The Reconciliation

By: Chan Yoruyamatiha

Sorewa Bonsaku...

Okay, I lied!!  This chapter didn't go up as soon as I though.  Sorry!  You all still love me, don't you?  :)

Uchiha-Sasuke: KEVIN!!  No, you can't leave me!!  :*(  You know we all love you!  All of us who read your beautiful fics!  Especially the Naruto ones, and what about Sakura's Story?  NOOOO!!!  This is so depressing...  How could you do this to us!?

DeNice: You'll soon find out why Akuma was after Sakura.  Very soon, indeed.  Will Sakura live, or will she die?  Read on!

Kikoken: I know, it was so saddening.  At least Akuma's dead.  ^_^  Last time I checked up on him, he was in Miguel Gama's story Capcom U doing the Mexican Hat Dance...  O_O;;

Tornado:  Thanks for those story ideas that you emailed me!  Excellent suggestions, you would make a great writer.  If you ever want to publish, I will proofread your work for you and correct your errors anytime.  Yep, that last chapter was dramatic.  But hey, I'm a dramatic person, ne?

Miguel Gama: Yeah, I was shocked when I saw Akuma doing the Mexican Hat Dance.  But now he's dead.  ^_^  I would like to hear your suggestions on a new humor fanfic.  And thanks again for reading this story!  I'm glad that it caught your interest.  Hey... what if Akuma was Mexican...?

CMK TacTican: I'm going to get back at you one day.  You know too much for your own good.  ^^  Anyway, Mitsukake IS a wimp.  He needs to be more... how do you say... masculine...!  *runs away from Mitsukake who is trying to stab her with a kitchen knife*

Blue-Eyes Knight: Yep, the drama, the drama!  Here's an update again.  Hey, I've been lacking cliffhangers lately.  Do you think I should terrorize people with cliffhangers like I usually do?

CrimsonThought: Onee-chan!  Woah, you read the whole thing just now from chapter one.  Thanks for reading it!  Heh, Mitsukake is annoying, isn't he?  Lol, I guess that's the way he's supposed to be.  Well, now here's the next chapter!  Enjoy, and don't forget to work on that fic we were discussing!  ;)

Fle: Yay, you returned.  I thought you had given up on me!  Here's the next chapter, after a long wait.  ^_~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 19 - Prolouge

*A week later...*



Mitsukake sat in his assigned seat in his third period class, gazing out the window silently.  Ever once in a while, he made eye contact with his teacher, just to show her that he was interested in her lessons about biochemisty, but his thoughts were elsewhere from the classroom.  The warm sunlight shone in through the windows onto his face and desk, making him sleepy.  He stared down at his desk at his pencil, seemingly hypnotized by the way the light reflected back off of the metal clasp holding the eraser down at the top.

His thoughts shifted from his pencil to his notes, then to the thing that mattered most to him.  As much as he tried, he could not get her off his mind.  It had been only a day since he had last seen her beautiful face, been it had been a week since she had seen his.  This depressed Mitsukake.  He thought about her constantly, lying unconscious in that hospital bed. 

Mitsukake reflected on the events of a week ago.  Ryu and he had rushed Sakura to the hospital, straight into the emergency room.  She was still in the hospital, even now.  She was lying in that cold bed, alone, and in a coma.

Tears stung at his eyes, and he tried with all his strength to think of something else, but the thought would not leave his mind, no matter how hard he tried.  Frowning, Mitsukake turned his head to stare out the window at the swaying trees. 

("Sakura...")

A sharp rapping noise on his desk caught his attention, and he met the cold, gray eyes of his Biochemisty teacher who was frowning down at him. 


"Would you like to express your thoughts in an three-page essay, Mr. Kagatoshi?  Then I suggest that you pay attention!" his teacher snarled down at him, her obvious dislike for him flashing in her squinted old eyes.

"SHUT UP!!" roared Mitsukake, retorting.  "YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M DEALING WITH, SO LEAVE ME ALONE!!!"

The class, which had been softly humming with noise, fell dead silent; it seemed as if the party had come to an abrupt close.  Mitsukake's teacher gaped at him, her gray eyebrows raised and her mouth hanging open in shock. 

Mitsukake glared up at her from beneath his chestnut-colored bangs, the heat rising in his face.  It wasn't quite from embarrassment, but more from outrage and sorrow.  After several seconds of confused and angry silence, his teacher grabbed him by the arm and lifted him out of his seat.

"Detention... NOW... for... the... rest... of... the... week!!!" bellowed his elderly teacher, who was not accustomed to people questioning her authority.

Mitsukake shot her one more defiant glare before storming out of the room, slamming the door behind him.  Silently, he stomed down the hallway into the detention room, where the supervisor glared at him.

"Well, you're a new face here..." he hissed at Mitsukake, who took a seat in the very back of the room.  The desk seemed cold and rigid, and there was a slight draft in the air.  Obviously, the school intentionally made the conditions of the detention room detestable for all of the detentionees.  Sighing frustratedly, Mitsukake opened a large, old textbook and began to do the punishment assignment on the board.

* * *

Kei sat in the hospital beside Sakura's bed, unshed tears glistening in her eyes, burning them.  She said not a word, but sat in a small chair, holding her best friend's motionless hand.  Soft, silky sunlight poured into the room onto Kei and Sakura, bringing warmth to them.  Kei could feel the soothing sunlight, but it seemed to turn colder when she thought about how her best friend could not feel it.

Before she came in, Kei had heard the doctors talking in the next room.  She over heard comments like, "Vegetable" and "Pull the plug?" and "She hadn't even begun to enjoy life".  Although naive as she was, Kei knew what those comments meant.  She didn't have to think about them or define them.  They assumed that Sakura was just as well off dead. 

What was going to happen?  Surely they wouldn't just let Sakura go?  It would be so stone-hearted and cruel.  There was always the slim chance that Sakura could come back, whether they believed it or not.

Silently, Kei reflected back upon what Sakura's mother had said.  She remembered Mrs. Kasugano throwing herself down upon her knees beside her still daughter's bed, sobbing madly.  Mrs. Kasugano demanded that they let her baby live and to do all that they could to save her.  That's a mother's love, Kei thought.

Kei rose from her chair slowly, fluttering her eyelashes against the sunlight.  She soundlessly walked over to the bouquet of sunflowers that she had brought for Sakura and rearranged them, putting the freshest ones to the outside edges of the vase.  Sunflowers were a symbol of happy days and joy, Kei assured herself.  They should be a reminder of the times she spent with Sakura, like the many sleepovers, the parties, the concerts, the water park visits with Mitsukake....

Mitsukake.

Kei twisted her mouth slightly.  She knew that he loved Sakura with all his heart, and realized how hard this must be on him.  Kei herself had never been in a serious romantic relationship herself, and the girls teased her and told her she was so ugly that no guy would ever want her.  But with Sakura, it had always been different.  There were several guys at the school who liked strong, independent women like Sakura and not fragile, dependent, emotional ones like Kei.  Even though people often told Kei that she was living in Sakura's shadow, she did not believe it herself.  Kei was proud to have Sakura as her best friend.

Gently, Kei patted Sakura's hand and turned to leave the room.  She would come back at the same time tomorrow and visit Sakura, and possibly stop by the florist again to pick up some more flowers. 

Kei's hand touched the doorknob of the door, but then stopped.  She felt an uneasy feeling in her stomach, and a crease folded itself into her forehead as she concentrated on being absolutely silent.  Slowly, Kei turned around and saw slight movement on the hospital bed, and her eyes widened considerably as she saw Sakura scratching her head. 

Kei's wide brown eyes suddenly stung and filled with tears.  Her feet kept her frozen in place as she gaped at her best friend wordlessly, the realization flooding her mind and sending her into a mental whirlwind of ecstasy.

"Sa...?" A hoarse voice journeyed out of her constricted throat as her pale face began to flush with happiness.  Kei reached out a hand as Sakura painstakingly turned her head and fixed a blank gaze at her. 

WHAM.

"WHAT!?!?!"

Mitsukake stood at the doorway, panting like a mad dog.  His arm was still extended from where he had slammed the door open.  Poor Kei had dodged just in time from getting mashed by the door, and was casting a very sour look at Mitsu for ruining her moment. 

Slightly embarrassed, Mitsu grinned and scratched his brown-honey-colored hair.  His gaze didn't linger on Kei, though.  His wide hazel eyes quickly turned over to where Sakura lay on the still, white hospital bed.  The sun's rays glistened down on her dark brown hair, illuminating it with seeming auburn highlights.  Her eyes, while dreary and unexpressive, seemed to also be illuminated by the sunlight as she turned them up to Mitsukake's face.

Mitsukake's heart, already pounding from his sprint from the Detention Room to Koui Hospital, leapt up into his throat and seemed to choke him.  He felt immobilized when he saw her looking at him with such blankness, but then another emotion caused him to loosen up.  Warmth spread throughout his limbs and chest, and the familiar flutter returned to his stomach that he felt whenever she looked at him directly and wordlessly. 

Slowly, he unloosened his seeming paralysis and staggered over to Sakura's bedside.  He sank to his knees on the floor, and rested his arms on the edge of the bed, depressing it slightly. 

Sakura's haunting, slightly surprised eyes blinked several times as she gaped at him, her chocolate bangs falling over her eyes slightly.  She seemed pale, and her mouth was slightly open with surprise.  With a lot of effort, Sakura lifted herself from the bed into a sitting position.  Being so frail after a week of sleep, she shivered and swayed slightly as though intoxicated.

Mitsu gently steadied her with his arms, and gave her a small smile.  A brightness suddenly caused her eyes to flicker with interest, like gasoline feeding a flame.  On Mitsukake's lips played a small, shy smile.  His arms helped support her and held her propped up, and he elevated himself to sit on the very edge of the small bed.

Both of their almond-shaped eyes locked together in a steady gaze.  At that instant, Sakura smiled as well.  Salty, hot tears stung her eyes and blinded her until she released them, and they dripped down onto her chest.  Each drop left a small, damp impression on her shirt, until Mitsukake let them drip onto the palm of his hand. 

"Welcome back, Sakura..." whispered Mitsukake, nuzzling her face gently and affectionately. 

Sakura blinked her eyes and squinted slightly, trying to clear the image she was seeing.  Her heart began to beat faster, and blood began to circulate more freely than it had in days.  Strength spread through her body to her limbs, and it was as though someone has flipped the "on" switch for her body.  Letting out a cry of joy, Sakura flung her arms around Mitsukake's neck and laughed.

Kei stood quietly, smiling at the occasion.  She was unaware of one other person standing by her side, and it took her a few minutes to recognize that indeed, Ryu was also witnessing the moment. 

Kei glanced beside her and saw Ryu, watching the scene before them, his dark eyes hinting amusement and happiness.  Ryu looked down at her and smiled in a friendly manner, and Kei did the same.  Both of them watched Mitsukake and Sakura embracing, sobbing, and recognizing their true feelings. 

"So this is how all of this ends..." commented Kei, crossing her arms behind her back and tapping the floor with the toe of her left foot. 

"Not just yet..." Ryu stated before walking over to the bedside quietly. 

Mitsukake and Sakura looked up at Ryu as their tears began drying on their faces.  Mitsu looked emotionless at the sight of Ryu, but Sakura smiled lightly. 

"I've finally found it, Ryu..." Sakura said softly, smiling shyly.

"Yes, you have.  So it wasn't me after all," he teased, reaching a hand out to ruffle Sakura's dark hair. 

Mitsukake and Ryu then locked eyes, and the two suddenly came to realize an understanding.  Ryu reached a hand over to Mitsukake, who accepted it as a handshake.  Both of them gave the other a small nod, but it was not a cold one.  Sakura smiled slightly, and softly sighed.

Kei's eyes, brimming with tears, closed and reopened slowly.  She sighed.

"Look how those two reconciled..." she whispered to herself, a small smile curving her soft pink lips as well. 

As all four friends, some old and some new, smiled, a sweet new emotion overcame Mitsukake.  Taking Sakura up in his loving arms, he held her not tightly nor loosely, but in an adequate embrace of sweet affection.  His hazel-colored eyes not only showed off his warm, naturally agreeable nature, but also the dreamlike ecstasy that only a first love can give...

 ~ ~ ~


The End

Ah, I always love writing candy-sweet endings.  I think this one suits Mitsu and Sakura, no?  Hope everyone liked this one.  From the beginning to the end, this story shows how my writing talents have matured and grown.  Thanks everyone for reviewing and such, it meant a lot.  Hmm... I'm making this sound too sad...  Don't worry; new ideas will come again from me!  Don't forget to review, please!

Wait, there will be ONE MORE chapter!  Yes, that's right.  I'm going to be so bold as to add a "Bloopers" chapter!  ^_^  It will be my attempt at humor, so please enjoy!

Much love,

Chan Yoruyamatiha