Disclaimer: Naruto equals not owned by me. Oh, and the little lines from Twelfth Night is a play by Shakespeare. Me no own those either.
Chapter 22To Not Believe
She didn't go back to Fire Country that weekend. She'd meant to, but her mom had found out about the pilling homework that lay on her desk, still waiting to be finished. The teachers were all stressed about college applications, which had gone last month already, but nevertheless wanted them to maintain their marks. So Haruno Sakura sat in the confinement of her room, wordlessly writing down her required tasks.
Though she desperately hoped none of her teachers were going to be in a collecting homework mood on Monday. Her mind was elsewhere, and she was sure that at least half of her chemical equations were wrong. At this point, she didn't really care, though.
With a heavy sigh, her feet brought her to the washroom, where she splashed cold water on her face. She was damn tired. She'd spent awhile at Sasuke's place after he'd blacked out, just to make sure everything was in order. Needless to say, he never did wake up during the good two more hours she was there, but he could definitely use all the rest he could get. She presumed those long hours he was pulling with that part-time job of his, plus school was slowly gnawing at his health.
"For money, huh?" she told her reflection. It mimicked her. Mirrors were such carefree objects, weren't they? They sat planted on a wall, and just imitated whatever was in front of it. And when it broke, it must have been amused, seeing the person run around frantically imagining that they'd have seven years of bad luck. Now she knew she was crazy. She was thinking about mirrors.
Sakura swallowed the lump in her throat. Something was off. No, it wasn't the fact she'd used the microwave today (successfully at that). It was something bigger then that. Much bigger. Her hand reached for the phone in her room, but then it recoiled at the touch. Maybe she was just being paranoid. Yeah…that had to have been it. Seriously, what could have possibly happened in the past twelve hours?
She sat back down and stared at her chemistry homework. This is what her mind should be focused on. She'd talk to him on Monday anyway.
It was now early April. Truly, it was quite an unusual day in terms of weather. The sun was barely shining through the clouds, but it was still bright outside. It was also quite warm. It was still rather early, and there was no better place to enjoy the calmness of the area then the roof of the school. Normally the noise from the students below in the courtyard carried over to the roof, but at eight in the morning, no one sane would be standing around.
This made it ideal for Tenten. She sat with her feet dangling, head rested gently on her arms that were folded against the metal railing. She looked into the distance, over the treetops and towards their small city. It was especially pretty at night, though the school would be locked by then. Maybe one day she'd be rich enough to rent a helicopter, or something. A mountain would work too. Actually, a mountain would be better. More nature-esque in her opinion. Yes, that situation sounded appealing.
Looking over onto the wide space of the roof, her eyes landed on an enclosed piece of terrain. Out of all the times she'd come up here since her freshman year, she never understood what the small pieces of metal were surrounding. It was kind of in an awkward spot too, right in the middle of empty space.
Her chocolate hair was tied in its usual formation, as she made sure they were firm. She slung her backpack over to the little enclosure, and set it down close. She gripped the bar with both hands tightly, and jumped up. It made a kind of handstand, only on a bar.
She did exercises similar to this sometimes. It improved her balance. She removed one hand very slowly, and extended it outward to keep her balance. Her supporting hand was shaking slightly at the weight. This was actually something she'd seen Lee do once, though he looked like he was doing a one-armed pushup upside-down. Strange little man, that Lee was.
Little did she know that someone else was there, simply watching. "You're going to fall," the smooth voice remarked. The sudden apparition of sound broke her concentration. However, she managed to land on her feet like a cat, though she almost lost her footing.
She gazed back at whoever else was up there with her, though she already had a vague idea who it was. "Were you trying to kill me?" she asked crossly. He was leaning against the railing, that usual unreadable expression set upon his features. He hadn't tied his lengthy dark hair up this morning, and it was flapping gently in the wind. She assumed that the reason she was unaware of his presence up until now lay in her deep focus on staying balanced.
"No," Neji replied simply, walking closer. He brushed past her, and set his hands upon the rail, much like she'd done. "Where's your uniform?" With that question, he imitated her, doing that handstand, and removing one arm without a problem.
She scowled. He was mocking her, wasn't he? "In my bag," the brunette replied sharply, "I can't do gymnastic-type things in a skirt, now can I?" She paused for a second, watching him switch from hand to hand. It looked like a pendulum. She kept the amusing thought to herself. "Unless…that's what you wanted to see."
She could have sworn the barely inaudible sound was some kind of snort. "Right…" he brought his feet down to the bar, and just remained there, crouching. They sort of stared at each other, not saying a word for a moment.
"So…then you came here to bug me?" Tenten concluded, walking over to the railing on the side overlooking the schoolyard. Soon after, the male did the same.
"No," he said again in the same tone. "It's a free county, must I remind you. If you have a problem with my presence, I'm afraid you'll have to deal with that solely." It was later on now, and the yard was becoming full with students, like always. They both looked down at some familiar faces.
Out of them was the other Hyuuga sibling, Hinata, who had just been joined by the two loudmouths, Kiba and Naruto. Tenten glanced sideways, watching him observe the scene below. She smiled slightly, but hid it immediately, just in case he noticed it. Neji certainly had a soft spot for his younger cousin, however much he hated to admit it. "Aren't you worried about her?"
Without even looking up, he muttered a, "No." They looked on again. The two juvenile males seemed to be quarreling over something. Knowing them, it was probably insignificant too. Hinata looked like she was trying to make peace. "Two idiots," he told her slowly, "they cancel each other out. In a way. So I'm not worried."
At this, Tenten couldn't help but give a soft chuckle. She got that look from the one standing beside her. The 'my-awesome-eyes-can-see-all-but-what's-so-funny' look. "Sorry," she apologized quickly, "it's just you aren't one to think like that, I find. And I've known you for a long time, Neji."
He let the last comment sink in for a moment. "Aa. A long time…" he repeated. A thought crossed his mind for a moment, and the corners of his mouth upturned ever so slightly. He gently lay a hand atop hers. She was a little surprised at his forwardness today. "Thank you."
She smiled, and looked back over the treetops, as he was doing. It was their unspoken language that made everything seem so right just then. Someday, she thought, they'd climb that mountain together, and look down at the town. How small everything really was, though how it could mean the world to her. Someday.
He may have had only one good eye, that much was true. But he wasn't blind, oh no. He was a procrastinator, yes, but he wasn't that thick as not to notice the unresolved tension that was setting in amongst some of his dear students. Honestly, he didn't seem to see the difficult task in saying: "Hey babe. You look great today. Let's go out sometime."
Okay, so that's not what his book said. But the idea was amusing nonetheless. His book was more: force so said person to the bed/table/floor/any available flat surface and cut to the chase. Though, such things should be kept for personal times, not to be discussed or even thought of at school. He sighed, glancing up from his favorite book. His class (whoever was left anyway) was quietly doing seatwork.
Now, who could he torture in this class? Had it been a period ago, Sasuke might have been a nice candidate, though he wasn't present today. His uncovered eye wandered throughout the rows of desks. He came to a halt at one who had his head on his desk. Hmm, this could surely prove interesting. Nara Shikamaru. He didn't try hard in class, that was for sure, but he was a natural genius. He also knew for a fact, that he was single. (What? You don't think teachers gossip about this stuff? Kurenai has a real knack for these things.) Another thing that he'd caught wind of, was that Yamanaka Ino seemed to have 'caught his eye'. That was indeed something big.
Now what could he do for his enjoyment (and for the benefit of his students of course)? There was always the 'accidentally drop the Icha Icha Paradise book in student's belongings and they should accidentally open it', but then that idea had been overused. It was too cliché. He needed something original… well, more original then the 'drop book' idea.
A quick idea formed in his head. Okay, so it wasn't the most romantic setting in the world, but who knew what could happen. After skimming over a few more pages, he shut his orange-covered book, and fumbled around his drawer for another. He pulled out the teacher's copy of their Shakespeare novel study.
"Class, work away. We're going to take up the act questions that were assigned for homework." Most eyes were now on the teacher, each displaying a hint of surprise. He never took up homework. "Well?" The class snapped back to normal and brought out their question sheets. Most, of course, hadn't done them. They just hoped they'd know the question when their turn came.
Ino grimaced, since she was one of them who hadn't done the work. She had her Twelfth Night book open to a page for reference. She glanced over to Shikamaru, who hadn't moved his head off his desk yet. She was about to throw a pencil at him to wake him up, but their teacher was a bit faster then her today. "Shikamaru?" he questioned.
The brunet brought one eye up. He met a stern glance, so he straightened up with a yawn. "Yes, Sensei?"
"Answer the first question, please." He noted the absence of the question sheet. Kakashi sighed. "How did 'Cesario' first know that Olivia fancied her/him?"
The boy blinked before answering: "She sent Malvolio to deliver her ring to him, pretending it was his to begin with."
Okay, so he had read the book. So much for that idea. He went on with questions, until he'd gotten to the blonde. "Ino, question sixteen." She was already had a pale complexion to begin with, but she seemed paler at her turn. "What was Malvolio's famous line, located within act II?"
She stayed silent for a moment. She didn't really pay much attention to the little details, just the specific plot details. Right now, she hated Kakashi-sensei, who'd put her on the spot like that. "I…don't know."
Some people giggled, but a look from both the teacher and Ino herself hushed them immediately. "Does anyone know then?" Everyone looked at each other. "Shikamaru, since you seem to keen on answering," the silver-haired teacher remarked, since his student was once again on the verge of falling asleep. "Please help Ms. Yamanaka out."
He recited it like it was written on the page in front of him. "Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them." Ino stared at him blankly. Did he honestly have that much empty space in his head to memorize every single line of the play?
The bell rang, and immediately everyone gathered up their belongings. "Ino, Shikamaru, you two stay for a moment." The blonde looked like she was going to throw something (a desk might have been nice) and the male teen simply muttered his favorite word: "Troublesome."
The two approached the desk, where Kakashi was looking for something in his desk. "Ino, you need to shape up if you want to get better marks in this class," informed the teacher, still bent over in searching through his belongings. She looked kind of annoyed.
'I'm doing perfectly fine,' she seethed in her head, 'it's just the rare time that you check it and I don't know what a stupid line is. Give me a break…'
"Anyway," he seemed to have found what he was looking for (they saw a flash of orange before he pocketed it) "just stay for a little bit, rehearse a scene. You'll have a better insight about the play for the test on Thursday." Kakashi turned to the brunet, "You seem to know the book inside and out. Help her practice. Why don't you do the end of act 2, scene 4?"
Ino made a face, but turned to it nonetheless. She nudged Shikamaru to do the same; reluctantly he did. "Ah…" she piped up, seeing their teacher at the door, "Sensei, where are you going?"
"No where. I have to…pick up some papers at the office. I'll be back in a moment." Without another word he shut the door, cutting the noise from outside, where most students were on their way home.
"I can't believe him, can you, Shika? What nerve, really…" she folded her arms, and stared at the book. Stupid play. It wasn't even funny, but it was supposedly a comedic play. Mistaken identity? That was so 18th century! "I bet he isn't even coming back."
As soon as she'd spoken those words, their teacher came right back in. What the… "Well? Let's see some Twelfth Night action here." These were probably the worst people to get to do a play. "With expression, please. I'll give you bonus marks."
"You're marking us?" Their teacher shrugged. "Urg…" She looked over to her stuck-in-detention partner, who had the expression 'let's just get this damn troublesome thing over and done with'. Funny, if she didn't know any better, she might have thought their old, crazy teacher was up to something fishy. "But if she cannot love you, sir?"
"I cannot be so answer'd," replied Shikamaru. His voice seemed now full of emotion, though his face told otherwise.
"Sooth, but you must. Say that some lady, as perhaps there is, hath for your love a great pang of heart as you have for Olivia: you cannot love her. You tell her so; must she not then be answer'd?" This old style of speaking was really getting on her nerves.
"There is no woman's sides can bide the beating of so strong a passion as love doth give my heart. No woman's heart so big, to hold so much; they lack retention. Alas, their love may call;d appetite. No motion of the liver, but the palate, that suffer surfeit, cloyment, and revolt. But mine is all as hungry as the sea, and can digest as much: make no compare. Between that love a woman can bear me and that I owe Olivia."
To her, it sounded something like he was talking about love towards Olivia…or something. (She really wasn't sure.) But the tone in his voice just then sounded different then normal. She continued the next line. "Ay, but I know—"
He cut her off like it was meant to be. "What dost thou know?" his tone was sharp.
Ino wasn't sure if it was meant that way, or it was something else. His eyes weren't on the text anymore, but on her. She blinked once, and unintentionally stepped backwards. Her script was limply help in her hand. "I…" she started, though she knew it probably wasn't the right words. God damnit! What was wrong with her all of a sudden? Look away, her mind cooed. Look away, look away. Damn, her body was frozen. His eyes. Something about his usual lazy dark eyes held a new…fiery-type glint.
Kakashi coughed, causing both to glance back. They'd forgotten that he was standing there. "I think that will do. I'll see you two in class tomorrow." He stepped outside the room.
Shikamaru was the first to recover, and went back leisurely to his belongings, which never made it out of his bag in the first place. He seemed rather miffed. The teen girl did the same, though her movements were much slower then his. She hated this feeling. The feeling of uncertainty. "Uh…wait for me, Shika!" She hurried towards the exit, where her friend already was. She bumped into Asuma on the way. "Oops. Sorry, Sensei."
They made their way up to the lockers (which were located side by side). He kept one step ahead of her. That was unusual, since he was usually lagging behind, muttering how many stairs there were and how it caused him to waste so much energy. He really must have been upset, since he was walking at a fast pace, and there was, remarkably, no soft ramblings. "Hey…Shikamaru!" her tone was a little more forced. There was still no reply.
Ino clenched her jaw shut in frustration. "Nara Shikamaru!" she swung her history textbook at the back of his head.
He met the floor that so greatly welcomed him in return. "What in hells name was that?" he turned to her, voice louder then normal. His expression was that of part confusion, part aggravation.
"That…" she stepped over his body and continued on her way down the empty hall, "was a wake up call to reality. Who shoved a pole up your ass today? You're turning Neji on me…"
He rubbed the back of his head, and let the tension seep away from his facial features. "I'm not turning into Neji," he muttered quietly, taking a sluggish pace now. "Women…I'll never understand."
They grabbed their belongings and coats silently, and didn't speak until outside the building. "What dost thou know, Shika-kun, that thy does not?" Ino asked looking at the sky.
He looked over at his companion. "Huh? Don't speak like that, Ino. It huts my head."
"No," she replied with a sheepish grin, "I think that's because I whacked you over the head. But seriously, what were you so uptight about back there?"
He sighed, staring at the clouds that covered the sky. Man, they had life so easy. "Nothing. It was nothing. Just forget it."
It was her turn to sigh. "You're so strange." She stole a glance at his figure, glancing aimlessly into the sky. She was glad things were back to normal with him, sort of. "You know," she started, looking straight in front of her, "if there's ever something on your mind, just spit it out to me. We've known each other for too many years."
He didn't take his dark eyes off the sky. "Yeah, I know. I'm just not ready to tell you yet. So you're going to have to have a bit more patience with me."
She shook her head, the long blond hair trailing behind her. "Easier said then done."
Meanwhile back at the school, Kakashi was grinning behind his mask. "That's ten easy dollars for me," he pocketed the money that Asuma so gladly handed him.
"I still can't believe that stupid ploy of yours succeeded, Kakashi," he said crossly, just catching glimpse of Kurenai who was waltzing over.
"What can I say? I just know my students, that's all," the silver-haired man replied pleasantly.
"What's this? Betting on students again, Kakashi?" the female teacher asked with a slight frown. "Besides, I thought that usually happened between you and Gai."
"Yes well, he's proving less and less of a challenge," he shrugged, "and Asuma wages more." He received another glare.
"What is that I hear from my rival?" another voice popped up, and the gym teacher dressed in all green rounded the corner. "What is this I hear? That I'm not a challenge? Just what I expected my greatest rival to say. How you've bested me again, Kakashi." Gai went down on one knee and did a dramatic pose.
Everyone else stared on, not really wanting to express any words at the sheer stupidity of the scene. It was a good thing there were no students left wandering about. A foot came into contact with the gelled hair of the crazed gym teacher. "Get up, you sorry excuse for a 'rival'. You aren't the drama teacher," Anko from geography said curtly. She turned to everyone else. "You guys were betting without me?"
"Not to mention without me," came Morino Ibiki's reply, as he in turn rounded the corner. He was one of the math teachers.
Kakashi simply sighed. How'd everyone suddenly decide to show up? The next thing he knew, the principal herself would stride right up and join along.
"What's going on here?" barked a strong feminine voice. He'd obviously spoken too soon. Tsunade came up, and right away sensed what was going on. "I see. Well just don't stand there arguing like idiots, make bets, or something."
The silver-haired man was quite fond of sighing today. His school was screwed up somewhere. What kind of teachers made bets on which students would go out with whom? Wait…that was him. Oops.
"I say Inuzuka and that female Hyuuga," Asuma spoke with a nod of his head for emphasis.
"You're crazy," Anko frowned, "since it's obviously Uzumaki who'll end up with her. He may be stupid, but he'd never lose to that kid."
"No, you're both wrong!" Gai interjected, "it'll definitely be Lee and another charming flower!"
At this, some of them sniggered. "Now who's wrong? No offense, Gai," Ibiki said truthfully, "I'm with Anko. Uzumaki and Hyuuga Hinata."
"Come to think of it," Kurenai put a hand thoughtfully on her head, "I could have sworn Tenten and Hyuuga have gotten closer. I say it's them, though not aloud, of course."
"I'd like to think it was Sakura, who'd break Uchiha's cold exterior," Tsunade pushed a lock of blonde hair from her face, "but I think Kurenai's right on this one."
Kakashi was well into his Icha Icha Paradise book at this point. "Damn, guess I'm going to agree with the two ladies then," Asuma said gruffly. "They always win."
Welcome to a typical afternoon at Konoha.
It seemed all she was ever doing anymore was homework. It was homework this…if you don't do your homework that… It was really all the same to her.
What was really bothering the pink haired girl, though, was the fact that a certain dark eyed someone hadn't been at school for the past couple days. She might have been a bit paranoid, but she really couldn't stop the feeling that kept nagging her. He hadn't answered the phone yesterday, nor today either.
Shutting her chemistry book, she decided that today, she was going to march right up to his door and demand an explanation. If he'd answer, she didn't know. But she swore: she'd sit there on his doorstep and wait until he was ready to show his pale face.
Sakura came out of her room, and hurried down the stairs. "Mom!" she called, then noticed her in the kitchen. She was vaguely surprised to see her father there as well, since he usually worked late on weekdays. "I'm going out for a bit. See you later."
"Hold on, Sakura," her mother called, then coming to her daughter's side, "you can't go out now. We're going to visit someone today."
"What?"
"You remember old Chiyo-san, yes?" The green-eyed girl thought for a moment. Wow, was she ever bad with names. She nodded her head, yes, anyway. "Well we've heard that she's sick, so we're all going to visit her in the hospital this evening."
"Oh, but mother…" she frowned as her jacket was forced into her arms, "I was going to…do something important now."
"I'm sure it can wait," her mother replied, pushing her out of the house.
The whole ride to the hospital, she wondered what he was doing. Not that she was to the point of obsession with him (like some were, and that was just scary) but she was simply worried. The whole ordeal with Itachi had really caused him grief. He was simply too proud, though, to ask for help. Men. Honestly.
There was only one big hospital in the city. It was located in the midst of where the university campus was. She supposed it was because medical students had an easier time walking a block rather then taking the bus somewhere. The front glass doors slid open automatically. Instinctively, she wrinkled her nose. The smell of all hospitals was the same. It was rather sickening, which was why she didn't care too much for them.
Her father was talking to the receptionist, asking for the room of Chiyo-san (she still wasn't quite sure who that was). In the mean time, Sakura was listening to some of the employees talk around her.
"…have to work late. I've never quite seen something like that."
"Come on Sakura," her mother ushered. Her parents were already standing by the elevator. Her father pressed the 6th floor button, and up they went. When the doors opened, the stench of the hospital was even worse.
"…doctor needs someone in room 346. No one's around to do the routine checkup…"
All the hallways looked the same to her. Whitewashed walls, white plastic tiled floors, blinding white lights… No wonder people were sick for so long here. The atmosphere was just so dull. And why were the uniforms all white too? Those nurses were just running around everywhere today.
"…heart monitor isn't working properly. Tell Suzy to get a new one up here. Someone needs to monitor it!"
The door her parents stopped at was also white (surprise, surprise). They knocked gently on the door. There was a faint "come in". Inside was an old lady, propped up slightly, staring at them.
"…I can't do this anymore. That Uchiha kid just won't cooperate."
Sakura sighed. This place was just full of problems. 'No one's around…this isn't working…fix it…' her inner voice imitated, 'Uchiha kid this…'
Her eyes widened in realization. "Uchiha?" she questioned out loud. How many people were called that? "No way…" she breathed out. God damnit, where did that nurse get to? "Mom, Father, I'll be right back."
She ran down to the end of the hall, and looked both ways. She decided to take a left. There, she found who she was looking for. "Miss," the nurse said upon seeing her, "please don't run ins—"
"Uchiha!" she cut off. "What room is he?"
"Someone you know?" her high-pitched voiced asked. "He's in room 562, though, he's not really—miss? Please don't run in the halls!"
On her mad dash to get to the elevators (skillfully following the signs of course) her mind was plagued with thoughts. They were thoughts denying that it was indeed who she thought it was. It could be Itachi, for all she knew. But he wasn't a kid. It could simply be another person…with the name Uchiha…that was a kid.
The elevator finally came, she pressed the button so hard that it hurt her finger. Though the ride lasted all of ten seconds, ten minutes might have been its equivalent. When the doors opened, Sakura dashed down one hallway, convincing herself she'd get there one way or another. He (or supposedly) was somewhere on this floor.
Glancing at the numbers on the doors, it was 530 and getting smaller. She'd obviously gone the wrong way. Slowing down to a fast walk, she turned on her heel and went in the opposite direction.
The place was rather quiet, and her footsteps were echoing. How come this floor wasn't as filled with people as the last one? The numbers on the wall were getting larger, and she started to break out into a run again (there was no one around to tell her otherwise, right?)
She skidded to a halt in front of room 562. The door was slightly ajar. She began to hear her heart in her ears. What if it wasn't him? That would be embarrassing. But what if it was him? What would she say?
She swallowed, and pushed open the door a little more. There was only one bed in that room. A person was lying very still. Quietly, she pushed it open a little further. The person had a cast around the bottom of the left arm. There were also bandages around the head of raven hair. Raven hair? 'Oh God…is he? No, he can't be…'
Sakura stepped into the room, still deathly quiet. Much to her relief, though, his eyes were open. They were fixed to the ceiling. "S-Sasuke-kun?" she asked in barely a whisper.
She could see the eyes blink, and turn his head slowly. There was a mild look of surprise that flickered across his normally emotionless features. "S… Sakura?" He watched her approach, and she sat wordlessly on the chair stationed by the bed.
They sat there in an uncomfortable sort of silence. She was fumbling with her hands; he'd gone back to staring at the ceiling. Both of them had things to say, but neither seemed willing to speak up first. After another two minutes of stillness, the pink haired teen was the one to speak. "What…happened?"
"A lot," he replied shortly.
"I can see that." She slowly looked over at his weakened state. "What's the damage?" He didn't answer for awhile, keeping his eyes glued upward. It was like he hadn't heard. "Hello? I asked what's the damage."
His onyx orbs fell on the girl again. "Oh, was that it?"
"I guess the bandages are a concussion then," she spoke with a sigh. She assumed the momentary confusion was also a symptom of that.
"Yeah. Plus fractured wrist, and there was the dislocated shoulder, but I think that's fine now."
"How'd it happen?"
Frowning slightly, he turned his head away. "Long story." By her lack of response, he assumed she wasn't going to leave until he spilled. "Accident."
"Sasuke-kun…" she said gently, leaning closer, "come on. I've been so worried. Please tell me."
He let out a soft sigh. "I was going to skip Monday at school," he said, "so that I could get some more hours done. I was late at that point, so I decided to take my motorcycle." He reached over with his good hand, and picked up a rather large object on the side table. "I wasn't going to wear it," he said, gliding a couple fingers over it, "but…I don't know. I was…"
He trailed off, not continuing. "You what?" she pressed on, though her tone was still quiet.
He gave an uncharacteristic chuckle. "This may sound corny but…" his head spun back around so that they were looking at each other, "I was thinking of you."
Blinking a couple of times, she responded with an, "Eh?" She felt her cheeks grow warm.
"I don't know really," he said, now looking up again. That was probably the most comfortable position for him. "The thought just came to mind. So I put it on. And wouldn't you know…" he sighed again, "that car went through the red light. I can say, I'm proud of my reaction time. So I braked as much as possible, so the thing tipped over, hence, shoulder and wrist."
"Oh…" she replied to his story. Really now, what could she say to that?
"It didn't stop my head from hitting the car though," he brought his good hand to his head, remembering the pain. He closed his eyes.
Sakura smiled slightly. "See? There's no such thing as a curse." She could tell what he was thinking. "You're very much alive and well…sort of. If you don't believe, it won't happen. It's a psychological thing."
Sasuke could feel his healthy hand shaking, before he made it into a tight fist. "I…" The pink haired girl tilted her head to the side in anticipation of what he'd say next. She noticed his shaking hand. "I honestly thought, while I was lying there…"
He barely remembered it, actually. The images were all kind of fuzzy. There were a bunch of people that had come around, though they were all blurry. One of them had been telling him something. What exactly—he couldn't quite remember. The words weren't exactly coherent. But he did remember feeling numb all over. Awfully numb.
"I thought…I was going to die." In haling deeply, he reopened his eyes that were completely glazed over now.
"Sasuke-kun…"
"I was so sure of it. I was going to die. I was…scared. So scared…" his hand had been placed back upon his bandaged forehead.
She remembered another reason why she hated hospitals. They were drowned in the stench…the air of death. "Sasuke-kun…it's okay." These past few days had really put him under emotional stress. She was surprised he hadn't had a breakdown or something. Then again, this was Uchiha Sasuke. But even Uchiha Sasuke was human. "Please don't say that. You aren't going to die anytime soon. You can't…leave me again," she finished quietly, looking at the floor.
His dark eyes fell upon the girl sitting by the bed once again. "S-Sakura?" she looked on the verge of tears. Why was she about to cry? Shouldn't it have been the other way around? Well, he was never one to cry, but supposing it was that way, it should have been the other way around.
"Promise me, okay? Don't even think it for a second!"
He sighed. "Aa. If it makes you feel better."
At that moment, a nurse walked in, a tray in her hands. "Oh… You have a visitor, Uchiha? Well it's time to get some rest. Doctor's orders."
Sasuke frowned, all traces of weaker emotion now gone. "I'm fine."
It was Sakura's turn to frown. "Forgive his rudeness. He's a little upset today. That way he can get out of here and back to school as quickly as possible. Right, Sasuke-kun?"
The evil look she'd given him right there made him shrink a little more into the mattress. "Uh…" there weren't many things in the world to make the Uchiha boy have a loss for words. But this certainly did it.
"Good then," the nurse said happily, she set the tray down on a table, placing a needle into a vial of clear liquid. Sakura moved out of the way, so the medic could do her work.
"I'll see you at school in a couple days, okay?" the green-eyed one told the bedridden teen. He nodded, his eyes growing heavy at the anesthetic. Within another ten seconds, he had slipped into unconsciousness. Before she left, Sakura walked over, and placed her hand upon Sasuke's face.
He probably wouldn't have let her do this awake but… His pale complexion was smooth, and his sleeping face looked nothing like he did when he was alert. "Sasuke-kun…" her fingers moved down to his mouth, and eventually she recoiled her hand.
"Sorry," she told the nurse sheepishly. The medic shook her head understandingly.
Exiting the room, she made her way back to the elevator. What room were her parents visiting again?
AN: Gah. What a random chapter. I tried to touch on many pairings, and that's the result I got. Well, reasons why I took so long this time. One, my English and civics homework is pilling up to here. Two, my computer died on me a couple of weeks ago. I didn't get it back for awhile, but I'm glad it's now fine. -hugs computer- Then, it's March break. And I was on a skiing vacation. Which…didn't have much snow so that kind of defeated the purpose. Oh well…
You can so tell I had about zero ideas for this chapter. The only thing I kind of liked was how the teacher bet with their students. Alas. I've had about no inspiration lately. The anime is getting stupider each episode, and there's not much happening in the manga. Plus the lack of Saku/Sasu fics on makes me somewhat sad as well. Don't tell me people are giving up on them! -does long sigh-
I've been watching Black Cat. That is a good show. Too bad it's almost over. I should look into reading the manga of that. Hmm. Now…I must end my procrastination and do civics. And perhaps finish the chapter to my other story that's kind of sitting here. Blah…so much work.