I lied. But here's the chapter only a few days later than I thought.
Disclaimer: Naruto and company © whats-his-face et al.
Deterioration, Chapter 4
Sakura walked into Tsunade's office yawning and covering her mouth. Shizune was perched on the desk whispering animatedly to her Hokage. Having run into Shizune at the hospital earlier that morning Sakura was already well aware of the rumors being spread about her.
The rumors were of varying natures about a similar theme having to do with her seduction of Hayate in the hospital on many occasions. Those she didn't mind as much except that Shizune told her she suspected Genma of personally spreading them.
The only one that didn't follow that theme really bothered her. It claimed that she only went on a date with Gekkou Hayate to make his last run a little better. Sakura had nearly crushed her coffee mug in her hands at hearing the ridiculous reason. Besides the fact that it stung something deep inside of her that thought it might be true.
Seeing Sakura's entrance Tsunade immediately stood so that she could be seen clearly over the stacks of papers and scrolls littering her desk.
"Sakura! Do we need to have a talk about workplace appropriate behavior?" Tsunade shuffled piles out of the way to make more room while motioning to a chair in front of her desk.
"NO! Shizune what did you tell her? I told you to spread a truthful rumor this morning!" Sakura said exasperated.
"I'm only joking Sakura. So how is he doing?" Tsunade grinned and sat back down as Sakura also took a seat. She had to scoot the chair over in order to see in between the stacks of paper.
"Other than the difficulty breathing due to the deterioration of the lining of his lungs you mean?" Sakura said slumping down in the semi-comfy cushions.
Clenching her jaw and holding her tongue in check Tsunade continued. "Yes other than that." Shizune kicked her leg as another warning. "As you know I'm well aware of his condition."
"Tired, but that's about it I think." Sakura offered. Tsunade a made a sound of understanding and began scratching at some papers with a pen.
Shizune started organizing a few piles with practiced ease as Sakura watched and waited for more of a response.
"Isn't there another ijutsu we could try? This one doesn't seem to be working as well anymore…" She stood and went to the book shelf where Tsunade kept her personal collection. Tsunade put her pen through a document and gritted her teeth. "Something stronger we could try-"
"Go find a human sacrifice and then we'll talk." Tsunade said glaring at her student. Sakura smacked a book she had been pulling out back into its place.
"Tsunade-sama, Sakura just wants to help." Shizune said quietly. "We think this is how the ijutsu works. The first time we performed it he only came back once that year. The intervals have been getting shorter now." Sakura fiddled with the kunai holder strapped to her thigh. "It might not be the ijutsu that's to blame…"
"I've already thought of that! I just thought, maybe…there was something we could try?" She walked over to the desk and leaned her hands on the polished surface.
"You know I'm looking Sakura. I've even asked other villages to lend me anything that may be of use." Tsunade reached under her desk and pulled out a cup and a container of sake. "We'll just have to work with what we have."
Shizune glared down at the filling cup but decided not to comment. Nothing was said for a few moments as Tsunade tried to calm her nerves. Sakura noticed she seemed a bit more agitated than usual.
"Now that you're closer to Hayate-kun we can get a better idea of his deteri-uh-progress." Shizune said removing the cup from Tsunade's hand as she went to pour a third helping.
"I'm not doing this to be his personal nurse!" Sakura fumed. "And I do not call him kun!" Sakura headed for the door.
"That's not a bad thought." Tsunade considered while taking a drink directly from the container. "But be careful Sakura, you started taking care of him as a medic nin. I'm not saying you're not genuinely attracted to him or whatever, just…be careful."
Sakura stood outside Hayate's apartment, the back of her hand raised in preparation to knock. Did she just feel some displaced emotions of care for the man? Or, was she in fact, pitying him? She'd thought about it constantly in the couple of days following their date as she went on another scouting mission.
A rather loud cough issued from behind the door snapping her out of her thoughts. Quickly rapping the wood she didn't wait for a response as went to turn the door knob. At least she knew she was at the right door.
"Hayate?"
"Come in." He called. "I was wondering how long you were going to stand out there." Sakura took in her surroundings as she entered. The living room was rather large, with only a countertop separating the kitchen on her right from the rest of the room. A hallway was off to the left and a couch against the wall next to it.
"Sorry. I was wondering if I had the right place." Sakura said spotting him on the couch with a book in his hand. He looked comfortable without his gear on and only the black jounin outfit.
He stood and motioned her forward. Sakura continued to glance around, taking in his possessions which included a very elegant looking katana hanging from the wall. He smiled at her curious glances until she stopped in front of him. Reaching up Sakura placed her hands on his shoulders for balance before giving him a quick peck on the cheek.
"A house visit and a kiss." He commented as she leaned back.
"Well we haven't seen each other in a few days." Hayate's hands rested on her hips as he considered how beautiful she really was. The early morning light playing across her smooth white skin only enhanced her natural good looks. "Something on my face?" She teased.
"No." His calm examination of her made one light eyebrow rise.
"Are you still half asleep? I thought I might have come to early…" She walked towards the opposite wall and a couple of bamboo swords leaning there along with an ANBU issued katana.
Hayate's fingers slid across the exposed skin of her hip as she drew away from him. Sakura hid a shiver and considered the mounted katana on the wall above the others. It looked old, the strapping around the hilt a faded midnight blue and black.
She reached to touch it but dropped her hand to one of the practice swords, gripping the hilt and bringing it up and back around towards the room. Hayate caught the 'blade' before it could smack into his side. Surprised Sakura let go, she hadn't heard him move closer.
"I've been up for awhile." He leaned in close and placed the sword back against the wall. Sakura watched his dark eyes move past her own as he then reached up and removed the katana from the wall. "You can look at it if you want Sakura."
Tentatively she wrapped her fingers around the proffered hilt and drew it out of its worn black sheath. It was too long for her arm and he drew his arm back as well so that it slipped from the sheath.
It was heavier than she expected and much longer than the ANBU ones she was used to practicing with. It was also extremely beautiful and sharp as she soon found out. Pressing her palm delicately against the blade drew a line of crimson across her pale skin.
"Careful. I take good care of this one." Hayate lifted the blade away from her palm and pressed his thumb to the clean cut.
Sakura pooled a little chakra into her hand and the cut sealed within moments. Hayate watched interested until she bunched her now healed hand into her shirt and wiped the blade clean.
"I can see that." Sakura replied. "Maybe you should show as much care with your own body. I thought I told you to rest, why are you up so early?"
"Well we have to go to the hospital soon…You've come to pick me up I suspect?" He partially answered her question while moving behind her.
It was sufficient enough to distract her and she turned her head to watch him attach the hilt to his side. He smiled and placed his hands on top of hers around the hilt, moving her into a readying position with the blade pointed down and to the left.
"You act like you've never held one." He commented.
"Well I wasn't exactly planning on attacking anyone." Sakura replied quickly.
Hayate smiled and stepped into her until his front was flush with her back. Sakura stiffened a little at the close contact but he only proceeded to move their arms around together, causing her to focus on the smooth motions.
He moved the katana's blade in a quick arc, then back to a defensive position only to swing it back around again. It was kind of fun, her body seemed to be moving on its own without her. Just giving into his body's will and going along for the ride.
Sakura laughed out loud with exhilaration when he swept them around and into a crouched position, the katana pointed straightforward. It was like a dance, the moves he was teaching her body.
Smiling Hayate drew them both slowly back up and pressed himself against her comfortably. Sakura turned to look at him, and smiled devilishly. She tilted her head a little and he moved his face closer, as if to kiss her. At the same time she removed her left hand, with his following and lowered it to his side.
"We should get going." She whispered, grabbing the sheath and sliding the katana quickly home.
"Ah." He answered and squeezed her a little closer still, using his right arm across her body, still attached at her hand.
He let go and left her standing in the living room, turning slightly to grin at her. "Just let me get dressed." Sakura blinked slowly, it wasn't easy to rile him, she realized. In fact, he seemed to have the upper hand, which made her frown and smile at the same time.
A muffled thud and some cursing stirred Sakura enough to open an eye and look around. Another medic had collapsed on the outside of the ring of seals. A young kunoichi was the one cursing, trying to drag the man out of the way so that another medic could take his place.
The medics collapsing caused a ripple in the chakra being fed into her's and Tsunade's pool of use. The last medic standing quickly took a seat and began making hand seals before the slacking flow of chakra picked back up, rushing through Sakura's left arm.
Frankly, Sakura was at a loss as to what to do. The hemorrhaging tissue was increasing in Hayate's lower left lung and barely stayed healed for more than a week and half now. Her own chakra was running low already, carefully guiding the other medic nin and ijutsu built chakra into the shinobi's body only lessened the strain slightly on her supply.
"I think we're almost done." Tsunade mumbled.
"Mm." Sakura agreed and increased her relentless attack upon Hayate's renegade cells.
"There's quite a bit of dead tissue building up in his lungs…" Tsunade said simply. Sakura had noticed it as well and hope he was getting enough oxygen as he lay there.
Opening her eyes fully she looked at his face, his lips were a little purple and again his body was covered in goose bumps. Suddenly, his chest heaved, and both Tsunade and Sakura ripped there hands away in surprise.
Whipping himself onto his hands and knees he started coughing. The young kunoichi started forward before Tsunade halted her.
"Don't step inside the seal! Go see if Shizunes back yet! Quick!" With a hurried affirmation the girl shot around the seal and up the stairs. "Just breathe Hayate…that's it, slow."
Sakura tried to stay in her position and placed her palms on his back trying to help. He continued to cough, producing the dead tissue and some old blood. Sakura thumped him on the back trying to loosen what was in there, but a splattering of blood erupted with another fit of coughing.
"Goddamnit he's tearing his lungs already!" Tsunade quickly glanced around the circle finding the four medic nin still in place but wide eyed and weary. "Sakura are you still in position?"
"Yes! I'm already trying to stop the tearing." Her eyes closed, one hand pressed to his back and the other looped under pressed to his chest.
"S-sorry…." Hayate croaked opening his eyes a little bit.
"Just don't move anymore, it's amazing you're still connected to the seal." Tsunade mumbled working with Sakura on his left lung until another medic nin collapsed a few minutes later, braking the itl for good. "Well that was fun..."
"Are you okay?" Sakura whispered helping him to sit back on the ground. He tried to smile but coughed softly into his hand. Sakura rubbed her palm up and down his back trying to erase the goose bumps.
The young kunoichi rushed back into the room with two female medic nins in tow. They descended upon Hayate with blankets and asked Tsunade if they could remove their unconscious comrades.
"Use the stretcher, Hayate won't need it. No take him first, I think he's been lying on the ground for an hour now…." Tsunade directed the fresh and tried medics about as Sakura lugged Hayate to his feet.
They moved toward the stairwell until he stopped walking and looked down at her. Sakura looked up expectantly, shifting her grip around his waist.
"I can't go upstairs like this…" His voice was rough and it sounded painful.
"Why not?" Sakura said glancing him over. Maybe he wasn't well enough to walk up the flight of stairs.
"Because I'm naked." He said and dropped the blanket from around his body.
"Well you wouldn't be if you kept the blanket on…" Sakura mumbled but left him leaning against the wall as she grabbed the clothing lying in pile outside the seal.
The medics were carting each other up the stairs with Tsunade following, carrying the supplies they'd used.
"You're not going upstairs like that are you?" She shot as she passed Hayate, who smiled in response. "Sakura! Remember what I said about workplace appropriate behavior!"
She disappeared before Sakura could think of something to say, leaving her blushing and handing Hayate a pair light blue draw string pants.
"Should I be worried?" He ground out as the pants slipped up his thighs, Sakura's eyes following their movement. "Guess I should be…" Blushing more fiercely Sakura ripped her eyes away and held up the matching shirt.
"Just get dressed and you won't have to worry."
"Am I interrupting something?" The voice, although soft, caused Sakura's head to whip up. A pounding and rushing seemed to fill her skull with the sudden movement and made her regret sitting up so fast.
"Uhg! Damnit…" Pressing the heal of her palm against her forehead she realized she fell asleep on Hayate's chest when she was checking his heartbeat. It wasn't exactly necessary to check using her hearing but it seemed extremely appealing after she induced a sleep like state for him.
"He looks out of it…Can he really go on the mission tonight?" Sakura was surprised to see Naruto half leaning over her. He started to wave his hand frantically above Hayate's face.
"Knock it off! Yes he can go, I put him under so that he could get some sleep is all." Sakura pushed Naruto's hand away and assessed his outfit.
He had his hitai-ate capped around his head to hide most of his bright hair and was dressed in a normal jounin outfit complete with guards for his arms and legs.
"I didn't know you were on his team." Sakura said rubbing her eyes and stretching her arms painfully.
"Yeah? Well I didn't know you were dating him." Blinking a few times she turned and stared at her old teammate. He refused to meet her gaze and continued to stare at Hayate, sleeping blissfully unaware.
"I'm sorry Naruto…Really it's been only one date and I thought you'd hear-"
"Oh I heard all right." Sakura frowned as he gave her an odd look.
"And whom did you hear it from?" She asked suspiciously.
"Genma! Sakura I cannot believe you! How come I never got care like that?" He started before Sakura decided she didn't want to hear anything else.
"Naruto you idiot! I didn't have sex with Hayate in the hospital!" Naruto had raised his finger to point at her but dropped it quickly and looked sheepish. "Why the hell would you believe anything Genma has to say?"
"Sorry Sakura-chan. Does seem kind of unlike you when I think about it…" He said smiling as Sakura gave him a friendly punch to the side. Then he frowned in concentration. "That bastard! I'm gonna kick Shiranui's ass!"
Laughing quietly Sakura went back to watching Hayate shift in his sleep, eyes moving rapidly under his lids. Naruto stepped closer adjusting his hitai-ate, tightening it and pulling his hair out from underneath it. Naruto thought the man looked extremely unhealthy, dark circles still present under his eyes and ribs noticeable through the shirt.
"Is he really okay to go?" He asked kneeling down closer to Sakura's level.
She reached out a hand and turned Hayate's face towards them, moving his hair away from his face gently as well. Her palm slid under his shirt up his stomach and chest as she tried to gather enough chakra to explore his lungs.
Assessing with a keen eye, Naruto was surprised by what he thought her actions held. He glanced at the man again, but it didn't help him in understanding at all.
Her arm started to shake from lack of chakra so he reached out a hand and pressed chakra between her shoulder blades. Sakura smiled and used his unruly chakra which he was successfully pumping into her at an easy rate. They'd done this before, when there was an emergency on a mission or she needed a boost, but it usually ended with painful chakra burning and some muscle tearing for Sakura.
"He's doing fine. I can wake him up anytime now." Naruto nodded but kept up the slow river of chakra into her even though she stopped using it.
"You can stop." Sakura said turning to him as he sized Hayate up. "Really, I'll be good after some sleep…besides, Its chakra makes me restless." Naruto blinked in surprise and withdrew his hand.
"Really?"
"Yeah. It's not a bad thing, but it does feel weird." Sakura said kindly, squeezing his shoulder. "But I wouldn't mind having some the next time we go on a mission."
"Well I've got plenty to go around." Naruto grinned sitting down on the ground.
A few minutes passed as Sakura leaned on the bed and watched the sleeping man. Naruto watching them both and trying to remain still.
"Are you worried about him?" Naruto said quietly, breaking the silence of the hospital room.
"No, why?" Sakura bristled, refusing to look at her friend.
"Oh…No reason really." Naruto muttered and stood, brushing his hands over his thighs. "You should probably wake him now. We need to get going soon."
Nodding, Sakura placed her hands on Hayate's face, thumbs pressing his cheek bones. His eyes creased open as he gulped his sore throat, taking a look around.
"Time to get going Hayate." Sakura smiled softly.
Smiling warmly back he sat up, rubbing his face before giving Naruto a wave in greeting. Sakura and Naruto waited behind the curtain she drew as Hayate pulled all of his gear together and readied himself.
"Ready." He said stepping out, still adjusting the katana across his back.
"Ossu!" Naruto grinned and opened the hospital room's door.
"Come back quick." Sakura said kissing him on the side of the mouth. Hayate ran his hand through her long hair and went to join Naruto.
"His mommy didn't name him Hayate for nothin'!" Naruto wrapped his arm companionably around the shorter mans shoulders.
"I'll see you in a few days Sakura." Hayate followed Naruto out of the room with Sakura staying behind in his hospital room watching their quick and purposeful retreat from the door.
Oooooooooh, sword innuendo! Sort of…
Naruto is referring to the fact that Hayate's name, I'm pretty sure, means quick as wind.
Your Nushi
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