Note:
Not as angsty as the other chapters, more romance actually. Well, angsty in the end I guess. Sugar has finally taken effect. As all of you in fandom know, I do not own anything. Kishimoto-sama does. Well except the original characters.
The chapter is probably the longest one I've ever written. It's really long. No kidding.
Please have the patience to read it.
To justsomenobody, no, there will be no sweet Sasuke in this fic. Well I wouldn't describe him as sweet and swooning over Sakura-chan. He's just empathic (can't say more, he never was empathic), more mature and more sensible in this fic. (More human too)
To Sakura-Girl-2005, does making you cry a good thing or bad thing? Thanks for reviewing.
When the Snow Melts..
Chapter VI
Fate's Cruel Joke
Sounds of the ocean meeting the shore, the sound of sea gulls, preying upon the abundant fish in the shore, the feeling of coarse sand brushing in her face- even if Sakura's body nearly shut down, her senses were ever alert to her surroundings. She tried to roll on her back but halted when a sharp piercing pain radiated from her abdomen.
'I'm not dead?'
The last thing she could remember was they were in a mission, in Fire country when they were ambushed. They fought them off, nearly finishing the Ame missing nin when she got stabbed in her stomach. She vaguely remembered Naruto's scream when she had.. when she had gotten pierced again on her side. Then.. Then..
"Hey, are you all right!"
A deep concerned voice spoke resounded in her mind before everything went stark black.
Sunlight streamed through the parted curtains, warming a certain woman's face. Sounds of hushed voices could be heard, finally bringing her to the realm of consciousness. She blinked once, twice before her vision could adjust to the light. Two hazy figures stood near the bedside, one of which appeared to be speaking to her.
"Are you all right, Miss?"
The kind, gentle womanly voice asked.
Using her elbows for support, she leaned up the bed before falling below again due her aching sore muscles.
'Ouch.. Where am I?'
Confusion swept her face as she tried to recollect the previous events that took place.
'Pain..Got hurt..Stabbed..Naruto.. Mission!'
Confusion turned into alarm and she struggled to sit properly to assess her situation. She lifted her head to stare at a woman before her, dressed in a dark blue kimono with white prints of cammelias on the hem and neckline. Her hair was the color of fudge, flowing past her shoulders up to her waist. She looked like they were the same age, if not older than her by a few years. A pair of concerned amber orbs locked with her emerald ones.
"It's all right. We won't hurt you. Your wounds have been healed but your muscles are still a bit sore. It would be a few days before you can move freely."
She sensed nothing but genuine concern for her welfare and she lowered her guard a bit.
'Where the heck am I?'
She looked at her surroundings, she was lying on a four poster bed placed near the windows. The room was huge, decorated in wooden embellishments and shades of blue, black and white seemed to dominate the place. Seeing that mere observation will not produce an answer to her previous question, she voiced it out. Her voice sounded hoarse and fatigued, due to her state of unconsciousness for the past week.
"Where am I?"
The woman smiled at her gently, at the same time motioning the other woman behind her to come closer.
"You are at the Ryuuzaki compound, in the Hidden Village of Mist."
Sakura's eyes widened with shock and alarm; the woman turned to face the other, who was dressed in a modest kimono who appeared to be a servant.
"Kindly prepare and bring up something for our guest to eat, Akane."
"Hai."
The woman bowed to her mistress before disappearing out to the hallway.
"My son brought you here a few days ago. He has told me that he found you by the shore. Oh, I haven't introduced myself yet. My name is Ryuuzaki Tsubaki. May I know what your name is?"
Tsubaki smiled at her politely, waiting for her reply. Never in Sakura's life did she ever feel so rude, so without thinking first, she blurted her name.
"Haruno desu. Haruno Sakura."
'Wait.. I'm in Mist.. Shit.. This definitely means trouble.'
Sakura's thoughts were running amok, listing all the reasons of how she had wound up in Mist. The village has been an ally of Konoha during the past but as of the past year, the relationship between the shinobi villages had become shaky, making the shinobi from the respective villages not at all friendly with each other.
"What a pretty name, and it suits you perfectly too."
She smiled at the woman weakly, not betraying the doubts and worries over her current predicament.
She stroked her forehead absently and to her inordinate shock, there was something missing.
"Are you looking for your protector? It's in the bedside table."
Tsubaki was still smiling, not a single trace of enmity in her voice. At this point, Sakura was at loss for words. She did not appear to be a shinobi, she was just a civilian.
'Maybe she doesn't know the hostilities between the countries… No, that's stupid, everyone knows that a war is practically in the making. But why am I here? Not in a dungeon or something..'
"Don't worry, everything will be all right. As of the moment, my son is speaking with the Mizukage."
Tsubaki spoke thoughtfully, not noticing the look of discomfort that was on the pink haired lady in front of her.
"Your food is here, Sakura-san. I will leave you for a while and should there be anything you need, feel free to ask Akane. She would be staying here to assist you in any way.".
"Hai. Arigatou, Ryuuzaki-san. But I am much imposing on your kindness; Akane-san does not have to stay here."
'She can go so I can escape quietly without having to knock anyone out.'
Being the ever gracious host, Tsubaki shook her head at the suggestion.
"Of course not, Sakura-san, you are our guest, she will stay with you. And please, call me Tsubaki."
At that moment, she could not bring herself to think ill of the kind woman; she simply settled for a nod.
"And my son will meet you in the afternoon; he was so worried when he brought you here. I'll see you later, Sakura-san."
Tsubaki closed the room with a soft click and Sakura and Akane were left alone.
She ate the meal quietly while the servant looked at her with interest.
"Would you like another serving, Haruno-san? I could go down to the kitchens for you."
"No thank you Akane-san. On second thought, I'll take you on that offer. I am still a bit hungry."
Akane smiled and stood up, getting the tray of her lap. The moment she left the room, Sakura stood up, with one hand on the bed post to keep her steady.
'Damn it, I'm still too weak.'
She took off her nemaki, in favor of her freshly washed and sewn red cheongsam and black shorts which were placed on top of the vanity table. She grabbed her hitai-ate and did a quick scan off the room for her weapons. Her holster was placed on another table.
'Missing a few kunai and shuriken but still intact.'
Akane returned later to the room to find the windows open, curtains blown by the breeze and their guest nowhere in sight.
Despite the injuries she sustained, Sakura's body was still capable of jumping from one rooftop to another, thanks to her training-from-hell by Tsunade and a large amount of chakra placed on her feet.
'Which way do I go? This place is so fricking big!'
It would be normal if the shinobi of the village would spot a figure jumping from one place to another in broad daylight, after all, most of the people here were shinobi; however the issue of the absence of a Mist forehead protector would definitely arouse suspicion. Having conjured up the thought, Sakura settled for blending in with the villagers, hiding in plain sight. She could see the village gate from where she was standing, so she quickened her pace.
'I'll just use a concealment jutsu to hide, and then I'll wait till someone goes out of the village, and then..'
Her thoughts were disturbed by someone who was apparently being hysterical.
"What do you mean that there are no medic-nin's on duty! She got hurt on the mission and you can't do anything about it?"
A blonde man was shouting at a person dressed in white, probably a medic-nin or judging the situation, a student medic-nin.
"I didn't say that there were no medic-nin's here, it's just that Takashi-sensei went out for a while and will be back later. The other medic-nins are out in missions but I can help her, until sensei arrives."
A look of doubt crossed the man's features but relented.
Sakura's eyes narrowed to get a clearer look of the figure.
'Breathing too slow, too shallow. Pallor present. Multiple wounds and lacerations on the body. Bleeding profusely.'
Sakura reached the conclusion that if not attended to immediately, the wounds will prove to be fatal due to the loss of blood. Knowing that the student was indeed incompetent, judging by the nervousness as evidenced by his trembling, the woman may indeed die.
She looked at the gates which were opened and back at the woman in the man's arms. With a sigh she walked towards the chaotic group, her mind chanting annoyingly.
'I am so going to regret this.'
She was met by the shaking figure of the student and the panicking blue eyes of the man. He reminded her of someone. Shaking off unnecessary thoughts for a moment, she said in the calmest and most professional voice she could muster.
"I'm a medic-nin and I think I could help. It's not like you have a choice in the matter anyway, she might die from blood loss if we don't attend to her immediately. And I won't take no for an answer. Let's bring her inside."
Enemy or not, a life is a life and as she swore under her oath, she would do anything in her power to save as many as she could.
'Damn conscience.'
The two pairs of eyes looked at her in disbelief. The golden haired man nodded and carried the woman who was limp in his arms inside the clinic.
They watched her as she worked on the patient, hands glowing green as her chakra rushed to it. One by one she closed the wounds on her abdomen and legs, before healing the broken bones.
She looked at the student medic-nin who was assisting in the procedure.
"Vital signs monitoring every hour. A pack of fresh whole blood to be infused in 12 hours. 1 liter of D5NSSl to be infused in 8 hours. We have to hydrate her, she lost too much.."
The world turned black again as she exhausted her chakra.
Her eyes fluttered open, to find herself again, on where she was hours before. The Ryuuzaki residence.
'Dammit.'
She sighed wistfully at the situation.
"Seems to me that every time we see each other, you're out cold."
Her head snapped towards the source of the highly amused but familiar voice. Silver eyes gazed at her and she couldn't help but blush at his unwarranted but veritable observation.
"Hey, I didn't mean to offend you."
He scratched the back of his head. Obviously, Sakura wasn't the only one who found the situation awkward.
"I was on the way back here when I heard that one of my friends got hurt in a mission and was at the clinic. The hospital is at the other end of the village so I guess Kyosuke settled for the clinic. Anyway, when I got there, I saw you being held by one of the student medic-nins. Poor kid almost had a break down. And then Takashi came back and checked up on you and on her. He said you fainted due to chakra exhaustion but the patient is okay. Thanks to you."
He looked at Sakura who was staring at the bed sheets, eyes hidden behind her bangs.
'I am SO DEAD.. They'll probably execute me. Or feed me to sharks. Or keep me for ransom. Or squeeze information from me. Look at the bright side Sakura, at least she's alive. Okay, what's the escape plan? I can bind him with a jutsu! Nah, not enough chakra. Or create a genjutsu! Nah, not enough chakra. Or punch him in the gut so hard he'd faint! Nah, not enough cha-'
Her thoughts were thrown out the window when a warm hand brushed her bangs from her eyes and settled on her forehead. She looked up to see a pair of metallic silver orbs filled with worry. Long soft locks of midnight blue framed his porcelain face, cherry red lips set in frown. He was dressed in a black shirt, with the neckline of his mesh shirt peeking beneath, a shuriken holster was tied tightly in his black plants clad legs. With her eyes, she traced his right arm before coming to rest at the back of his right hand which had two blue orb tattoos before returning to his face. After her long and calculated observation, Sakura had come to the conclusion that the man was indeed, gorgeous.
'Focus Sakura, focus dammit!'
Before she spoke, the rays of the setting sun reflected at something in his left arm. A forehead protector. A Mist forehead protector.
'I AM DEAD'
Seeing the look of worry wash over the woman's face, the man followed the direction her eyes were looking at.
"The forehead protector?"
Sakura was snapped back immediately into reality.
"Hey, don't worry; I've already spoken to Mizukage-sama. Besides, after what you did for one of our shinobi, he is practically, no, we are practically indebted to you. We'll see him tomorrow so you can speak to him yourself."
He gave her a reassuring look and squeezed her hand for comfort.
Inappropriate you might say, but at the moment, a delicate blush was on Sakura's cheeks. She couldn't help but believe him. Sakura was not the gullible little girl that she was during her genin days. She was 18 now for hokage's sake. She has become good at reading people as well as she could mask her emotions. But try as she might, she could not find a single thing to doubt the man before her. And to top it all off, he made sense. Surely the Mizukage would be more tolerable with her; after all she did save that woman.
'Chalk one up for conscience'
He was wondering why the woman still hasn't spoken yet when he noticed the blush on her cheeks and along with that, his hand that was covering hers. He hastily removed his hand and like Sakura, scarlet tinged his cheeks as well.
The door opened and standing there was Tsubaki, with worry filled eyes.
"I thought something bad has happened to you Sakura-san. We looked for you in the village. When we came back here, you were already in the bed with Yukito by your bedside."
Sakura looked like a child caught red handed with doing something bad at that moment. Then something registered in her brain. She looked at Tsubaki who was now standing beside Yukito who was sitting in a chair, then at the man himself.
Tsubaki looked at her son then at Sakura.
"You might have forgotten to introduce yourself dear. It is the first time that she has seen you."
Yukito looked into her eyes and with a smile on his face, spoke in his deep baritone voice.
"My name is Ryuuzaki Yukito, and you are? You do realize that I'm the only one who spoke for the past few minutes."
He winked at her and Sakura flushed in embarrassment.
"I'm Haruno Sakura. You must be the one who saved me, Ryuuzaki-san."
She stood up and bowed to him respectfully
"Arigatou gozaimasu."
She sat on top of the covers. Yukito beamed at her.
"No problem at all Sakura-san. Don't call me Ryuuzaki-san, Just Yukito. I'm not that old. How old are you, Sakura-san?"
"I'm eighteen Ryuuzaki-san."
He scratched the back of his head again and he spoke a bit gravely.
"I'm twenty-four. But that doesn't make me old, right okaa-sama?"
Tsubaki nodded then smiled at Sakura.
"Are you hungry, Sakura-san? And please, feel welcome to stay here. You shouldn't run off in your condition."
She nodded sheepishly. She tried to keep her eyes open, but was failing miserably.
"You're still tired Sakura-san."
Yukito stood up and moved towards her. Without a word, his arms scooped her up and placed her on a lying position in the bed. He moved the covers and tucked her in. She went out like a match.
"Sleep well, Sakura-san."
Her palms were sweating. She could feel her body tense up. Who wouldn't, when you're meeting the head of what could possibly be one of the enemy of your villages. Granted that he could also get her killed in a whim, or torture her until she gives information about Konoha.
But with the last statement echoing in her mind, she thought without preamble, she would rather die first than betray Konoha.
They were standing in front of a large oak door that reached the ceiling, the entrance to the office of the Mizukage himself.
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a second, in an effort to steel her nerves. Yukito, upon noticing the tense condition of his companion, placed his hand on her shoulders for support.
'What will happen; shall come to pass.'
Yukito opened the large doors, and gently nudged Sakura to walk inside.
A figure was seated on a large leather chair behind a broad oak desk. Papers were placed on the sides, some stacks nearly reached the eyes of the man. He was dressed in white robes with blue lines at the end of the sleeves. The character for water, mizu was emblazoned on his white hat. It was the Mizukage, the strongest shinobi in all of Mist.
He took his eyes off the paperwork before him and studied the two figures that entered his gargantuan office. Yukito took a few steps forward and Sakura followed suit.
"Good morning, Mizukage-sama. This is Haruno Sakura, the shinobi I was talking about."
Sakura bowed respectfully to the Kage and spoke in a polite voice.
"Ohayou gozaimasu, Mizukage-sama."
He nodded and motioned for the two to sit. There was something about the man, a restrained power. He was indeed a powerful man, not only because of his position, but because of his strength as a shinobi.
"Good morning to the two of you as well. As Ryuuzaki has told me, he found you in the shores of the border of Mist, am I correct, Haruno-san?"
"Hai."
"What were you doing there? How did you get there?"
How Sakura would answer the question might mean her life so she answered it as honestly as she could.
"I was at the border of the Fire country more than a week ago, near the sea. We were ambushed and one of my comrades was about to get hit by a katana. I took the hit and fell into the sea below the cliff. When I woke up, I heard a voice, It was Ryuuzaki-san who found me at the shore. That is all I could remember, Mizukage-sama."
The man looked thoughtful for a second and spoke again.
"You are quite aware, of the situation between our villages, are you not? That a war might start between the nations and we might not be fighting on the same side."
"Yes. I am quite aware."
"Seeing the situation then, why did you not escape and chose to help a shinobi who is not of the same nationality as you are?"
Sakura was stumped. She was confident with her answers a while ago, and it looked like things were going downhill. But the last question was different. It was a matter of opinion.
"I am a medic-nin, Mizukage-sama. And as I have been taught by my shishou, one should not hesitate to save the lives of others, when one has the capability and resources to do so, even if it meant paying with your own life. I would abide to that rule until my death"
A small smile tugged on the elderly man's face, it was not mocking, it was a smile that showed that he was pleased by her answer.
"I doubt that when Godaime Hokage told you everyone, she meant your enemy shinobi as well."
She smiled at the thought before it hit her.
"How did you know that I was a pupil of Tsunade-sama, Mizukage-sama?"
"In a meeting for the Kages of all nations, two years ago, there was a young shinobi there, probably the youngest who accompanied the only female Kage. You made quite an impression then, Haruno-san."
'Is it me, or does Mizukage-sama sound like.. Like he's impressed.'
"She didn't like traveling with other shinobi."
The Mizukage opened one his drawers to retrieve something. He placed in front of her, willing her to take it. She took the fabric in her hands and placed it on her lap.
"It's.."
The Mizukage nodded at her.
"A Mist hitai-ate. I am allowing you to stay in the village Haruno-san but I cannot allow you to go back to your own nation yet. There would be talk and it might serve as a catalyst for further misunderstandings."
Sakura understood completely. If word got out that the Mist village was keeping a Konoha shinobi within its walls, it might make others think that an alliance has been formed and Konoha and Mist will stand together in battle. Also, it may push others to conclude that Mist was capturing Konoha shinobi and was holding them hostage. With a heavy heart, she understood. Crystal clear.
Yukito gave her a look that could be translated as, see, I told you so.
"You must not wear your protector when in the village, Haruno-san. It is for your safety and the village's as well."
"Hai."
"After the talks are finished, you can go back to Konohagakure-seto, my shinobi will even accompany you then."
"Arigatou gozaimasu, Mizukage-sama."
"You are welcome, Haruno-san. But I have a favor to ask."
She became worried at the statement. Surely the kage will not demand information about her village. He knows that she is close to the Godaime, being the apprentice for one thing, and might be privy to classified information. She spoke without inflection.
"What is the favor, Mizukage-sama?"
"You are knowledgeable in the medical arts, Haruno-san. The village has only a few medical nins and none of them is as skilled as Tsunade and you for that matter and this proves quite to be a bother when the shinobi get hurt from missions. I am not asking you to go to the field but to only to help in the clinics, at least until the talks are over."
'That's it? He wants me to help?'
"It would be my pleasure, Mizukage-sama."
The man seemed pleased with her answer and nodded.
"You could help in the clinic that you healed our shinobi in, near the Northern gate. I understand that it is near to the Ryuuzaki compound."
He looked at Yukito who nodded in reply before turning to look at Sakura.
"You can stay at the compound while you're in the village. I've already discussed it with mother."
Sakura gave him a smile of heartfelt gratitude.
The moment was shattered when the wooden doors were slammed open.
"There you are!"
A woman with crimson hair was looking at Sakura before looking at the other two men.
"Hello, Yuki."
Before Yukito could reply she marched towards the desk in front of an unfazed Mizukage.
"Mizukage-sama! I understand that she isn't a Mist shinobi but she saved my life! Couldn't you let her stay here until things are sorted out! She deserves to be rewarded for one thing! Takashi was too busy womanizing to be in the clinic, if she hadn't been there…"
The woman glared at the man named Takashi who was standing behind her looking apologetic.
"I tried to stop her, she wouldn't listen. You know her, she's too.."
"Too what Takashi! You should thank her for Pete's sake. I heard that she just woke up and then she healed me. Afterwards she fainted! What's you're name again?"
Her voice was now gentle when she spoke to Sakura, who seemed to be at loss for words.
"Haruno Sakura."
"Pleased to meet you, Sakura-chan. I'm…"
"You do know that you are disturbing a private meeting."
The Yondaime Mizukage's face showed no emotion but there was a bit of irritation on his voice.
"A private meeting to make her do what! Imprison her? Throw her somewhere!"
Yukito seemed amused at the situation while Takashi looked apologetic as ever.
With an exasperated sigh, the Kage spoke.
"She is staying here. But her identity is to be kept a secret, only the head members of the Ryuuzaki and the two of you, Takashi since you healed her last week and you. Am I understood?"
"So I ran here like a lunatic for nothing."
Yukito smirked. Takashi looked tired. The Kage was stoic.
"Exactly."
With a sigh she threw her hands in the air.
"You people are mean. You could have told me."
"And miss the entertainment?"
The woman was now glaring at Yukito. If looks could kill, Yukito would be lying in his own pool of blood by now.
"You didn't get to tell me your name."
Sakura's voice resounded over the commotion. The woman smiled at her and walked closer.
"It's Mizutani. Mizutani Kazumi."
And at that moment, the wheels of fate have started turning.
The scene dissolved into darkness. It became a forest being engulfed in huge flames. Whistles echoed in the night, alerting other shinobi. A pain shot from her abdomen, making her sit on the ground. To her horror, blood trickled from between legs. Another searing pain made its way from her abdomen. She was losing blood. A lot of it.
A body fell down to the ground in front of her. Midnight blue hair was in disarray, dripping wet with fresh blood. Before her eyes, Kazumi appeared, her hand dripping with blood that was clearly not hers.
"Sakura.."
She looked at the figure in front of her; before it all made sense.
"Yukito!"
She moved towards him and she gently placed his head on her lap.
"What happened! Kazumi what happened! I thought that you were going back! You said everything was okay!"
"Amai, Sakura-chan. You do know that you are too sweet, too nice to be a shinobi. Who will protect you now, Sakura?"
Emerald eyes became cold as ice.
"Damn you.."
She grabbed the hilt of her katana, she stopped when Yukito moved a bit.
"Sakura, nigete.."
"Don't be stupid, Yukito! I won't leave you!"
Kazumi laughed mockingly at the scene before her.
"How touching.. Two lovers, dying in each other's arms. Pinky, you can't even heal yourself now, you have no chakra left. And as for you, Yukito, you're dying. Because I'm such a good friend, I'll finish the two of you quickly."
Kazumi moved towards them, a sharp katana in hand. Seeing the truth in her words, Sakura cradled Yukito in her arms, shielding him from the incoming attack. It was the truth, she knew. They were too far from their comrades to call for help. She had no chakra left, she couldn't even heal a scratch. He was losing blood badly. And the unborn life in her was no more as well.
It was the end.
Their end.
Tears flowed from her eyes as she wrapped her arms as tightly as she could around the only man she loved and loved her as well.
"Aishiteiru.. aishiteiru..aishiteiru.."
Those were the only words she could bring herself to say.
At that moment, those were the only words that mattered.
Kazumi swung the blade into the air, poised to cut through flesh.
A gust of water zoomed from behind them, knocking Kazumi out of balance. She leapt up the trees far from the attacker.
"What the hell happened!"
Amber eyes took in the scene before him. His brother, drenched in blood was lying in the arms of her sister in law who was soaked in her own blood. Wrathful eyes glowed in search of the perpetrator. They would pay dearly for this.
"Too late, Aki-kun. Your precious Onii-san is dying. With Princess Pinky as well. If only he had listened to me."
Kazumi shook her head in feigned regret.
"How could you do this! We came here for you!"
"Did I ask you to come?"
A rain of Kunai rushed from behind Kazumi, forcing her to abandon her previous location.
"Be seeing you around Aki-kun."
Akito rushed towards her, along with other shinobi who attacked from behind her when she disappeared in a huge cloud of smoke.
Sakura's tears flowed freely from her eyes as she tried to wake up the man on her lap.
"Yukito, open your eyes now. Please. Yukito…"
Silver eyes opened weakly to stare at pained emeralds.
"I broke my promise, Sakura. I made you cry.."
"Baka! It's okay, just be fine kay? Help is on the way."
"Gomen.."
She brushed his hair to soothe him but his eyes fell heavier by the moment.
"Yukito, don't close your eyes, please! Don't! Yukito.. Yukito!"
Akito watched helplessly as Sakura cried hysterically for Yukito who was taking what could only be his last breaths.
"Yukito! Yukito!"
A warm hand gripped hers tightly, she could feel her shoulders being shaken vigorously.
"Wake up! Oi, wake up! Sakura!"
"No.. Yukito, don't leave! Yukito!"
Her voice echoed in the room, jolting Satoshi awake who was sleeping on the couch.
Sasuke had woken up earlier because of her thrashing movements. He had not done anything but when she had started crying and calling for someone, he moved towards her and grabbed her hand which was desperately reaching out for something.
"Yukito!"
"Sakura, open your eyes!"
She did as she was told and instead of seeing the molten silver which she had so much yearned for, it was fathomless onyx which greeted her.
She was still breathing deeply, one hand still holding Sasuke's while the other was gripping tightly on his shirt.
"Yukito.. He.."
Satoshi had walked over to them, eyes brimming with worry.
"Daijobu, Sakura-chan. Sshh.."
The door bolted open and Akito rushed towards the bed and wrapped his arms around Sakura's trembling body. Sasuke had let go of her hand and moved to sit at the chair again, eyes fixed on Akito whose hands were stroking Sakura's back to calm her down.
"She was there.. He was there.. It's all my fault.. If I hadn't healed her then.. If I hadn't.. Then maybe.."
"Sshhh.."
Akito was whispering words of comfort in her ear while she continued to speak, words ruffled because her face was buried in his chest.
"If I hadn't maybe he would still be here.. I should've just died then!"
"No, it's not your fault onee-sama. It never was.. Sssh.. Sleep.. I'll stay here by your side."
Akito moved her to lie down on the hospital bed but did not let go of her hand.
"Sleep."
Sakura closed her eyes obediently and within moments was sleeping quietly.
Onyx orbs were fixed on her face.
'She pretends that she is strong; that she has changed. But deep down, she is hurting. She's still that scared little girl I know. Sakura.'
He didn't sleep that night even though Akito stayed awake and by her bedside. He knew that she might have those nightmares again and scream for help without anyone to hear her and wake her up. He knows how it feels.
Just like those nightmares that he keeps on having in the dead of the night.
With no one to wake him up.
With no one by his side.
With no one.
Authors Notes (again):
What's the joke? Figure it out, it's there evil grin
Whew. Really long chappy. Finished it around 3 am. I've revealed about Yukito-san in this chapter didn't I. Pretty much everyone has a clear picture of what happened in Mist that lead to Sakura's stay there. The chapter is a DREAM SEQUENCE after all.
I think that Yukito-san is adorable, kinda like Naruto in a way.
I think I melted Ice queen a bit and showed you guys her softer side.
The thing about Kazumi being saved by Sakura only to kill Yukito, angsty aint it? Almost too much that I feel nearly guilty for making Sakura suffer. Almost.
Medical terms (do I have to explain them?) above are probably due to the fact that I miss school. Semester break is ending anyway, so it's cool. (Go USTe!)
Reviews are welcome and appreciated as always.
Flames (with sense, I hope) are entertained.
I am not easy to offend, as long as you make sense.
Grammar and spelling errors, misplaced punctuations, parallelisms, name it, I'll fix it, ne?
Hope you enjoyed reading as much as I have enjoyed writing it.
Arigatou gozaimasu.