Pompeii
Chapter 4
jaylene
Sakura woke once more with an aching back. She was up before the sun again and she scowled slightly as she rubbed at the soreness plaguing her spine.
She definitely needed to get a mattress today, even if she didn't get a bedframe. Her poor back just couldn't take it.
Sakura jumped as a tapping sound filled the darkened room. She walked out of her bedroom and stared at the sight before her in slight bewilderment.
A flock of crows were gathered on her balcony, painting the white-washed floor and rails in a sea of black.
Sakura struggled to remember what a group of crows was called as she strode forward, crouching by the sliding glass door.
They seemed rather docile, truth be told and they were certainly beautiful. The one who tapped, seemingly the leader, had bright red eyes just like the Uchiha cousins.
"A murder of crows," Sakura said, snapping her fingers as a smile lit her face. "You guys don't seem too bad though. No idea why Shikamaru thought you were worrisome yesterday."
The lead crow pecked at the glass again, tilting its head in a, quite frankly, adorable manner.
Sakura stood, wavering only a second before opening the door.
The lead crow squawked at the others and the ravens and crows began lining up in an orderly fashion. Then, one by one, they hopped up to Sakura's feet, dropping an item there before taking off for the rails once more.
It was the strangest sight Sakura had seen since arriving.
The lead crow came last, spreading its wings and flying up to Sakura's hand. She watched silently as it landed gently, careful not to prick her with its talons.
The crow cawed proudly, dropping something shiny in Sakura's free hand before flying off. The other birds followed but Sakura could see them settle in on the powerlines near her house. Another murder awaited them there and they sent up a cacophony of cries.
Sakura prayed she didn't have any neighbors.
She shook her head, shutting the door though it certainly didn't block out the birds in the least.
Finally, she glanced down at her feet and gasped.
She was surrounded by a pile of shiny tidbits. Certainly, some of the things, like the tinsel and the confetti could be considered trash but other things, like the expensive looking watch, were not.
Sakura was most fascinated by the item she held in her hand. It was some type of reflective precious stone. She rubbed a finger over its surface, entranced by the way the light danced across it.
It was beautiful.
It also didn't belong to her.
Sakura bit her lip, knowing that this item belonged to someone else. The stone had been cut and polished and a fine gold chain was strung from it.
She couldn't keep it.
Sakura sifted through the items on the ground as well, drawing out the watch, a few gilt buttons, and the diamond earrings.
She wondered if she should take them to the police station.
Then again…
Sakura stepped out on the balcony, bringing the items with her. She made eye contact with the lead crow before placing the stuff on the ground.
"These aren't mine!" she said, feeling only slightly ridiculous. "I can't keep them."
So saying, she went back inside. If the things were still there at lunchtime, she would take them by the station.
She had a feeling, however, that they wouldn't be.
Sakura smiled at the collection of assorted goods left behind, enjoying the plain prettiness of them. While they weren't worth much, they were certainly enjoyable.
Sakura scooped these up, placing them in a clear Mason jar for safe keeping.
Sakura put the crows out of her mind as she prepared for a new day in the still sleeping town of Pompeii. She dressed in more casual attire, a t-shirt and skirt, planning on heading out into town to shop as soon as other establishments began opening at a 'reasonable' hour.
She shuffled through her apartment, tying her hair up in a messy ponytail as she turned the oven on for a simple breakfast of toast.
She brought it downstairs with her, determined to plow through some more of the paperwork that covered her desk. She settled in, hoping that her shipment would be delivered soon.
Shizune had told her that mail was strange in the town of Pompeii and Sakura was beginning to believe it.
She really needed a business computer though.
Sakura sighed, grabbing her laptop and biting her lip. It was the laptop that had seen her through the end of high school and all the way into medical school.
While it certainly had its sentimental value, it was on its last leg.
With crossed fingers, she booted it up, crowing in success when the screen lit up.
Sakura opened athenaClinicals and grabbed the nearest pile of files.
"It's time for this clinic to join this century," Sakura murmured, steadily entering in the information.
She started with her most recent patients, watching the data carefully, fearing mistakes.
"Sakura, you're here early again!" Shizune said, not sounding the slightest bit surprised. "What are you working on?"
"Medical charts," Sakura replied, looking up with a smile. "Good morning."
"How can I help?" Shizune asked, concern clear in her eyes. "I'm not the best with computers…it's a little difficult to keep up with the latest technology when you're centuries old."
Sakura laughed her concerns away. "That's alright. If you'd be willing to sort documents by priority patients? Those who come by regularly, those with chronic illnesses, those who have prescriptions filled…those are the patients we need to get into the computer first. Does the pharmacy keep a computer?"
"Well Chiyo makes all of the home remedies but the Aburame run the place and import medicine from the outside," Shizune said musingly, shuffling through some of the documents. "Their youngest, Shino, seems to keep up with current trends. They probably at the very least know how to operate a computer."
"Perfect," Sakura replied. "Even if they don't have a computer in there now, they could just use a laptop. I can send this program to them later, so we won't have to send people out with slips of paper."
"You know, not everyone is going to enjoy all the change you're bringing to town," Shizune chuckled.
"I'm just trying to make things more efficient and more effective for everyone," Sakura said, expression worried. "Should I leave it the way it is?"
"No," Shizune replied, ruffling Sakura's hair as she placed more files on Sakura's desk. "I think it'll do everyone some good to have some change. Who knows, maybe I'll even learn how to use a computer!"
Sakura laughed, fears mostly assuaged. She didn't want to presume anything in this town, knowing that she was a newcomer and still an outsider to most. She wanted her patients to be comfortable.
"You're dressed a bit differently today," Shizune said, eyeing Sakura's outfit. "Do you have plans later?"
"I was hoping to find a mattress and get it delivered actually," Sakura confessed. "Those cots aren't the most comfortable place to sleep."
Shizune stood, startling Sakura. "What are you doing, waiting around here for?" she demanded. "Go!"
"But-but the charts!" Sakura protested, put off-balance by this fierce side of Shizune.
She'd thought the woman was sweet and meek but now she saw the edge of steel to her.
Suddenly she understood how Shizune had survived basically on her own in this office for years.
"You need to take care of your health," Shizune said. "I swear; doctors are always the worst about taking care of themselves! Get yourself some lunch while you're out; take a breath. The office will not collapse in the time you're gone."
"What if there are patients?"
"Then I'll handle them myself," Shizune said and Sakura could tell she was amused. "I've seen patients on my own for more than a few centuries; it'll be fine."
Sakura huffed but, in the end, she couldn't argue.
She made her way out the door, frowning down at the list of places Ino had given her.
Suna's Sleep was listed as a family-owned mattress company that Ino swore by.
Sakura shrugged, plugging the information into her phone and following the map that popped up on the screen.
She enjoyed getting a chance to stretch her legs and see a bit more of the town. It wasn't too busy this early in the morning but Sakura could see business owners and employees bustling around the stores and finishing up last-minute cleaning.
It made her smile, seeing the few stoplights in town blink lazily as cars puttered past. People were beginning easy conversations, catching up on the latest gossip.
This was what Sakura loved about towns like Pompeii: the tight-knit community.
Sakura could feel the curious stares from passerby and hear the whispers of some.
Honestly, the attention could have been because of the murder of birds that followed her at a distance, but Sakura had a feeling it was because of who she was to this town.
The infamous doctor.
Still, Sakura hoped she would one day be considered a part of this town's community.
Maybe, one day, she wouldn't be an outsider anymore.
Once more patients began to come by the clinic, Sakura knew the novelty of her arrival would wear off and she would truly be able to settle into the culture of the town.
Sakura rounded a few blocks, keeping a vigilant eye out for the store. She found it nestled between a diner and a tattoo parlor.
Suna's Sleep was a small, tidy building with large glass windows. Sakura could see endless rows of mattresses within. The roof was done in red tiles and the storefront itself was a deep tan, the color of sand. Cacti were bunched in different sized pots outside and Sakura marveled at the colors and vibrancy.
It reminded Sakura of the desert.
She knelt by the succulents, wondering how something similar would look on her own balcony. She'd have to ask the store owner where he'd bought them.
"Can I help you?"
Sakura hopped back to her feet, grinning with chagrin at the woman who addressed her. The woman was tall, taller than Sakura at least, with blonde hair and clever teal eyes. "Ah, yes. I'm here about a mattress?"
The woman's face lit up with recognition. "You're the new doctor in town aren't you?"
"That's me," Sakura replied, scratching her cheek. "I…well, I packed light when I moved in and now I'm starting to assemble my apartment. It's a nice way to meet people here in town." She stuck out her hand. "I'm Sakura Haruno."
"Temari Suna," the woman said, grabbing Sakura's hand and giving it a hearty shake. "Why were you crouching when I came over?"
"My apartment is lacking quite a bit in the furnishing department," Sakura said, following the woman through the door. "I've been thinking about purchasing a few plants to spruce the place up and those succulents are absolutely gorgeous."
Temari laughed and it was a sound full of pride. "You'll need to speak with my baby brother; he's the green thumb in the family. He loves those cacti. Speak of the devil—Gaara!"
Sakura watched as a young man slouched out from behind the counter in the back. He was short, maybe of height with her. His hair was a deep red and his eyes were paler than mist. He had some sort of tattoo on his forehead and Sakura wondered if it was from the parlor next door.
"Hi," Sakura said, waving in his direction. He seemed skittish, but Sakura was used to dealing with patients who were frightened of needles. "I'm Sakura Haruno."
"Gaara," he replied flatly, drawing abreast of them.
Sakura was taken aback by the shadows that hung heavy beneath his eyes. She'd thought that, this being a store specializing in mattresses, the owners would get a good night's sleep.
Gaara looked like he hadn't slept in years.
"So, what exactly are you looking for?" Temari asked, drawing Sakura's attention once more. "Soft? Firm? Goose feathered? Synthetic? Water?" At this last one, she wrinkled her nose.
Sakura laughed, waving her hands. "Honestly, I'm not all that sure. All I know is I can't sleep on that cot again. I'd like a full-sized bed"
Gaara's eyes narrowed. "What were you two discussing before I arrived?"
"Your plants," Temari said, giving him a warning look. "Sakura here was interested in them and complimented them."
"Oh," Gaara said and Sakura could see the way heat rose to his cheeks.
Sakura bit back a smile.
"Anyway, Sakura feel free to try out any of the mattresses in the store," Temari said, eyes glittering as she watched her brother. "We can deliver same day so your back can get back to normal. I need to check some of the deliveries that are supposed to be shipped out later so I'll be in the back. Gaara, assist our guest."
Sakura and Gaara watched as Temari made her way to the back.
"So, mattresses?" Sakura asked, trying to fill the lingering silence.
"Ah," Gaara said, guiding Sakura further into the store. "Follow me."
Sakura did so and he brought her around to multiple beds. None felt exactly right.
Sakura honestly felt a bit like Goldilocks, acting picky and peculiar.
She was more interested in Gaara's reactions though.
He didn't seem upset that Sakura was basically trying out every bed in the joint. Instead, his expression seemed somehow wistful.
Longing.
Without thinking, treating him like a longtime friend, Sakura pulled him down onto the mattress beside her.
His bewildered look was so encompassing that Sakura couldn't help but giggle.
"I'm sorry," she said, catching the confusion and hurt in his eyes. "You just didn't seem like you were enjoying yourself all that much. I wanted you to have as much fun as I'm having."
"This is fun for you?" Gaara asked, genuinely curious. "You're just shopping."
Sakura shrugged, laying out across the mattress. "It's nice to take a moment to relax is it not?"
Gaara's face twisted into a scowl. "I never relax."
Sakura sat up, watching him. "What do you mean?"
"I don't sleep," Gaara said, rubbing at a circle-ringed eye. "Haven't slept in years."
"Really?" Sakura asked in surprise. "When did that start?"
"…When the nightmares and sleepwalking did," Gaara said, refusing to look at her. "What a joke right? A sandman who cannot sleep."
Sakura frowned, placing a gentle hand against his shoulder. She didn't move when sand leapt up from his skin, encircling her wrist.
"Sorry," he muttered, face red. "Force of habit."
Sakura shook off his concerns. "I shouldn't have touched you without your permission. I apologize."
"It's…it's fine," he replied. "I don't mind if it's you."
Sakura smiled at him and her heart leapt as he tentatively returned it. It wasn't a perfect smile, in fact, it was crooked and more than a little wobbly, but it was indeed a smile. It looked nice on him; suited him.
"Feel free to come by the clinic sometime," Sakura said, keeping her voice low. She didn't want to broadcast his condition, even if his sibling was the only one present. "I'm the new doctor. We can look into treatments if you'd like."
Gaara was expressionless for a few long moments and Sakura worried that she'd overstepped her boundaries. Finally, he nodded.
"That would be nice," he replied, flopping down across the bed beside her.
Sakura hummed in agreement, smile curling up her lips.
They laid out side by side for a bit, just enjoying the other's company.
Finally, Gaara asked, "Are you ready to try out another mattress?"
Sakura leaned up on her elbows, grinning over at him. "Nah, this one is perfect."
Gaara nodded, a smile flitting across his own lips.
"Great!" Temari boomed, making Gaara startle, his sand rising off his skin. It reminded Sakura of the way the hair raised on the back of a scared cat. "We'll get the paperwork taken care of over here."
Gaara's face fell back into a thunderous scowl as he glared up at his older sister, but Temari was impervious.
Sakura laughed at the sibling antics, following Temari over to the counter.
"Alright, our brother Kankuro will deliver this later today and help you get it set up," Temari said, ticking off different boxes on the clipboard.
"You have another sibling?" Sakura asked.
Temari laughed. "Yeah. He does our deliveries. He works at the pharmacy and the tattoo parlor and the carpenter's." She rolled her eyes affectionately. "He's a jack of all trades, master of none."
"I'll help Kankuro on his deliveries," Gaara interrupted.
Temari narrowed her eyes at him for a moment before her lips broke into a too satisfied grin. "I'm sure he'll appreciate the help."
Gaara nodded, oblivious to his sister's look. "Good."
He walked up to the front of the store, leaving the women behind.
"Thank you," Temari said in a soft voice.
"For what?" Sakura asked.
Temari gestured to her brother. "For being kind. This is the first time I've ever seen him warm up to a stranger so fast. Gaara's always felt isolated since he isn't…he isn't the same as myself or Kankuro."
Sakura nodded, trying to process the new information. "He's sweet," she said.
Temari chuckled drily. "You're one of the few to think so. Thank you for giving him a chance." She winked. "10% discount, on the house."
Sakura didn't have a chance to protest.
"Sakura," Gaara said.
Sakura turned, looking to the man. He carried something behind his back.
"Here," he said, thrusting a pot in front of her. It was one of the smaller pots, filled with pale blue and purple succulents. "I want you to have this one for your apartment."
Sakura grinned brightly and asked, "May I hug you?"
Gaara looked staggered but he nodded.
Sakura stepped forward, embracing him loosely around his waist. She left the embrace easy and calm, giving him the chance to pull away if he so chose.
He did not.
"Thank you both for all your help," Sakura said, smiling at the siblings. "Please come by the clinic anytime; our doors are always open."
Temari nodded, eyes sparkling as she looked back and forth between Sakura and Gaara. "Of course. My brothers will meet you at the address you gave later this evening."
"Thank you," Sakura replied. "See you later, Gaara."
"Bye," he replied softly, looking a little lost.
Sakura waved at the duo, heading out the door. It was nearing 1 PM and Sakura's stomach growled. She grabbed take-out from the diner next door, making a note to stop back by later for a sit down meal.
Sakura meandered her way back to the clinic, balancing two Styrofoam containers and her new plant.
She frowned as she took in the black 1978 Chevrolet Camaro parked outside the clinic. It was in pristine condition and she frowned thoughtfully at the gold-plated rims.
Sakura shook her head, using her hip to push into the clinic.
What greeted her was absolute chaos.
There were two strangers and Kisame standing in the office. One was nearly the same height as Kisame. The other was shorter than Sakura herself.
"Stand down," Shizune said, voice deadly. Her eyes flashed and Sakura could swear they turned a poisonous green. "This isn't your jurisdiction."
"I just want to see the new doctor," the shorter man said, stance aggressive. It was obvious that he was in charge. "I need to speak with her."
"Why?" Shizune demanded. "So you can harass her like all the other vendors?"
Sakura cleared her throat, wanting to cut the tension in the bud.
Everyone turned to her.
The taller man wore bandages around the lower half of his face and over his arms and legs. He was built like a house. Sakura could tell that his complexion was grey.
The shorter man was blond and his eyes were a bright pink. His scowl softened into an interested look as he caught sight of Sakura.
"Not what I was expecting," he murmured, looking her up and down.
"And what were you expecting?" Sakura asked, trying not to be defensive. She didn't like this man coming in and pressuring Shizune, even though it was apparent that Shizune could hold her own.
"From the way Kisame described you, I thought you'd blow away in the wind," the taller man said and his eyes were amused. "It's obvious you're a fighter though."
"Thank you Zabuza," the short man said with an eye roll. "I am Yagura Mizu. I wanted to thank you for your assistance with my man yesterday."
"I'm Dr. Haruno," Sakura replied, still frowning at him.
Kisame waved at her, slightly sheepish. "I was able to bring Zabuza in," he said, gesturing to Zabuza.
"Oh," Sakura said. "You've been swimming in Lake Icarus as well?"
"Have to if I don't want to dry out," Zabuza said.
Unlike Kisame, he seemed very comfortable in his appearance, from his skin tight clothes to his rather gaudy sense of style.
"Could we speak about this in the back?" Sakura asked. "I think it'll be a bit more comfortable."
"They come with me," Zabuza said, refusing to budge.
"That's fine," Sakura placated. "Let me set down a few things and we can head back." Sakura walked over to her desk, organizing a few things. "Shizune, I grabbed you some lunch too. Thanks for covering me this morning."
"No problem," Shizune said, eyes still trained on Yagura. "Sakura, be careful."
"Don't worry about me," Sakura replied, smiling at her. "Could you grab me the file for…?"
"Zabuza Momochi," Yagura said, eyes lidded as he kept watching her.
"Zabuza Momochi," Sakura repeated. When Shizune placed it in her hand, Sakura pulled on a lab coat over her casual attire and headed toward the back. "Follow me."
The three men trailed behind her and Sakura went through the motions of weighing Zabuza, testing his blood pressure, and drawing his blood.
Sakura noted that his skin had a soft, slightly scaly feel to it, similar to that of a fish.
"Now for the reason you are actually here," Sakura said, adjusting her gloves. "If you'd remove the bandages?"
Zabuza glanced askance to Yagura who nodded. "Listen to the doctor," he ordered.
Zabuza sighed and began the process of unwinding his bandages. There were fins much the same as Kisame's.
"This is your normal skin tone?" Sakura asked, taking her stethoscope to his chest.
"Yes," he replied.
Sakura nodded, listening closely to his lungs. Finally, she pulled away. "Well, it seems you're in a similar situation as Kisame. You've got mucus in your lungs."
"What does this mean?" Yagura asked.
"It could be a few things," Sakura replied, prepping some q-tips. "It could be pollution to the lake, an introduction of a new element that has these two having an allergic reaction, it might have nothing to do with the lake at all…" Sakura shook her head. "Considering that both of you are coming in with the same symptoms, I'd say it's something in your shared environment."
"So what do you do?" Zabuza asked, crossing his arms and flaring his gills.
Sakura had a feeling it was an attempt to scare her.
"Well, with your permission, I'll send some sample swabs to an outside lab," Sakura said. "They can determine the composition of the infection and help find the source of the problem."
"Will they…will they know where you got the swabs from?" Kisame asked.
Sakura shook her head. "No, I wouldn't risk that."
"And will this cost the clinic?" Yagura asked.
"There is an out-sourcing and shipping fee."
"Kiri will cover it," Yagura said, passing her a business card with gold lettering printed on a black background.
"And Kiri is?"
"An agency," Yagura replied softly, voice dangerous and sharp. He was purposefully vague.
Sakura nodded. "Thank you, but that will not be necessary. The clinic has funds set aside for such occasions."
Yagura's expression changed to shock. "You're refusing payment?"
"Not exactly," Sakura said. "We just have to follow regulation." She turned her gaze to Zabuza. "Do I have your permission?"
He shrugged roughly. "Yeah. Sure. I don't mind."
"Now, this will probably hurt a bit," Sakura said, remembering Kisame's advice.
"Good," Zabuza said, rounding his shoulders as a dull pink crawled up his neck. He didn't want this to feel good. He didn't want to slip up and embarrass himself in front of the new doctor.
Sakura began to clean his gills methodically, much faster today after her experience the day before. Some of the swabs she threw away. Others she placed in baggies to be sent into a lab.
"Alright Zabuza, I'm going to go up front to write you a prescription," she said. "I will hook you up to the oxygen tank for about twenty minutes. It'll help regulate your breathing for the next few days as the prescription kicks in."
Zabuza nodded, moving closer to the tank. As Sakura placed the mask over his face, he grabbed her hand. "Thanks."
"Don't mention it," she replied with an easy grin.
"I'm going to stay back here with him," Kisame said, reading the look Yagura shot him. "Haku would kill me if he was left alone."
Sakura nodded, bustling back to the front.
Yagura followed at her heels.
He remained silent, even though Sakura could feel the way he glared at Shizune. Still, he stayed near her, on her side of the office, so Sakura didn't comment.
As long as there was no more overt agitation, Sakura would leave him be.
Yagura surveyed her desk as she pulled out her notebook of prescription pages, scrawling what was needed across it.
"Where are you from?" Yagura asked suddenly.
"New York City," Sakura replied.
She didn't catch the way Shizune stiffened at Yagura's interest.
"And how are you liking Pompeii? It has to be a bit different than the city that never sleeps," Yagura said.
"It's been enjoyable thus far," Sakura said, looking up. "What about you? Where are you from?"
"Me?" he asked, eyes wide and heat suffusing his cheeks. "I…well, originally, I'm from Japan." His gaze went distant and he looked ancient in that moment. "That was a long time ago."
"Do you miss it?"
Yagura laughed, as if she asked something funny. "Sometimes. But honestly? No. Pompeii is home."
Sakura nodded, grinning up at him. She was unaware of the way his flush deepened.
"You know, I'm starting to feel the same way."
Yagura nodded, shuffling his feet.
Sakura glanced down at her watch. "It's time to get Zabuza off the tank."
Sakura stepped into the back, releasing Zabuza from the oxygen mask and passing him his prescription note.
"Please feel free, the both of you, to come back by if you find your condition worsening," Sakura said. "The results should be back in six to eight weeks and I'll call the both of you in if that's alright."
"And me," Yagura said, tone brokering no argument.
Sakura looked to the two Finfolk. They both nodded.
"Alright, I'll give all three of you a call," Sakura said.
"Send the bill to the address on the business card," Yagura said, staring at Sakura intently. "We take care of our own."
"Of course," Sakura replied. "If you're ready?"
All of them moved back to the waiting room and Sakura smiled at the way the three men interacted with each other.
They were really like a family.
"Good bye Dr. Haruno," Zabuza said. "It's been interesting."
"Dr. Princess," Kisame said, tipping his head at her.
Yagura smirked and Sakura was suddenly nervous. He raised a slip of paper and Sakura recognized it.
The bill from Suna's Sleep.
"As thanks," Yagura said. "You've assisted my men immensely. The Kiri have your back."
"What? No!" Sakura began but it was too late.
The three men were already out the door and Yagura's laughter resounded in her ears.
Sakura slumped, defeated.
"Be careful," Shizune warned, eyes brimming with concern. "You've no idea who's interest you just gained."
Sakura sighed, taking a seat at her desk once more. She opened her Styrofoam container of food and began eating the fries. While lukewarm, they were delicious.
She smiled at Shizune tiredly, pulling her computer closer to update it with their most recent client.
"Just another day in Pompeii."