A/N: It's that time of the year again! Yes, AP registration. Haha, yay, I finally updated Dangerously Sixteen. I'm sorry that I didn't update this. It's very difficult to write the chapters now because I have all of these plots all in my head and before I start typing, I need to write them before I forget them. OF course, I've been considering some secret plots and twisted storylines because this story would be nothing without Drama. So how have you all been? I'm currently reading Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen because I absolutely adore her writing and admire her characterizations of Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice. If you have not read any of her books, I recommend that you read them. I love British writing; it's so sophisticated. I hope that you enjoy this chapter. Again, happy reading and please review!
Previously on Dangerously Sixteen: All of you thought that Sakura was actually going to accept Sasuke's proposal ehh? Well, I didn't want it to be too much of a cliché; I want it to be more original. Anyhow, Shikamaru is now shipped off to military school and Ino and Naruto set their relationship straight. Hinata is still being the wimp she already is, and Neji is defending his good friend's reputation. Ten Ten and Lee will be expecting a child, and is to be wed later this year, possibly sooner than expected.
Disclaimer: The characters that you have never heard of belong to me, and the ones that you have heard of belong to the sole creator of the series of Naruto. However, this story is copyrighted under my possession and should not be plagiarized at anytime and anywhere.
Title: Chapter 37
The soft hum of the coffeemaker echoed amongst the ruffling of papers being stacked in piles. A fair amount of the caffeine mixture spilled over the papers; some piles were to be discarded to make room for new patients' files. All that was heard was the distant rhythm of the coffee brewer and the distant sounds of footsteps of the nurses' clicking heels.
Doors casually swung open on occasional beats of a moment. A long sleek white fabric now hid windows that were once an escape for longtime patients. The area was spotless and had a pristine aura.
The tall edifice towered over the neighboring streets, and glowed brightly as its bright white walls outshone the other dingy-like buildings nearby. It consists of many floors to shelter the welfare of the city's citizens. The hospital took on a motherly role and nurtured orphaned children under its wing, nursed young infants, and cared for sick patients. It is known to be a haven for the ill, with the source of well-known physicians who have authentic credentials.
On the thirteenth floor of the hospital lay a young woman who had awoken from her morning slumber. As she slowly opened her eyes, the female could hear the faint pulses of her heartbeat. When she stretched her arms, the ocean-haired young woman could feel the sharp attachments of needles that were nestled on her arm.
"Good afternoon Kaede," a familiar gruff voice greeted the patient, "and how was your night's sleep? Comfortable and pleasant, I presume?"
Kaede could barely open her mouth to utter her answer; she had a supply of narcotics and antidepressants to consume later in the afternoon. As her pale eyes followed her doctor's movements, Kaede couldn't help but notice that her window was not shut.
"You are the only one who has their window open for today," the physician lifted his chin up from Kaede's medical file, "it seems that you need a lot more sunshine than the other patients,"
As expected, the young patient couldn't reply for she still had the after-effects of her painkillers the night before. The nurse informed her that Kaede would wake up with a heavy head and would need a day's rest should she want to heal more efficiently.
The trusted doctor left a few grunts here and there and paced across the small room. His hands were still clutched to Kaede's medical folder and did not have an amicable look on his countenance. His facial expression lacked the warmth and elation for his patients who would be discharged from the hospital.
Kaede knew that her stay in the edifice would be prolonged. A solitary tear streaked from her eyes as feelings of nostalgia filled her eyes. She longed to be in her own bed and room. For once, she missed the smells of pencil shavings and the faces of her close circle of friends.
"Miss Kaede, I am afraid that I only have grave news for you," the physician towed a chair close to Kaede's bedside. He placed the folder close to his lap and folded his hands together.
For every patient, a physician who sits beside his or her side and has a solemn voice was going to receive grave news of his or her health. Kaede closed her eyes and nodded her head as a signal for the doctor to continue his somber tidings.
"Your test results have been sent to the hospital last week, and from my observations, you have lost plenty of blood," the physician bore the news, "due to your frequent self inflictions on your wrists."
In response, Kaede felt as if her arms were numb and had a stoic expression on her countenance. Of course, she knew that this was bound to happen sooner or later; and she was glad to have it over with.
Across from her, the medical doctor shook his head in dismay as he flipped through the pages. There were occasional pauses and a few brief sighs; Kaede knew that something was wrong.
"Kaede, I am concerned for your health. And as a doctor, it is my duty to inform my patients of the consequences they will face were they to continue the dangerous habits they become addicted to," the physician lifted his eye glasses and used his white sleeves as a handkerchief, "I am familiar with your situation, Kaede. You are not my only patient who has dealt with this issue,"
Kaede closed her eyes and consumed the doctor's opinion because she knew that those words would be somewhere along the same lines that her mother would lecture about. Her slow breathing patterns reflected on the heart monitor that was beside her. The slow tempo of the beats signaled the physician to continue.
"I do not think that what you have done was a healthy option," the doctor resumed, "As your doctor, I have carefully examined your medical files and I have to admit that I am quite perplexed by your medical history,"
Kaede continued to listen to the doctor, for what more could she do? She could barely move her arms and she felt very faint.
"Where is your mother?" the physician's random question threw Kaede off.
The young teenager managed to part her lips and utter her first words. She told him that her mother was working and couldn't visit her because she has two part-time occupations. When asked about what her mother was working as a career, Kaede slowly turned her head away.
Gazing at the patient, the physician slowly moved toward Kaede and placed his hand on her left leg. His eyes that have stared into many of his patients were well known to either assure the patient that he or she will overcome the illness or to bear the dreadful news of the patient's slim chance for survival.
"You can tell me, whatever you tell me is strictly confidential from a patient to the doctor," the man coolly replied.
His soft touch on her thigh relieved Kaede of her numbness and blinked a few drops of tears from her eyes. She couldn't bear to offer personal information to a stranger who has been treating her illness for the past month.
"What is your mother's occupation?" the doctor repeated his question.
The young teenager slowly tilted her head and whispered, "She is…an escort."
Taken aback by his patient's response, the physician returned his hand back to his lap. His fingers curled along the edges of the vanilla folder that was ensconced upon his medical uniform.
"…and your father?" he asked.
Kaede couldn't help but ponder on the purpose of these questions. She asked him why he would question her on these subjects. His answer was the same of any doctor, he claimed that he had the right to know information from his patients and also reassured the concept of their confidentiality.
"I never knew my father," Kaede spoke softly; she has never talked to anyone about her biological father, let alone her stepfather, "my stepfather left when I was around thirteen, but he would always come back."
There was a few moments silence between the two and was interrupted by a few footsteps that were heard from the entrance of the room. The slow ticking of the clock was hung above the door, and the blinds were halfway shut for their privacy.
"My mom, is all I've got," Kaede whispered.
"I know that this is none of my business, however, as your physician, I am responsible for your welfare since you are a minor. Since you do not have any close relatives who exist, and you have a mother who works as an escort, I assure you that your well-being will be taken cared for," the physician grinned.
For his smile, it meant that the patient will be nurtured and cared for and had nothing to worry about. However, Kaede couldn't help that there were a few strings attached to her "future welfare."
"You are in no state to return back to your home. I will have my medical assistant contact an organization and you will be received by happy arms that will be content to assist you in your situation," the physician shifted his position and stood up.
"What are you saying?" Kaede was confused. Thoughts were swarming in her head and she could only think for the worst, however, the answer soon arrived and Kaede's eyes were wide in horror.
"Are you sending me to an orphanage?" her voice weakly asked.
The bright rays of the sun greeted the students who were sprinting on the school's tracking field. Beads of sweat trickled down the sprinters' foreheads as they raced against the scorching rays of the sun.
"ALL RIGHT EVERYBODY, GREAT JOB ON YOUR LAPS THIS MORNING! MIKO, COME HERE, I NEED TO RECORD YOUR TIME FOR TODAY!" the physical education instructor blew his whistle at one of his students.
Near the track field, there was a solitary tree that drooped over a small bumpy hill. Underneath was a fresh mat of green grass that glistened as leftover mildew drops shone like diamonds on each strand of grass.
"Hey!" an energetic voice greeted Ino, who was seated underneath the blooming tree.
It was apparent that the young blonde was so absorbed into her own sphere of studying that she did not hear Naruto until the fifth greeting.
"Oh, hey. Sorry, it's just that I've been swamped in all this homework I have for my classes," Ino stretched her legs and looked up to Naruto, who gave her an unusual look, "yes, I know. Me, studying? Don't bother to laugh. My dad put me up to this,"
Naruto only grinned and bent down beside the young teenager. He laid his legs out straight in front of him and rested on his elbows. He took a few breaths of fresh air since he had just finished his run for the morning.
Between the two close friends, there was a moment of silence, but nothing awkward. It was more of a comfortable silence, between two familiar faces and not strangers.
"You know," Ino's eyes were taped to the flashcards in front of her, "you might want to go somewhere else. Hinata might be here any minute,"
Beside her, Naruto rolled around onto his stomach and rested his chin on his hands. He felt a pang of disappointment when he heard Ino mutter the name that he has recently been attempting to avoid hearing. Of course, his feelings for Hinata still resided and have not faded away for the slightest chance.
"What do you mean? She knows that we're just friends," Naruto tilted his head in order to see some of his classmates sprinting around the track.
"Do we have to go through this conversation again? I don't want to be rude, but almost every conversation we have always concerns her," Naruto had a complaining tone in his voice.
Ino did not answer him because she was busy memorizing some important facts for her history exam for next class.
"Ino!" Naruto waved his hand in front of Ino's eyes to gain her attention.
"Huh? Oh, I'm sorry. What did you say?" Ino couldn't help but grin.
"You know, when we talk about our relationship problems. I always listen to your problems with Shikamaru, but when it comes with Hinata and me, you don't even attempt to lend a hand in hearing me out," Naruto remarked.
A few feet away from them, the physical education coach was close to their vicinity but he did not make eye contact with Ino. The man moved his heavy build toward the other end of the field and blew his whistle continuously as an incentive for students to sprint at a more rapid pace.
"Excuse me?" Ino set her study materials aside and crossed her arms across her chest, "what do you mean by that?"
"Nothing," Naruto shrugged off the topic.
It was a casual conversation that began at first, but then it later rolled into a more intimate chat. Ino knew that the subject of Shikamaru was a very sensitive topic for her to speak about, with anyone.
"No, what did you say about Shikamaru and me?" Ino had a stern voice.
"Nothing at all. Gosh, just relax," Naruto reassured her, "I guess I hit a sensitive button on you,"
Taken aback from his comment, Ino told him to retract what he had said. When he didn't, Ino couldn't help but feel her emotions ignite in fumes.
"Whatever happened between Shikamaru and I is very different than your relationship with Hinata. First of all, you two have no misunderstanding with each other because you two were actually in a 'dating' atmosphere. And second, Shikamaru and I could solve our problems without having to avoid each other like you two," Ino continued on her list of reasons.
Upon hearing what Ino had told him, Naruto couldn't help but burst out in laughter. He couldn't believe what he had heard.
"Oh my god, you are SUCH a hypocrite. Do you know that?" Naruto held his stomach as he resumed chuckling.
"She still likes you, Naruto. It's getting fucking annoying with the two of you. Whenever we're at the school lockers, I notice everything. You sometimes steal a chance to take a good look at her and stuff like that. It's not like I'm dumb. I'm a girl. It's so obvious that you still like her by that stupid sick puppy look on your face, that very well not annoys me but sickens me at the moment!" Ino retorted.
"She doesn't want me," Naruto stopped.
In a few seconds, Ino swiped her hand across Naruto's face in a furious manner.
"ARE YOU FUCKING BLIND? Hinata loves you still!" Ino angrily said, "that's what you guys don't understand; if someone loves you, you don't notice it! It's like you guys have eyes but you never use it,"
Naruto firmly rubbed his right cheek and had a hurt expression on his face.
"You and Shikamaru—you two fight all the time," he said.
"Oh please, he just loves to push my buttons sometimes," she answered.
"A-HA! See? He LOVES…"
"Oh, shut up!" Ino blew up in his face. By then, a few female classmates were pacing by and noticed the two by Ino's loud voice. The girls gave each other looks and walked away from Naruto and Ino.
"Ok…I'm sorry," Naruto shrugged his shoulders.
"You'd better be," Ino picked up her study materials and resumed studying her flashcards, "just next time if you ever get a broken heart, don't hold me responsible for picking up the pieces,"
Distant echoes of faint footsteps reverberate through the vacant empty aisles. Delinquents were restrained behind thick iron bars that separated them from the outside world. The clanging of keys rubbed gently against an officer's waist as he sets himself in a chair to take over his shift for the hour.
Near the entrance, there was a small-secluded room, where familiar faces would greet long-lost loved ones. There was a table that was set against a tall glass window, with a telephone set attached to the desk.
A young man, dressed in an orange jumpsuit, approached the empty room with his hands chained together below his waist. His raven black hair was held back as he slowly sat down in the chair before him.
He turned behind him to see his chaperone waiting beside the door; he was not going to be alone for that moment. Breathing a sigh of relief, the young man tilted his head to greet the person who visited him. His thin lips curled into a smile, a simple gesture of gratitude that someone had not forgotten about him.
"How's jail?" Sakura, dressed in a blue dress with a pair of sunglasses upon her head, held the telephone to her ear on the other side of the glass window.
It has been a few days since he had seen Sakura; the last time was an awkward memory at the park.
As Sasuke retrieved the telephone, the sounds of his handcuffs made a sharp noise. He grumbled, "Are you actually serious about the question, or just trying to make it worse than it already is?"
The young woman across from him let out a small laugh, "Just trying to strike a conversation here,"
With the telephone in his hand, Sasuke leaned back against his chair and shifted his body to a more comfortable position. His dark orbs stared directly at the green emerald gems, the eyes of the beholder, in order to detect any ulterior motives in visiting him.
"Nice effort," Sasuke grunted.
Sakura turned her face away from him and scoffed. She shook her head in disappointment and shot a stern glare at Sasuke. Her right hand held tight onto the telephone as her countenance expressed annoyance.
"Cut the crap, Sasuke. I came here to—" before Sakura could finish her sentence, Sasuke broke it off by interrupting her.
"Come on, you didn't come here to see me. You feel guilty, and it's the least you could do to fill in that awkward gap between us," Sasuke excused her.
Sakura was in disbelief and wished that Sasuke could withdraw his words.
"Is that what you think?" a cold tone emerged from her.
"You denied my proposal," Sasuke raised an eyebrow as if to open a recent wound between them.
Sakura began to laugh and her eyes glistened in anger. Of all the things that he could have spoken, that was the last thing she wished to hear.
"Because you were fucking delusional, you ass!" Sakura leaned toward the glass window.
The young man before her bit his lip gently and slowly absorbed the insult that was spat in front of him. He glanced at the clear window before him, and before he muttered a word, he heard the officer behind him grunt; it was probably a warning for him to not do anything ridiculous in the room.
"So?" Sasuke shrugged her question off because it was an unreasonable pretext to deny his proposal of marriage.
In a more mature tone, Sakura explained that they were only sixteen years of age, and they were too young to marry. Despite Sasuke's protests, Sakura assured him that if the two were engaged, hell would break loose for her parents.
"Well, won't they be glad that their daughter is getting married?" Sasuke suggested.
"You don't know my father like I do. If he sets his mind to something, he will stop at nothing to achieve it," Sakura reminded him of her father's nature.
"Fine, your 'baby' will be glad if its parents will marry," Sasuke tried to convince her.
Again, Sakura tried to make sure that she was hearing right. In front of her, Sasuke looked as if he was serious in his suggestions and he was not afraid to back out of it.
"So, this is what it's about," Sakura realized the motive of Sasuke's adamant behavior, "you think that this is your responsibility to take care of, and the only way to do it is just to marry me…and not because there is any lovey-dovey feelings going on,"
Setting his feet on top of the table in a relaxed manner, Sasuke shot a glance at Sakura, "Who said that it won't be a loveless marriage? I wouldn't want one,"
Sakura tried to use his comments as a restore of clarity between the two of them. After all, Sasuke and she have been through many events and yet still managed to be in contact with one another. However, the subject of marriage has never come across her mind, albeit her father was currently forcing her into an arranged marriage.
There was a short pause between the conversation, and Sakura closed her eyes to recollect her thoughts. She felt unsure and vulnerable. Most of all, their current situation was nothing she had always dreamed of when she was a child. She never expected to be with child, nevertheless she had always hoped in the back of her mind that she would somehow end up with Sasuke.
The young teenager placed her hand above her lower abdomen to feel the warmth of the life flourishing inside her womb. She gazed at Sasuke, who in turn, was waiting for her response.
"All right. I'll marry you, Sasuke," Sakura moved closer to the glass window to give her long-awaited answer.
Mr. Haruno angrily slammed his telephone onto his desk in a violent manner. From outside his office, his wife came rushing in to see what was wrong. He explained the horrible news to his wife.
"They're rejecting my offer, Keiko," Mr. Haruno had a disappointed expression on his face.
"…Does this mean…?" Mrs. Haruno was anticipating.
"NO, I will not let it happen!" the man, dressed in a dark olive suit, bellowed in a deep voice.
"You never change, Satoshi! Stop thinking about yourself for a second and take into consideration of our child's interests," his wife defended Sakura.
"She is young, but she has a whole life ahead of her,"
"And yet, she is too young to wed. How about college? Our daughter has always excelled in her courses," Sakura's mother remained to have faith in her only child.
"Before her grades began to drop," Mr. Haruno reminded his wife.
He acknowledged that his daughter was always on top of her schoolwork when she was young. However, ever since she had involved herself in her current group of friends, they have done nothing but add negative influence over her.
It was obvious that he detested his daughter's friends. They have changed his daughter and tainted the image of Sakura.
"I've put up with you all this time. Don't tell me that you know what is best for our daughter. Everything is always about you," his wife quivered in anger.
"Darling, you test my patience," Mr. Haruno rested against his leather armchair.
"If you don't stop this Satoshi, I will leave you and gain full custody of Sakura. Don't think that I'm bluffing," Mrs. Haruno threatened.
"This is ridiculous, Keiko," her husband shook his head.
"I'm serious. Cancel your business arrangement or you will see Sakura and me out of your place by tomorrow morning," Mrs. Haruno spoke in a very grave manner.
A/N: Please review, I would greatly appreciate it since I have updated and written a very long chapter for you. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did when I wrote it. Have a good one!