Well judging from all the reviews, my stories are kinda good, but not good enough. Damn...Oh well, I enjoy writing these stories for you all! I'm really dedicated to this story, but I discovered something about the title...While Hyrugi means absolutely nothing, Usagi means rabbit. I was just trying to make up words, they were not supposed to mean anything. So the circus is called Rabbit Hyrugi Circus? How ironic, a cute innocent name, for a fucked up place...
Haha, just my luck. Oh, there is a new poll on my profile for a new story plot in my noggin, and I don't know who would go well with Gaara. So visit and place your vote!
Hmm...I think I'm going to include Kiba's death scene in this chappie, but it's not anything too great or descriptive.
If writing looks like this, flashback...
One more thing, this chapter will begin how the cast got the way they did.
Story dedication:FumetsuKaji (More later...)
Disclaimer: I'm not Masashi Kishimoto, I'm all woman. :P
Naruto's POV:
He had left a little while ago, but I remained where I laid. Thankfully, the restraints were off, but my wrists were sore and bleeding from being rubbed raw. My head hurt, as did my stomach. Hell, every part of me hurts! I felt sick, really really sick, and I didn't want to get up ever again. It was still Monday if the nightly sky was any indication, and I doubted I would be in any shape to work the rest of the week. Of course, there really wasn't a choice. There never would be a choice as long as I was here. I yawned and rubbed my eyes. I was really tired, but I was also afraid to close my eyes to sleep.
Shivering in the cold air, I wondered where the fuck my clothes were. My door lock was still broken, and God forbid anyone come inside and see me in this position. The thought of the cast finding out still terrified me, regardless of what Shikamaru told me. It didn't matter what I said, I would be the one who was dirty, the one who was impure, and I would be the one who was forever shamed.
I slowly rose from the bed, and grabbed my forgotten clothes on the floor. Pulling them on, pain shot into me at my every movement. 'Fucking bastard,' I growled in my head. Why me? Why the hell did I have to suffer through this? Tears welled up in my eyes, "I'm going to be stuck here forever..."
Sasuke's POV:
My fox was hurting inside, a pain that would never go away. It wasn't something curable, and was not easily forgotten. It was something that would follow him for the rest of his life, and I felt a little guilt, but only deep, deep, deep down. Uchiha's didn't show remorse for anyone, and I wasn't going to change that anytime soon. But I couldn't think about that right now, I was on an important mission.
I was currently on my way to the freak's building, I needed to have a word with that damn rag doll. Too many times he was in the way, saying things that made my fox uncomfortable. Things that I didn't want him hearing. Yes, this definitely had to stop right now.
"E-evening, sir." I watched as the blue freak bowed hastily.
I gave her my usual nod before looking around, "where is Shikamaru?"
The tone of my voice must have made her more nervous because she began to talk faster, "h-he w-went-t outside." I growled in anger, causing Hinata to flinch and rush away.
Exiting the freak's building, I scanned the terrain for that fucking rag doll. He didn't seem to be in his usual places. Where could he have gone at this hour? "Might you be looking for me?"
Where the hell did he come from? I turned to Shikamaru angrily, "we have to talk. Now." He looked as if he expected this, and just nodded. I began walking to my building expecting him to follow, and by the sounds behind me I could tell he was. Reaching my destination, I opened the door and waited for him to enter.
After we both had been seated I began, "I suppose you know what this is about?"
Shikamaru hesitantly nodded, "It's about Naruto, right?"
I didn't feel the need to confirm it, so I just continued "then I guess you also know what I am going to say next?"
He looked a bit uncomfortable now, "no sir, I do not."
I fingered my gloved hand nonchalantly before glaring at him, "keep your mouth shut when you're around Naruto. If you can't, then just stay away from him."
I saw him shiver at the cold tone in my voice, but I could tell he wouldn't back down that easily. "If I do as you say, it will only hurt Naruto. He needs to know about these things, and he'll find out sooner or later. And it is best now." He said offhandedly, trying to ignore the glare in my eyes.
"What Naruto feels isn't any of your business. And neither does what he may or may not know." I warned him.
The rag doll shook his head, "you're wrong. Anything that has to do with Naruto is mine, and every other freak's business. He is like family to us, and we'll do what we can to protect him from you."
I smirked at the rag doll's statement, "I'm sure you all would, but aren't you the only one of all the freaks who know?"
The defiant look on his face faltered a bit, "that maybe true, but not for long. Naruto's going to tell them."
A small chuckle escaped from my throat, "no he won't. He is too afraid of ruining that image you all have made out of him. And even if he does end up telling, just what do you think you'll all be able to do? You better know your place."
The freak was smart, but there was no way to help Naruto. "The only way you'll get him out is in a body bag. He won't be able to pass the posts and even if you somehow got him past them, I can track him." That microchip was deep inside my fox, and the surgery that was needed to take it out would most likely kill him. The genius freak was silent. "I wonder what Naruto would think if he found out your secret."
The genius's eyes widened. My smirk increased, "I think we're done here. Remember my words." I cautioned him, watching him get up and leaving as fast as he could.
I sighed and leaned back in my seat, it had to be almost midnight. Tomorrow was going to be a long day, I could already tell. My mind began to wonder a bit. Killing that loud mutt friend had been fun. If Naruto ever found out how his friend had died, and how Shikamaru knew, he would never believe me.
I watched the sleeping form of my fox, he truly was beautiful. He was like nothing I've seen before. You didn't see many Japanese with blonde hair and blue eyes. It was unheard of. Where I came from anyways. Everything about him was a mystery, filled with secrets begging to be revealed. And in time they would, whether it was by force or not. It didn't matter to me.
The operation went well. I had never seen so much blood in my life, not even when I was getting Choji's food from my supplier. The surgery had been a fast procedure, and it was complex. No, not even the most skilled surgeon in the world would have been able to pull it off with ease as I did. I was an exception, having been trained by the best.
A knock sounded on my door, breaking me out of my thoughts. I narrowed my eyes, who the hell would be knocking on my door? Surely not one of my cast members, they stayed clear of me, except of course Hinata. Quickly washing my hands, I opened the door glaring at the intruder. It was the unruly brunette that the blonde had come with. "Yes?" I growled.
"Have you seen my friend? You know, a short blonde, blue eyes, has a potty mouth?" That definitely described the blonde in a nutshell, nothing more, nothing less. The brunette seemed a bit nervous and guilty, probably from allowing his friend to leave unattended.
"No I have not." He kept standing there, fidgeting a bit. "Was there something else you wanted to say?"
He nodded desperately, "could you help me look for him? I know he wouldn't just leave, and I tried to call his cell but it must have died." The phone didn't die, I had smashed it when it had started to ring, it was annoying.
"I'm not a babysitter, find him yourself." I growled.
"Come on! It will only take a few minutes." This guy was pissing me off, why couldn't he be a good friend and get the fuck out of here?
"Maybe he went home." I muttered, I didn't have time to waste with this annoyance.
The brunette shook his head, "no he didn't. Naruto is afraid to be alone(A), so he most likely would walk around the circus grounds exploring." He kept giving me an irritated look since I wasn't complying.
"Then go search around the circus grounds for him." I tried to close the door on him, but he pushed it back open before it could shut completely.
"Go with me!" He had fear in his eyes, maybe due to my cast?
He had to go, he obviously wasn't leaving until he found his friend. I thought quickly, the freaks wouldn't be in their building right now since they tended to leave circus grounds to roam around, the only freedom they felt they had. All except for the rag doll of course, he never left except on Sundays to watch clouds. He would be my trump card. I looked back to the pleading brunette's face, "ok, I'll help you. Let's go check around the cast's building." He eagerly nodded and stepped back.
I exited my building, making sure to close the door tightly behind me. The blonde wouldn't wake for a long time, and even if he did, the bindings would keep him in place. We made our way around the circus grounds, me silently, the idiotic brunette calling out his friend's name. I think it was time I got rid of him. Leading him into the freak's building, I could see only Shikamaru was here, as I had expected. He was sitting in front of his cage, playing a solo game of checkers.
The rag doll gave us both a questioning look, but didn't say anything. The mutt turned towards me, "why would my friend be in here?" I didn't say anything. I could see the blonde's friend was getting impatient and opened his mouth to say something, but I rapidly grabbed both his arms and pulled them behind him. I could tell both brunettes were shocked at my actions.
I worked out a pocket knife that I had for protection from my pocket and tossed it to Shikamaru. "Kill him."
"What the h-" I covered the struggling mutt's mouth, and held his arms behind him tightly. I gave the genius freak a glare. "Now." I could tell he really didn't want to, and stared wide eyed at the knife at his feet. The struggling brunette in my arms was shaking in fear and was trying to bite my hand.
"Shika, now!" I commanded the freak. Never had I yelled, especially not at my cast. They had never given me reason to, they didn't hesitate to do what I asked. Of course, I never asked for this kind of thing. Hearing the dominance in my tone, the brunette freak grabbed the knife weakly, and slowly came near us. The mutt in my arms was thrashing wildly as the other came nearer, but it was no use.
Shikamaru reached us and looked reluctantly at the knife and then back at me. His eyes were pleading for me not to make him do this, but I growled at his unwillingness.
The freak grabbed the knife more firmly in his hand, and closing his eyes, rammed it straight into the chest of the other brunette. I felt the mutt jerk at the knife inside of him, but he was still moving and his muffled scream showed he still had some life in him. "Again. Finish him."
The freak was practically sick to his stomach, but nonetheless complied and pulled the knife out and did it again and again until the other was no longer thrashing. I dropped the lifeless body of the brunette carelessly, leaving the freak to think of what just happened.
Now what the hell was I supposed to do with it? There was sure to be an investigation if I threw it away in the woods. I didn't need that kind of hassle. I had to get rid of all the evidence, so did I burn the body? I looked at the rag doll who was looking at me with the same question in his eyes.
An idea came into my head. Of course there was a much easier solution to all of this. "Skin it and wrap it in red for Choji." I said calmly, walking away and leaving the freak with the body and his new task.
That was a fun day, and no matter what, Shikamaru would never forgive himself for it. The way I saw it, it was a win-win situation for me. I wondered if Shikamaru would ever tell Naruto the truth, because until then, the brunette had no right to preach about being afraid of what others thought. And if the brunette ever did tell, I was sure Naruto would never forgive him. He wouldn't tell the ragdoll that obviously, Naruto was too nice for his own good, but deep inside he would hold remembrance of what had happened to his friend.
Naruto's POV:
Morning. Fuck. The bright rays of sunshine mocked me as I got up. The bright sun was giving me a migraine, and there was no motivation to get up. I just wanted to sleep and never get up again, but I didn't want another confrontation from that stupid asshole. Rubbing my eyes, I groggily got up and dressed. Today was going to be painful, no scratch that, this whole week was going to be painful. My hand suddenly brushed against the collar. I had forgotten it was there.
Growling, I forced my hand away from it and walked towards my door. Each step I took brought pain from my wound, the microchip. How could something so small hurt so bad? I still couldn't believe where the microchip was! It was no wonder the damn thing burned. I reached the door, and realized someone had fixed the lock, probably during my hour's sleep. There was just one problem, it was locked from the outside! "What the fuck," I murmured lowly to myself.
I pulled the doorknob hard, but it wouldn't budge. I pouted and saw a note pinned to the side of me, and picking it up, noticed it was from the bastard himself. It read:
Stay in today, but be sure to report to work tomorrow.
-Sasuke
A simple note was fine and all, but did he really have to lock me in? It wasn't like I could pass those posts. I sighed in both irritation and relief. Maybe now I could sleep some more. I scratched at my wound, it was itching bad, but hurt even when I barely touched it. I pulled off my shirt to look at it more closely and immediately felt sick to my stomach. The wound was turning sickly green.
Sasuke's POV:
My fox was dying. I knew it would come to this. As I was fixing his lock as he slept, he was shaking slightly and breathing hard in his sleep. He was also clutching his stomach painfully and on further inspection I could see why. His wound was green, it was probably infected.
It didn't surprise me though, he moved around way too much, was always stressing, and that shock he received from the collar was probably the icing on the cake. I locked him in the room to help keep him from moving anymore than was necessary, and he would hopefully get some sleep. In the note, I told him to stay in but to work tomorrow, but that definitely wouldn't be happening. As soon as I was done with him, he wouldn't be working for a while. I would check on him later, and possibly have to operate on him as well. If things went well, I would be able to save his life, but there was no point in worrying him or the others so I wouldn't tell them.
Naruto's POV:
I think the show was over now, the 'oh so happy' circus music had stopped playing not too long ago. I had slept practically all day, and felt better, but my mind kept flickering back to the wound. What was going on? Why the hell was my stomach turning green? I just prayed it wasn't anything too serious.
I looked away from the wall that I had been staring at, and towards the sound of my door being unlocked. I pulled my feet closer to me as the ringmaster stepped in. "I see you had a good rest." I stayed silent, warily watching him. The last time he had been in here wasn't exactly a picnic. "Don't feel like talking?" He teased. Oh how I wanted to rip that fucking smirk off his mouth and shove it down his throat. The ringmaster shrugged and closed my door behind him, making sure to lock it tight before placing the key back into the safety of his pocket.
I backed up to the headboard as he came closer, and sat on the edge of my bed. "What the hell do you want," I grumbled.
He shrugged again, "I can't visit without a reason?" I didn't reply. "Well, since you insist on a reason, let's just say I am willing to tell you four stories."
I gave him a confused look, four stories? "What are you talking about? What does that have to do with anything?"
The ringmaster chuckled, "this could be interesting, so why don't you listen to what I have to say?"
I really didn't trust him, but as always, he made me curious, "well what is it?" His smirk was getting on my nerves, why couldn't he just smile like normal people.
"You don't really want to know, do you?" He retorted at my attitude.
"Say what you need to say already and leave me alone," I growled.
"Impatient as always. Don't you want to know how the freaks got the way they are?"
I growled, "don't call them that!"
Sasuke's POV:
My fox was so touchy, but then again, that's what attracted me to him in the first place. "Ok, then. Don't you want to know how the cast got the way they are?"
He shook his head, "no I don't." I could tell he was lying, but I decided to play along.
"Really now? And why is that? Are you appalled? Do they disgust you?"
He shook his head again, "of course not! But the cast's personal lives are their own business, not stories to share!" I couldn't help but laugh at the serious expression on my fox's face.
"I'm sure they wouldn't mind. They don't have anything to hide, especially not from you. They do think the world of you after all." I could see that I had struck a chord as I watched the fox's face fall. I chose to just continue, "well, if you don't want to listen, then don't. But I'll tell you anyways." I knew he would listen, regardless of what he said. "I'll tell you first about Hinata."
"About a year or two before Hinata came to my circus, she was royalty. Sounds impossible right?"(1)I watched Naruto's face, but he remained silent, listening intently. "She may not look it, but she came from India. Her people were known for practicing Hindu, a religion that worshiped a Goddess, Kali, who was considered the goddess of time and change. This Goddess was among many others, but was the foremost of them all. Hinata's parents had an obsession for their only child to be worshiped as a Goddess."
I stopped seeing if any realization would spark on Naruto's face, but it was blank. "I don't get it."
I held back a laugh at his confused face, "Hinata's appearance wasn't always the way it looked now. Her parents were so determined to make their daughter a goddess, and would stop at nothing to achieve their goal."
My fox's eyes finally widened as my words settled in. "You mean-"
I nodded, "they brought in their best doctors to transform Hinata into the perfect replica of Kali, but even they couldn't pull it off. Hinata was indeed the splitting image of the Goddess, except for one thing. Her skin. Kali means 'the black one,' which you can see Hinata is not. Her blue skin gave off the ruse, and she was immediately shunned by all friends and members of the court. After her parents were threatened to be dethroned for such an act, they said it was Hinata's idea to save their skins."
Naruto shook his head and said quietly, "that's fucked up."
I murmured an agreement and continued, "she was a princess, next in line for the throne, but thanks to her parents obsession, she lost everything. Why do you think she is so polite? She was raised to be an heir. After being banished from receiving the crown, from her own home and country, she traveled around the world living on scraps and was never pitied. That is until she reached my circus, she was given home here. A home that gave her safety, food, and a roof over her head, and she was my first freak in the circus."(2) He frowned at that word again, but was silent, probably processing my words.
I got up from his bed, "well that was story number one. You'll hear the other three in time, but for now eat this." I dug in one of my pockets and tossed him a sleeping pill.
He frowned at it, "why?"
I shook my head, "don't ask questions you don't want to hear the answer to."
He stared at me hard, "but I do want to know."
I laughed darkly, "just eat it." No matter what, I knew he would eat it. He glared at the pill, but hesitantly picked it up. I couldn't stop the smirk from coming onto my face as he quickly swallowed the pill in disgust. I always got what I wanted, and I'm sure he realized that by now.
The pill was taking its effect fast as I watched my fox's eyes closing. "What would you do if I told you, you were dying?" I asked him as he struggled to stay awake.
"What would you do if I said I was going to kick your ass." He growled. Defiant as ever, but it didn't matter because he belonged to me.
(Time Skip)
It was infected. Real badly too. The stomach was a bit sore from the infection, as was the liver, which wasn't bad. Unfortunately the infection was all in the gallbladder. It was going to have to come out. I didn't have the right tools to do it either, so it was all going to have to be improvised. And that wasn't safe at all, in fact it could even be fatal. Of all the complications from this surgery, the most severe would be the risk of bacteria being absorbed into the bloodstream, which would lead to septic shock and organ failure.
Normally, it was unwise to remove the gallbladder through open chest surgery, but I didn't have the needed tubes and antibiotics. This wasn't going to be easy, not even if I had the proper tools. The surgery to remove the gallbladder was called a cholecystectomy, and with traditional surgery, the gallbladder was to be removed through a 5 to 8-inch long incision in the abdomen. The cut was to be made just below the ribs on the right side and just below the waist. This was an open cholecystectomy, the one I would have to do.
A newer way to remove the gallbladder, and the one I wouldn't be able to do, was called laparoscopic cholecystectomy. With this surgery, a laparoscope, a small, thin tube with a scope on the tip of it that is used to see the inside of your body, was to be used to remove the gallbladder. Several small incisions were used rather than one large incision. This procedure would have been much safer, but you make due with what you can I suppose.
Naruto's subconscious POV:
Dull pain fills my body. I can't see anything but black, I can't open my eyes, I can't lift my body. Nothing seems to be working right. What the hell is wrong with me? I feel as if I'm floating, maybe I'm dead? No, I wouldn't be dead, life wasn't that forgiving. So what was going on with me?
I can't remember what happened last. Who was I? What was my name? Wait...Naruto, that's right, I was Naruto. My mind felt like a muddled mess, nothing made sense. I felt sick, I wanted to throw up. I kept seeing a light flashing, but it was mocking me. It came nearer and nearer, but skittered away hurriedly as if it was never there. Something was wrong, I couldn't breathe! I felt numb, lifeless, as if I was dying.
I wanted to struggle, get up, or do something, but I was too heavy. Every once in a while, the darkness would give into flashes showing the ringmaster with a knife. He was cutting into my flesh, but why? Was this happening? Was it really happening, or was it my imagination? I could feel a slight throb on the right side of my rib cage, and there was pain between my shoulder blades.
How could I feel pain, but not move? Where was the fairness in that? Nausea filled me, and I felt dizzy as hell. I wanted to cry out, scream in pain, snarl in anger, but nothing happened, nothing came out. I think I might have been hallucinating.
A white rabbit kept hopping in and out of my vision. Fucking rabbit, stay the hell away from me! Why do you relentlessly follow me? Why can't you get a fucking clue and learn when no means no! I'll teach you again and again until you realize that I'm not one to mess with. You'll wish you never crossed my path, wish you obeyed, and wished you were never born.(B)
The same thought kept running through my head, 'someone please release me from this nightmare. I don't want to relive this!'
Sasuke's POV:
He kept flailing around, so in the end I had to strap him down. He also kept repeating the phrase, 'go away stupid rabbit.' Another mystery. He must have been having a nightmare under all that medication. It wasn't surprising though, it was enough medication to take down a horse. The surgery would hold him steady for now, but he wasn't out of the woods just yet.
Without his gallbladder, there were a couple of foods he wouldn't be able to eat, like spicy food for instance. If he wasn't careful and did eat something he wasn't supposed to, there would be dire consequences. But that wouldn't happen, I would make sure of it. There was no way I would lose him, I would take no chances, overlook no details, however small.
I watched Naruto's sleeping form, he seemed greatly troubled. I wondered what he was seeing right now in his drugged state. There was absolutely no guilt at keeping him here, not anymore. His beauty surpassed anything in this world, nothing came close. If there was anything that would ensure his being here, I would use it just to keep him trapped. My fox would never leave my side, because I would never let him go. If there had to be a reason, I guess it would have to be because I loved him.
Well...Yea...Can you tell I had to do major research for this chapter? Haha, work...
(A&B) Remember these details, because they'll come back in the story later.
(1) I was planning to do something a bit different with Hinata, but FumetsuKaji reminded me of the Hindu goddess, so I thought of a new better idea! Yay, so thanks FumetsuKaji, you rock! ^o^
(2) I'm sure you all realized how Hinata was so attached to Sasuke. She was like the only freak to talk to him intentionally, and now you see why. It's not a crush, but a thankful action.
Review please! And be sure to vote on the poll on my profile and place your suggestions on how the cast got the way they did. I have some good ideas, but maybe you will all have better ones like FumetsuKaji. Well, till next time!
