ability to speak, even if I was only going to speak to myself, had now abandoned me. My classmates. . .they are all ninja now. And me? I have the skill level of an ammature shinobi.
Why am I still alive? Why did that jump not kill me?
I closed my eyes. That would have killed anyone else.
You're forgetting the one thing about you that makes you so different, Naruto. A voice in my head nagged. The burden that you have carried with you since the day of your birth.
The fox demon. The. . .fox demon kept me alive! That damned beast kept me alive, just to spite me!
I felt fury explode inside of me, spreading quickly throughout my being. The one thing that I hate the most and that ruined my life is the one to save my life, when I don't even want to be saved!
Angry tears leaked from my eyes. "Dammit. . ." I whispered, voice shaking.
My mind pulsed silently as thoughts rushed through my head. I felt my eyelids getting heavier.
Eh. . .all this thinking has made me tired. . . I let my lids slide close, and soon I was lost in the world of the unconscious again.
~*~
It comes, it comes, fangs dripping, bloodied. Breath rancid, jaws tearing, flesh ripping.
Pain, blood, regret. Screams his last scream, breathes his last breath. Incoherent words escaping, trailing, dying.
I jolted awake, my heart doing an almost perfect imitation of a trapped rabbit. I would have thrown up again if anything has been in my stomach.
A shudder ran up and down my spine as my heart slowly but surely returned to it's normal pace.
Curiosity took over my shock and fear as I thought, why am I dreaming about this? Why Sasuke? Hey. . .where is Sasuke, anyhow?
I didn't waste much time on my ponderings. I glanced at the window. It seemed as if I had only blinked, but it was night already.
What am I going to do. . .?
~*~
I don't know when it was, but at some point I had fallen asleep, only to be prodded awake by someone, well. . .prodding me.
I let out a sleepy grunt, and cracked one eye to peer at my awakener.
Sakura peered down at me. She smiled broadly and said, "Oh, you're awake. I got a little worried that you'd fallen back into the coma, Naruto-kun."
Naruto-kun? When did it become Naruto-kun? Last time I checked, it was idiot not Naruto-kun
She smiled again at me and brought a bowl out from somewhere out of my range of sight. Seeing the bowl of food suddenly caused me to realize I was furiously hungry, and to add emphasis, my stomach let out a starved growl.
I tried to lift my arms, only to find that they would not budge. How was I going to eat if I couldn't move my arms?
As if hearing my thoughts, Sakura said brightly, "I'm going to feed you."
Whatever dignity I had left was stripped violently away from me once I heard her words. I should have been pouring joy that Sakura, the girl I had oh-so-adoringly drooled over for the majority of my childhood, was going to feed me.
And for some reason, I wasn't pouring joy.
As she carefully spooned the rice into my mouth, I had come to hate her touch, her smile, her looks. I did not know why. She was, indeed, an absolutely beautiful young woman, with gorgeous eyes, luscious curves, and perfect lips, but I just couldn't bring myself to return to my childhood crush.
"Where. . .is Sasuke?" I asked wearily, though I didn't feel in the least bit tired.
Sakura jumped when she heard me speak, then looked stiffly at me. She was hiding something.
"Eh. . .Sasuke-kun is. . .he is. . .not here right now. . ." she stuttered, blanching away from my gaze.
"Where. . .?" Dammit, I hate having to tap into my chi, which is weak already, to just talk !
Sakura's eyes twitched from die to side, as if she was looking for a way to escape.
And then I wondered vaguely. . .why was I questioning about Sasuke?
Just when I thought Sakura was about to explode, Kakashi entered the room. Immedeatly Sakura jumped up and scuttled from the room, winking at me. I mentally blanched.
Kakashi sat down where Sakura had. And then, he did something that completely blew my mind.
He lifted me, wedding-style, from my bed.
((A/N: No, this is *NOT* a KakaNaru.))
"W-What are you doing?" I demanded. I tried to sound harsh, but it really came out a tad dreamy and out-of-touch.
Kakashi looked at me calmly. "Well, you've been lying there for six years, Naruto. You can either lay in that bed for another six years, or you can let me help you."
"Help. . .?"
He looked at me, his single visible eye sparkling in amusement. "You never were a bright one, kiddo." Before I could object, however, he continued, "I'm going to teach you how to walk again."
Kind of ironic, that my old sensei was the one that would teach me how to walk again.
"I figured since you'd eaten you'd have a little more energy." Apparently he'd been walking while he was talking, and we were now in another room.
This room was much bigger than the last one. It was, to my dismay, white. Random objects were scattered over the floor: a ball the size of a chair, some elastic bands, some metal device, and a good few other things.
((A/N: * Perverted author is trying desperately not to think of how dirty that sounded*
Shibby: Baka hentai!
Author: Shaddap!))
Kakashi plopped me in a chair I had failed to notice (it was white), and walked over to a pantry I had failed to notice (you guessed it, white).
My head drooped forward as I sat there, planning on saving my energy. It was then, for the first time, I noticed that I was where what appeared to be a white dress.
"Kakashi sensei, what the hell am I wearing?!" Now this came out harsh and loud. Surprised, he looked at me, diverting his attention from the pantry.
"It's just a hospital gown, Naruto. Don't overreact." He said calmly.
"There is no way in hell I'm wearing a gown!" I wondered vaguely where I got all this energy from.
"Prance around naked, for all I care. It's either the gown or nothing at all." I scowled, which, seeing as my head was still sunk against my chest, was a completely wasted gesture, but said no more.
~*~
The 'workout', or 'physical therapy' as Kakashi calls it, was absolutely exhausting.
I lay staring at the ceiling above me. I wasn't supposed to got to sleep. Not yet, at least. Kakashi told me to stay awake long enough to eat my lunch, and that Iruka would be here soon with my food. A memory tugged at the back of my mind.
"Close your eyes, Naruto."
The young boy did so, sealing his eyelids shut. After a moment's pause, Iruka spoke up again.
"Alright. You can open your eyes now."
He did so and saw, to his amazement, that Iruka lacked his headband.
"Congrats, graduate."
A light smile tugged at the corner of my mouth at the memory of my graduation day, if you want to call it that.
"Naruto?" The same, fatherly voice from my memories broke the silence. I cast my eyes to the side to see the same, fatherly figure standing in the door way with the same, fatherly expression on his face.
"'Lo, Iruka-sensei." I called out, feigning an energetic voice (which was rather difficult, mind you).
He merely smiled at me with the same, fatherly smile as he set the bowl of rice on the nightstand.
I didn't talk much, I merely ate. Iruka, however, was blabbing a mile a minute. When I asked why he was talking so much, he told me it was 'occupational therapy'.
He continued to tell me of the occurances of the world I once knew, until the bowl of rice was empty. I was rather disappointed when he stood up to leave.
And then it hit me. Iruka hadn't said a single thing about Hokage.
With renewed vigor, I called out, "Iruka-sensei? What about Hokage?" My voice betrayed the pure curiosity behind my question.
For a moment I thought he was ignoring me. But, just as I opened my mouth again, he let out a sigh.
"I think it's best I don't tell you, Naruto."
"Eh?" I arched my brow, pushing myself upright. "What do you mean?"
Again, it looked like he was ignoring me. I felt a twinge of irritation at his antics, before he turned and smiled at me.
It was a smile that was faked, put up as a rampart so as not to betray what one is truly feeling. I knew of experience. He was happy, Lord only knew what Iruka was feeling.
But one thing's for sure. He didn't want me to find out.
"Go to sleep Naruto. I'll wake you for your dinner." Iruka's voice also bore that false cheeriness. It annoyed me to no end.
Before I could inquire him again, Iruka had left the room. With a huff, I realized I had no choice other than to sleep. I sunk back down to the pillow, glaring at the white interior surrounding me. The white soon turned to black as I felt my eyelids sliding shut, against my will.
~*~
I awoke, trembling violently and gasping. The nightmare was becoming a plague to my mind. With an involuntary whimper, I realized I was going to throw up again.
I dragged myself upright (it always seemed I had energy when I needed to hurl), surprised to see a garbage can next to the bed, yet grateful all the same.
Once I was through retching, I flopped back down on the bed, wiping my mouth weakly on my sheets. Screw hygene. . . I thought grumpily.
I merely lay there for about half an hour before Iruka entered the room. I saw his face briefly scrunch in disgust.
"Threw up." I informed him lamely, not exactly in the mood to eat anymore.
He nodded solemnly, setting my food (rice) on the nightstand and removing the offending garbage can from the room. He returned shortly after, sitting and picking up the rice once more.
"I'm not hungry." I told him.
"You have to eat, Naruto, whether you like it or not." He said sternly. I grunted, not impressed.
Iruka sighed, before saying again, his tone a little lighter, "Come on, please?" He smiled; not that fake smile, but an honest to goodness grin.
"Fine." I grunted again, a pout stealing across my lips.
Iruka was actually rather quite this time, as was I. That is until he stood to leave.
"What about Hokage?" I brought up the subject once again, hoping this time he'd answer me.
Instead, all I got was the same fake smile, along with the cheerfully fake words, "Go to sleep, Naruto. Sakura will be in tomorrow morning with your breakfast."
"But. . .I'm not tired!" I objected. My protest fell on deaf ears; he was already gone.
I stuck my tongue out at the doorway. "Old fart," I grunted, lying back down. My new insult only reminded me of Hokage.
Where is he? And then I remembered that, not only was the old man missing from the picture, but so was Sasuke. I had forgotten all about him.
I sighed. "This sucks."
~*~
I think this chapter was a little lest angsty, don't you? But don't worry. Angst will be in the next chapter (hopefully)!
TBC
Review!