Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters in it.
VI.
- Nyctophilia -
Sakura turned off the engine of the car and took a deep breath. She figured walking around on foot at 2 am would instantly turn her into a target for the police for it was doubled through the early hours. The solution was simple — her father's beat-up car was the perfect vehicle to not get anyone suspicious while driving the streets at such an early hour. Fortunately, he gave it to her a month ago because he bought another car for himself. Sakura wasn't one to love driving but she took the car and parked it in front of her apartment in case she needs to get somewhere quickly or just use it for whatever.
It turned out useful, after all. The small car with the neutral gray color didn't get anyone's attention as she drove the small distance between her apartment and the hospital. She tensed at the sight of Shizune's car at the far side of the parking. So she was on a night shift. Great. Bumping into her was the last thing she wished to do right now.
Sakura pulled out the keys and put them in her handbag, leaving the car afterward.
She almost choked with suppressed laughter at the thought of someone observing her from aside. Twice risking her life, at least three times daring to do illegal activities that can put her in jail, lying, performed at its greatest and she didn't feel a drop of remorse. If it wasn't her passion for medicine, surely she would end up in one of these gangs, being so particularly talented in deception and foul play. Moving as subtly as she could, her feet led her to the back entrance. The corridors were quiet, much to her relief, and she quickly made her way to the storage facility, pushing the door cautiously. Once she was sure there was no one in there, she took all she needed at lightning speed.
The antitoxin ampoules were on the shelf with the various vitamins and luckily there were four of them but Sakura stopped for a second, thinking of the possibility of someone checking on them afterward. Stealing from the hospital was not the best whim one could come up with, it had its serious consequences. But in an advanced condition like the one she had to treat, one ampoule was not enough and so she took two and prayed no one would notice.
So far so good, she turned to leave the facility at a fast pace but the door opened just before she reached for it. There was no time to hide.
"Sakura!" It was Migaki, overly surprised. "What are you doing here?"
"Do you want the truth or should I lie to you?" Sakura surrounded him, peeking outside the door if anyone else was coming.
"Truth," he chose, eyeing her suspiciously. "You're not getting high on painkillers, are you?"
"No!" Sakura exclaimed in a loud whisper. "I'd never."
"Then what are you doing here? Your shift ended long ago."
"Remember the soldier that escaped without anyone discharging him officially?"
"I doubt anyone in the hospital has forgotten if I have to be honest. We're in a dead-end because of him."
"Exactly. I think I might get us out of this situation."
"How? He refused treatment, didn't he? Going against his will is a double crime, against his rights and against the medical regulations as a whole."
"I know, I know," Sakura replied quickly. "I managed to give him my number should he changes his mind. Don't ask how or why."
"Alright."
"It seems he did change his mind. I'm going to his house."
"Now?" Migaki asked, after a pause.
"Now."
"Are you sure you know what you're doing?"
"Yes. Just don't tell anyone," Sakura stepped back, out of the facility, wearing the expression of a beggar. "The only one that knows everything is Ino."
"As you wish," Migaki replied slowly, his brows furrowing. "Sakura, please be careful."
She knew he wouldn't betray her and that's why their encounter wasn't that big of a deal. Moreover, it was good that someone else except Ino knew of her intentions and future whereabouts, that way she felt safer.
"Thank you. I will." Sakura managed a parting smile and left the hospital as fast as she could.
Okay. Nothing went wrong yet but she still had a bad feeling about it. She stopped the car at a safe distance from the house, not wanting to cause a scene or rouse suspicions. Her fingers drummed on the wheel as she looked around for an unwanted presence. The alleys were desolate and silent, which in any other day would alarm her to get in her car and drive back home immediately but today, it was a happy concurrence of circumstances.
She stopped the car at a safe distance from the house, not wanting to cause a scene or rouse suspicions. Her fingers drummed on the wheel as she looked around for an unwanted presence. The alleys were desolate and silent, which on any other day would alarm her to get in her car and drive back home immediately but today, it was a happy concurrence of circumstances.
Slight envy stung her as she got out of the car and walked up the street, chilly wind blowing her way. As she wrapped herself tighter around her coat, thoughts rushed into her mind. The rich always found a way to separate themselves from others, wartime or not. Nowhere else had she seen such beautiful houses. Even the street lamps in the district were different. Lanterns of black iron formed a path of soft yellow light that sent one back in time. Everything she laid eyes on was refined and nothing like what she was used to seeing in other parts of the city.
Most people barely held it together. Since the war had started the taxes were doubled. The usual amount, for the state, and the extra amount, for... well, no one really explained that but Sakura knew these funds were most likely used for military programs, weapons, and everything the government decided on instead of financing the hospitals and the mutual assistance programs.
All this enraged some groups and forced them to get out of their homes and go against the law, showing everyone that a human can use his rights and take a stand against the ones that stole their money. The same money that went (most of them) for ways and means to stop these groups. That's how the vicious cycle functioned for more than four years now and nothing changed. On the other side, there were people like the ones that lived in that district. Sure, they also suffered in one way or another but at least the material face of the reality did not create additional worries.
Sakura stopped in front of the Uchiha's house and raised her eyes. A weak light came through one of the windows on the second floor and it somehow eased her a bit. Stepping in was accompanied by the slight creak of the gate. As she walked to the front door slowly, she noticed there was a continuation of the garden to the side of the house and behind. It was a huge residence but not exactly welcoming.
She exhaled slowly and opened the door.
As expected, darkness covered everything but soon her eyes adjusted and she was able to discern silhouettes. It was a lobby-like hall, the wainscoting was wooden, as much as she could see. Two corridors led to different parts of the house but what she was interested in was right in front of her, the stairs.
Sakura wanted to take her time and examine every spot in the house but reminded herself there was something of greater importance at the moment. Before she could even reach the top, her brows furrowed at the distant sound of а raucous coughing. She followed it through another maze of doors and rooms until finding the source. It wasn't actually the bedroom that was lit up, it was the bathroom applied to it.
"Oh no..." Sakura kneeled, finding him sitting on the tiled floor, his back against the wall. He held a cloth in his hands, soaked in blood and it wasn't the most disturbing part of his attire, his shirt had stains too. Discernible, despite the dark color. Sakura touched his forehead and he recoiled, glaring at her. "You have to lay down." Sakura pretended to not notice his gaze and especially the message it sent, proceeding to reach for his hand. "I'll help you to get to the bed."
"No need," Sasuke snapped, in a delayed attempt to reject her help but she had already caught his hand.
"No need for your sinew and muscle cells to slowly die out but they do," Sakura said dryly, offering the support he needed while getting on his feet.
With a lot of struggle from both sides, they managed to find their way to the bed and Sakura took care he laid on it as soon as she could. She knew it was a bad idea to turn the reading light on because it could be too bright but that wasn't a matter of choice now because she needed to see. Thankfully, the light was soft and didn't seem to bother him. What actually bothered her was the look in his eyes, currently fixed on her.
"This..." Sakura said absently as she found one of the ampoules in her bag and dragged the liquid from it with the syringe, sitting on the bed. "May cause you some minor dizziness. But you'll feel better." She did not require any movements from him and that's why she sat on the bed, pulling his sleeve herself, then slid the needle under his skin. "Sorry..." Sakura glanced up at him. "But I'd rather have you alive."
Happy to find out she carried some spare patches in her bag, she hurried to apply one to the spot so that it doesn't bleed.
She remained silent for a few seconds, making sure his breathing normalized and relaxed. Her eyes ran over his shoulder, wondering if the bullet wound was better but preferred to leave it for now, hoping to get an opportunity to examine it later. Quite predictable, his body language suggested that her presence was highly unwanted.
"Give me that." She pulled the soaked piece of cloth from his fist and felt the urge to smile at his impenetrable silence, although she didn't. There was something comical about his behavior but he didn't seem to realize it. The whole show he put on just made her smile. Perhaps he was an attention-seeker after all. Bad thing is, you can't hold that act for long when your own body turns against you.
Sakura stood up and went to throw out the cloth along with the ampoule. He could use a little temperature drop, his skin was once again burning and she didn't know how long it has been like that. It's a miracle he still functioned... She leaned over the sink, breathing out. One or two doses wouldn't cure him completely but at least his life was out of danger now. She did it.
Her eyes raised to the wide looking-glass. She saved yet another life and was proud of herself. That she needed permission was completely another matter. Perhaps being suicidal complicated things a bit. Her hand reached for one of the piled-up towels next to her and moistened it with ice-cold water.
Why he called was still a mystery to her. He looked so determined to die back then. What happened?
She squeezed the water-soaked towel and returned to him, sitting in her previous place. Sakura wearied, leaning in to place it on his forehead but his eyes penetrated right through her and she couldn't help but meet them. A grave mistake was the thought that ran through her head at first as her own body betrayed her, warming up enough to make her feel it all over her face. She froze, forgetting about what she was doing in a split second, his silence cracking every bit of nerve she had left. "What is it?"
"Nothing."
Sakura leaned back, averting her eyes to the handbag before taking it in her lap. There was nothing he could do except rest for now, which meant her work was done. "I... uh," She looked down, brows wrinkling. "Have to go back home. You should be fine for now. I mean, I hope you will be. I, uh, I'll... come tomorrow to give you another dose." Before even thinking it through, her feet had dragged her away. Perhaps it was too awkward for her to stay and not do anything or it was just that she felt warmer and warmer under his gaze.
"Where do you think you're going?" Sasuke asked, his voice more tired than threatening.
Sakura nailed in place, turning to look at him.
"I—"
"Come back."
Sakura tucked a hair behind her ear, obeying silently. Her hands were squeezing the bag's handles, thoughts messing up like never before. It was because of the early hour, for sure.
"When do you have to be in the hospital?"
Sakura met his eyes, taken aback by the question. But she soon came to her senses and her attention diverted to her watch. "Four hours and a half."
Sasuke slowly took a breath and exhaled closing his eyes. It seems she gave herself the answer to the main question in her head but there were lots of things that still bothered her. For example—
"Don't stand there like that, you're annoying me."
Sakura made a few steps surrounding the bed, furtively, then with more determination. She left her handbag and slowly climbed over, hands enveloping her legs. It felt way too uncomfortable and intrusive to just sit or lay in someone's bed. Especially if the bed was so... expensive. Dark machоgаny, with sheets and pillows in the color of an old, full-bodied Bordeaux. Everything screamed to her that she didn't belong there. Funny but it repressed her in a way, being besieged by so many expensive objects. Or was it their owner that repressed her?
Her eyes, previously observing the bed, shifted on the man that lay completely still in front of her. Only his chest heaved up and down, indicating that he was alive and breathing. Sakura slightly tilted her head. There was something very captivating in him but she couldn't really understand what. The feeling resembled the one she often had when she was little. Burning desire to touch or see something an authority had told her categorically not to. A poisonous apple that allured with an impeccable appearance. She had been warned about people like that numerous times yet there she was, falling for the trap with every second. The navy blue looked just picturesque on him.
"Quit staring."
Sakura blushed again, looking down immediately. He contained equal amounts of beauty and unscrupulousness, which, she had to admit, аroused mixed feelings. Then again, he probably was nothing like it before losing everyone close to him and that's the reason she couldn't leave, out of curiosity. What was he like when he was not full of hatred and sorrow?
"Do you have any tea herbs around?" She asked and he opened his eyes.
"What for?"
"Tea." Sakura had to bite her lip so that the smile doesn't form on her lips.
Sasuke held his eyes on her in a brief silence.
"I guess."
"Now you only have to tell me how to get to your kitchen." This time she smiled sincerely, amazed by the fact that such a magnificent house has always existed in the city she lived in. And she thought her apartment was great.
"What are you smiling for?" He looked away, apparently angered with her facial expressions.
"Oh, nothing." Sakura shrugged and got out of the bed, smoothing her clothes. "It must be tough... living in a castle."
She walked away, feeling the next murderous look of his following her as she crossed the room.
"I'll find it myself, then."
Alright, teasing was the least she needed to do while residing in a house with a professional gunslinger. That was a bit over the top but not completely unneeded. Angering him meant that she had successfully diverted his focus point from the pain.
Sakura went down the stairs, diving into the darkness again. This time, though, she had a notion of where to step.
The kitchen was through the corridor on her right and although groping around for quite some time, she found the switch. It took her around a minute to get used to the view. It was not less than dreamy. Spacious but not too much, a square island-like bar dragged the attention at first but then one found himself holding his breath because the combination of colors was more than pleasing to the eye. Black Emperador marble countertops fitted the white shelves fairly well and the frames were of a material she had never seen before. Perhaps a silver branch. Likely.
Two lamps hung low from the ceiling, lighting up the stone surface and Sakura just took a second to examine its texture while passing by. How could one focus on cooking when everything looked so fabulous? She blinked, wresting herself out of her reverie, and hurried to find a pot and the herbs she needed. Her movements slowed down once again, at the sight of a wooden box on one of the shelves. It read Tea on it but it looked special in a way, positively hand-made. The letters were written with a pyrographer.
Sakura took it carefully and turned it around. There was a small inscription in the corner.
We know you wanted one for years.
I. & S.
After realizing how precious the object in her hands was, her movements became a couple of times more measured. She opened it and found at least twelve types of tea, ordered in different sockets.
It was a very sweet gesture from the brothers, making such a gift to whoever it was the receiver. But judging from the dust all over the box, she assumed it had turned into one of these objects that bring unnecessary memories. People usually tossed away these after a tragic event occurred. Of course... there was a list of certain objects that would turn out hurting you even more if you toss them away. The box certainly was on that list.
Anyway, as one that started drinking tea recently, after finding out about all the negative effects the everyday abuse of caffeine had on her, she fell in love with the box and swore to buy herself one in the near future. It wouldn't be that beautiful, for sure, but she still wanted something similar. Fifteen minutes later, the tea was ready and she headed back to the second floor, switching the light off with the help of her elbow. Truth be told, there was a pain in her heart, having to part with that kitchen. It was a work of art. In fact, the whole house was a work of art.
Sakura left the cup on the bedside cabinet and proceeded to sit in her previous place. "Enjoy," she raised her cup as if giving a toast and sipped carefully from the steaming liquid. Sasuke heaved up to a half-sitting, half-laying position and took the tea. The way he looked at it just made her smile again. "It's not toxic," she chuckled quietly.
He tasted it, reluctantly. "Passionflower," Sasuke spoke absently, looking at the dark liquid. "My mom used to drink Passionflower tea at night."
"Did she have trouble sleeping?" Sakura left her cup on the plate slowly.
"She was an insomniac."
"A nice choice," Sakura decided to go on with the quiet tone he set up. "Passionflower fights some serious diseases. Including insomnia."
"Yeah. It has a calming effect."
The silence extended between them as they sipped from their cups, deep in thought. Curiosity burned Sakura to ask the countless questions circling inside of her head but she reminded herself to keep it quiet. In her opinion, patience was one of the most underrated virtues. And it seems she had forgotten how to be patient because why else did she feel uncomfortable making such long pauses? As if she had to slow down in order to synchronize with him. In the end, she didn't mind because the pauses gave her time to think over his words, which, by all means, were carefully premeditated. She was sure his thoughts were just as overwhelming as everyone else's, just that they rarely transformed into spoken words.
"You came," Sasuke renewed the conversation, making her raise her head in surprise. The sudden change of subject got her unprepared and she didn't know what to say, at first.
"You called," she replied, with the same dose of ambiguity.
"I don't care..." he started, taking a breath, "About you or your hospital."
Sakura held his eyes for a moment. "Alright."
"And I don't need to explain anything to you. Are we clear?"
"Yes."
Sakura didn't realize her whole body had tensed until the moment he leaned back on the pillow again and resumed the silence. She felt the urge to leave the house in an instant but her limbs felt numb, the tiredness was bringing her down. Fortunately, the tea she made herself was black and it was supposed to keep her awake for the next hours. Didn't seem to work so far. As for her tea companion... if people had an aura, his would most definitely be the densest darkness one could possibly imagine. Not the best person to drink tea with. Still, it didn't feel like she had a choice, especially after that imperative Come back she received a while ago.
Sakura turned around and left the cup on the bedside cabinet behind her. That was positively the longest night in her life. As if time itself mocked her, taking the form of a tyrant, slowing down just to enjoy her suffering. The air had become way colder and it made her shrink, pulling her legs closer to herself.
Sasuke followed her example and left his tea aside abruptly.
"Do you want me to see your wound?" Sakura made a timid attempt to continue the conversation but was cut off immediately.
"No."
She nodded and looked down. Having a conversation with the wall would most definitely be easier. However... going through all these ridiculous things in the past days wasn't for nothing. And if he thought she'd just flee, frightened of his rapid mood swings or irrelevant death threats, he thought wrong. She wasn't that kind of a person. Her eyes rose up again, finding a new determination.
Sakura neared him slowly, hoping that the courage she had was enough to get her through another trial. She took off the towel from his forehead and reached to touch it, despite the aggressive vibe he gave out since the moment she decided to approach without him allowing it. His skin was still warm but within the range of normal, which called another thing to her mind.
"There's no way your brain can rejuvenate your cells if you don't sleep," she said, matter-of-factly, and reached for the additional sheet, folded up at the lower side of the bed. Pulling it enough to cover most of his body was easier than enduring his stable gaze, silently following her movements. He was so unnaturally still that she assumed it certainly had something to do with the fact he was a soldier. Only they had the ability to be so steady and silent at the same time. "This is not just a thing people say a lot, it's actually a fact, you know," she said, finally meeting his eyes.
Perhaps it was the deficiency of light or its elusive ways to change perception but Sasuke's features seemed to get a tad softer. Before she could make sure of it, he turned around and switched the light off. Sakura stood still for a second, heavy confusion clouding up her mind. It was the appropriate moment for her to leave now, wasn't it? The situation was even more frustrating for her because neither of them moved for one long moment. He was the first one to do it, ensconcing into a better position to sleep, seemingly undisturbed by her obvious hesitation.
Alright, leaving then.
She turned around in order to find her bag but froze at the sound of his voice, giving the next order. Another side-effect of being a first lieutenant, she assumed.
"You can sleep here," Sasuke murmured in exasperation.
As much as she was bewildered by this remark, Sakura actually hoped he would say it because that black tea didn't work. In fact, her whole body was exhausted and all she could think of was how to lean on something and close her eyes. So that's exactly what she did.
At the moment her phone's alarm rang out she uncovered and rose up sharply, determined to stop the awful noise as quickly as possible. Fortunately, the alarm had woken up only her. When she narrowed her eyes, trying to figure out where she was, the memories returned along with a rapid change of colors on her face.
The faint morning light made its way through the semi-transparent curtains and it was as if everything had acquired a shadow form. Still, it was enough for her to see... Sakura grabbed her bag and coat from the corner of the bed and almost ran out of the room, and down the stairs. She didn't stop or take another breath until hearing the click of her car's door, isolating her from the outer world.
Tired or not, she remembered clearly falling asleep on the other side of the bed. What she did not remember was covering herself with blankets.
A/N: Thanks for reading! And thanks to everyone that joined in recently, you guys are awesome. Goodness, I really hope I won't take a wrong turn and make everything cloying. Although this chapter had a slight beauty-and-the-beast scent. The freaking tension between these two wasn't enough for all these years, now I'm adding up more myself. #masochist. Couldn't help it, it fits the SasuSaku dynamic really well. Tension is the heart of their relationship, in my opinion.
There will be more SasuSaku in chapter 7 along with the brief appearance of Karin whom I made a bit of a bitch. I just needed that kind of a figure in the story and it's her that I thought of first. It's probably because I don't like her as much as the others. For those of you who are waiting for Kakashi, you guys have a lot more waiting to do because he's arriving not until chapter 11 (or 10; I'll see about that)