Forgotten
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Naruto (Shippuden). This is a story inspired by the original made up for entertainment purposes only. - Krystal
Chapter 37: No Thank Yous
"We need to get you treated." He told her as they got away from the rest of the Konohagakure shinobis.
"Did you forget that I am pretty well versed in the art of medical ninjutsu?" Yuki replied weakly. "Just take me to the greenhouse close to hospital. I'll grab a few herbs and we can leave this place."
He did as she told him. She instructed him to wait for her outside as the people from the greenhouse in Sunagakure didn't know him and would most likely attack him considering the current circumstances. She fumbled into the greenhouse where she was greeted by the usual staff.
"I need some Viper's Bugloss flowers, some honey, a towel and a clean bucket of water, please." She requested them as they all hurriedly grabbed from the list.
"Yuki-san, you should also stop by the hospital." One of the people there told her. "You have a high fever, your lips are turning white... You can barely stand."
Yuki shook her head and replied:
"I'm fine."
She washed her wound with the water, wiped it clean, crushed with Viper's Bugloss with her hand, creating a paste, and placed it onto her cheek. She grabbed some more petals and mixed it in the honey and water and drank the concoction. She washed her face once again before closing the wound with her medical ninjutsu. Her fever was still running high, but she could feel herself slowly getting back to normal. She stood up with difficulty, but managed to do so without help. She thanked the staff at the greenhouse before leaving the establishment. Breathing heavily still, she was greeted by the ANBU outside. He had taken off his mask. His pale face was stoic, but she could see some worry lingering in his dark eyes. She gave him a smile before collapsing into his arms, unconscious.
She woke up to the sound of a crackling fire. She sat up, wiping the sweat on her forehead away. He was sitting there, just as calm as ever, just as cold as ever. It was already nighttime. She looked around. They were far away from the Sand village. They were still in the Land of Wind. Yuki could tell by the landscape and dry air. Her body still felt heavy and numb, but it was certainly nothing compared to when she was in the greenhouse.
"How are you feeling?" He asked her.
"I'm feeling better." She said as she grabbed the water pouch near the fire pit.
"If that's the case, I'll leave." He then said, grabbing all his things as he stood up. "I still have my mission to complete."
"What is it?"
"All our missions are secrets."
"Why were you still in the Sand Village?" She kept on asking despite his previous answer.
"You should focus on your mission." He replied. "Remember to report back to Danzo-sama regularly."
"Danzo-sama... is that all you know to say?"
"I added your pay for the year into the pouch as per Danzo-sama's instruction. If you need anymore, let him know, he told me."
Yuki pouted. He wasn't answering any of her questions. She figured he would at least answer mission-related questions.
"Did he also tell you where I should be heading next?"
"No."
"Finally! An answer. Thank you!"
"Are you that happy?"
"Can't you tell I'm being sarcastic?"
"Sarcasm? I've read about it..."
"Yes, it is the use of irony..."
"Designed to hurt someone." He finished. "I can't tell, because I can't feel. Now, if that is all, I shall leave."
"Are you being passive aggressive with me right now?" Yuki asked, angry at his reply.
She didn't know why, but Sai kept rubbing her the wrong way. There was something in the way that he replied to her coldly, yet his seemingly caring behavior that bothered her constantly. She never wanted to pick a fight with him, yet she constantly felt the need to argue. It was like neither of them could understand the other, therefore nobody gave in to allow for peace to occur.
"Passive aggressive? That's new." He said in a pensive tone. "I guess I'm not since I'm unaware of its meaning."
"Just because you are unaware of the name of a certain behavior doesn't mean you are not acting in such a way."
"How am I acting?"
"You..."
"I'm not acting right now."
"You are right. You are not acting. You are being a brat."
His fake smile vanished.
"You said you can't feel anything, right?" Yuki pushed him further. "I think you just felt every word I just said. It doesn't feel very good now, does it?"
"I don't know what you are talking about."
"Stop lying!"
"I am not. I think you are confused."
"Tell me how."
"I really can't feel anything. You can say all you want to me. You can use sarcasm in an attempt to hurt me. It won't work." He said, now pointing to his heart. "This. It doesn't ever change."
"How would you know if you haven't tested it?"
"What..."
"How do you know that your heart doesn't change if you haven't tried to see if it changed?"
"I..."
"The simple fact that you are aware of its beating, that you think it hasn't changed... It means, at least to me, that you felt something, therefore you checked your heart. It is not with your heart that you feel, but it's with every part of your body. Once your brain started thinking about feelings, you have already felt. I don't care how stable your heart is..."
"You are wrong."
"I am not."
He didn't say another word. He simply slipped on his backpack and turned his back to her.
"Remember to report back to Danzo-sama."
Those were his last words before disappearing into the night. Yuki put out the fire before leaving the premises as well. It didn't go the way she had wanted it to go. There was a lot more she wanted to say. There was a lot more on her mind. However, time and circumstances were not on their side. Perhaps, they were never meant to be more than teammates. She wanted more and, maybe, he did too. It was just not going to happen.
"I didn't even get to say a genuine thank you to you, Sai..." She murmured as she ventured into the darkness of the night.
End of Chapter 37
Much more of a filler to bring Yuki's travel to Sunagakure to a closure than a full chapter. I hope you don't mind. I also wanted to give Sai a little bit more dimension and depth.
Hope you liked it!
Let me know in the reviews!
xox
Krystal