Pompeii
Chapter 23
VesperChan

There was no way she couldn't feel the magic of the marks on his neck. There was energy there, crackling and alive. Veins of black were growing out of the puncture wounds and spreading away from the site like spider webs. Sakura watched it move and the rate at which it spread was frightening.

She turned her watch over, feeling the tic of every second and measured the spread. She put her brain to work and did the math faster than she ever had in internship. She didn't know how to counter to toxins but if Chiyo took more than 530 seconds the black lines would be at Haku's heart. Would she make it in time? How many minutes…?

She had to buy him time, she had to slow down the spread or halt it until Chiyo showed up. What was driving the venom was more than just natural flow. Haku was a merkin, one of the mermaid creatures, his blood didn't filter so fast. This spread was driven by the curse.

Sakura reached for the magic at his neck, sensing it like a cloud of gas almost. She touched the bite and it was like falling, going into the curse. She stumbled, grappling for purchase in the darkness before it bled away and she was back in the room again. The room was the same but the color was faded to the point of barely being even there and darkness still ate at the edges of her vision.

Sakura saw Zabuza frozen in his seat and then there was Shizune moving in slow motion to where the older man was non responsive. She was moving so slow, like she was caught in a time stream twice removed from hers. Shizune hadn't see Sakura yet, but Sakura wondered what the woman would have seen if she turned and looked.

Sakura looked back to Haku and saw the darkness around his body. There was a black coil there, wound loosely around his body. It was growing around him, swelling and twisting to wrap itself more securely around Haku's form. Sakura watched it move, becoming thicker and longer.

It moved like a snake.

"Just like the bite marks," she gasped.

In a rush she reached for the black coil, pulling it away from Haku's body. When she freed one coil another took its place. When she loosened one area a different area grew that much tighter. Sakura buried her hands in the mess, looking for the head. It came out hissing.

With a snarl the head reached for her wrist, fangs coming down and bouncing off her skin like it had tried to pierce steel. It writhed, sending a shiver all the way down its body. Pain made it shriek and Sakura noticed Shizune turning towards them in slow motion like she was caught underwater.

Sakura took the chance to grab its neck, feeling her body on fire with some energy that didn't come from her but clung to her regardless. It tasted of the magic that kept her house safe from trespassers. She grappled with the curse, pulling it up and off of Haku. Someone was calling her name from far off.

The curse was furious with her, trying to snap at her hand and arms again, only to be held back and pressed under her arms. Its tail wrapped around Sakura's torso and she felt it squeeze, but something kept her safe. It couldn't hurt her, it couldn't curse her without a bite. It was useless pulled off Haku and that's where Sakura planned to keep it until Chiyo could make it there.

Sakura stepped back with the curse, struggling to hold onto it with her own strength. It was strong and angry. It wanted Haku, it wanted to hurt her, it wanted to destroy and be free but Sakura wasn't about to let that happen. She twisted, falling down to her knees in the corner and then fell onto her side. She hissed in stress as she maneuvered the snake head to her side and pressed it into the floor, bearing down on it with the intention of cutting off its air supply. She didn't know if a curse needed air, but if it had been a real snake that's what she would have done.

It was screaming loudly and Sakura didn't know if anyone else could see it, but the tail was swelling around her, wrapping her torso and neck. She felt it wrap around her mouth to try the same thing and she bit it hard. It writhed that much more, freeing most of her only to go back to her neck in an attempt to strangle her. Somehow the magic around her kept her breathing, but this curse wasn't weakening either. She'd hold it at bay, but she had no idea what to do with it elsewise.

'Let go, little girl!'

Sakura didn't know where the voice came from, because it didn't seem to come from the curse snake, but she heard it clear enough all on her own.

Sakura felt her arms burn. She wouldn't last forever but she would be damned if she didn't last as long as she could.

'You are not a concern of mine, do not make yourself my enemy, little speck. Let go!'

"As if!" Sakura snarled, bearing down on the snake head with all her strength. She was screaming in her head and feeling the pop and rip of muscle. The fibrous tissue in her body was fraying from the strain. This was going to hurt in the morning.

" Banish !"

The word was booming and Sakura felt a wave of golden energy roll over her and send her tumbling against the back wall. She hit it with a bang but the curse in her arms wasn't so lucky. It caught the gold magic and burned upon contact, turning red with fire and then gray with ash. It shrieked one last time and then it was no more.

The world rushed back into color and started to move again.

Everything hurt, but Chiyo was in the room along with Shizune and…Tsunade? The room was full of women and the blond one that hated her was walking over. Oh, but Chiyo was doing something to Haku and Shizune was helping. Haku would be fine at this rate. The curse was gone, burned away. The toxins in his body would be countered with the old woman's knowledge.

Sakura didn't have to worry anymore.

She tried to move and mentally winced at the strain. It would be worse tomorrow after a rest, but she could feel it now after the wind down of her struggle. That had been a lot for her.

"That was stupid of you. What did you think you were going to do when you've no healing magic of your own to boast of?" Tsunade huffed, standing in front of Sakura and crossing her arms. "Not even my apprentice witch could have dispelled such a strong curse on their own."

"Haku," Sakura said, rising to her feet. It hurt, but she grabbed the wall for support.

Behind Tsunade Sakura could see that Kankuro and his almost-grandmother were in the room, administering something to Haku while Shizune monitored the boy's vitals. Zabuza was standing in the doorway, watching what happened to the kid he was in charge of.

From where she stood Sakura could see the dark stains that stood out like black veins beneath Haku's skin. They hadn't advanced any further from where they had been when Sakura pulled the curse off of him over five minutes ago. It wasn't going to reach his heart and the antivenom was in his blood now. She had bought him the time he needed, that was all that mattered.

Tsunade stepped to the side, drawing up even with Sakura. Her arms were still crossed and her expression sour, but she wasn't glaring at her anymore. Instead, Tsunade's attention was on Shizune who worked to keep Haku in comfort.

"She's doing a great job, you don't have to worry," Sakura sighed, leaning back against the wall. She could feel there were cracks in it. The wood moved under her shoulder and she winced at the thought of having to repair it. She had hit the wall hard.

Tsunade huffed under her breath. "Of course she is. She's never done a terrible job in her life. If she believed that much she'd be running you around like a errand girl."

"If you think that's all she does here you're a bit off the mark. Shizune isn't my errand girl, she's my treasured senior and partner at the practice. I wouldn't be doing half as well if it were not for her. I don't doubt her value at all. She's far more than an errand girl."

Tsunade's stance almost relaxed, but then tensed again at the last second. "Well, you should get used to doing all that on your own because this isn't a forever gig for her. In another decade or two she'll come back to me. You're not so special."

"No, I'm not. And I think in twenty years I'll be well on my way."

With her words spoken, Sakura pushed off the wall and approached the group around Haku's table. Kankuro saw her approach and stepped to the side to draw up alongside her. He offered her a small smile.

"How is he doing?" Sakura asked, stepping closer to see for herself.

She reached for her stethoscope on the nearby table. She checked his breathing with her wristwatch, peeked at both eyes to check the pupil dilation, and looked at the black veins again. He was stable, that much she could tell. She theorized the antivenom would take a little while to work. For now, he was sleeping soundly.

"He'll be fine," Chiyo cackled. "The hard part is done. Venom is wine best cleaned with wine. There will be no lasting damage done to the boy because of that. His curse was the real danger, and now that it's gone you can all breathe."

Shizune looked up at Sakura and smiled. "Thank you." Her eyes lifted to Tsunade. "Both of you. It was a team effort."

Tsunade glanced sideways at Sakura before dropping her hands to her sides and nodding. "I'm done here then. Call me if you need anything else, Shizune."

With one final glance backwards at Sakura, the blond woman turned and left the way she came, through the door into the lobby. Sakura heard the footsteps and then the hiss of magic before silence ebbed back into the shared space.

"How did you get the curse off of him?" Chiyo asked, pinching Sakura's elbow.

Sakura hissed, hating how much her arm hurt from the strain she put it through earlier. Chiyo smirked like she had found out the younger girl. Sakura wanted to glare, but found she couldn't when she looked at the crafty old woman.

"What are you talking about?"

"The curse, girlie! How did you get the curse off the brat?"

Sakura rubbed the sore spot on her elbow. "I just pulled it off. Why?" She looked up at those around the room, seeing them all have eyes on her.

It was Kankuro who explained. "You're not supposed to be able to do that. Or, you could, I mean, it's possible, but it's like pulling apart acid or something. Touching a curse should burn."

"It looked like a snake."

Chiyo cackled but the sound wasn't full of mirth like others had been. Her laugh was tight. "Because he's a snake himself. Of course his curses would look like him. All spellwork looks like the person who casts it. You did well to pull it off the kid while you did. I suspect I might not have made it in time otherwise. He had already been pretty far gone when they brought him in, it seemed."

"He'll be okay?"

The room turned to see Zabuza standing a foot away from them, hovering in his own body like a ghost. His eyes didn't really see them, they were just open and there. But at the mention of Haku's condition Sakura saw a spark of something. It motivated her to put on a big smile and step forward.

"Of course he's going to be alright. There's a counter to the venom in his body now and the curse has been removed and destroyed thanks to Tsunade. Haku's recovering now, but he's out of the woods. You did the right thing by sending him here. We'll keep him overnight for observations, but I think he'll be able to go home soon."

"Could I stay here then?" Zabuza asked, looking at Haku and then at Sakura. "I don't think it's wise anyone be left on their own, especially ones who have made enemies of that damn snake. Tsunade will be fine with her whole damn coven, but…"

Sakura heard him swallow. "Damn, we really stepped in it this time. Haku shouldn't have been the target. He was pissed with us."

While she didn't understand everything said, Sakura understood where Zabuza was coming from. She heard the anger in his voice and felt his self blame. She reached out, crossing the room to touch his arm until he looked down at her.

"You're not to blame. This was a terrible situation and we worked together to solve it. Don't think this is anyone's fault. I'll set up a cot for you down here and we'll let you stay. I'm in the apartment upstairs and the clinic is pretty secure, you'll find. Haku will be safe with us tonight."

His expression warmed for her. "Thanks."

Sakura nodded and went out of the room to grab the other cot and roll it in. She grunted in embarrassment when she found it heavy to push with her less than useful arms. Everything hurt and it was hard to grab and apply pressure to anything she did. She had ripped something in her arms during that fight. How embarrassing .

It was at times like these she felt the weight of her otherness. She wasn't strong compared to ancient gods and kitsune boys. She damaged easily and healed less so. It didn't matter that storm gods and tengu alike needed help on occasion, like most all residents of Pompeii. It didn't matter that Valkyrie and mountain demons sought out her aid. Sakura was the doctor and in her mind that meant she was supposed to be above needing help. She was the one who helped. But here she was, useless again.

Somewhere in the back of her head she felt Inner starting to pull herself together.

'What the hell had I been thinking?' Sakura thought to herself, remembering how she grappled with the curse in the heat of the moment.

She had just been thinking about saving Haku. She hadn't planned what to do with the curse once she had it. If Tsunade hadn't shown up when she did, what would have happened to her?

"Hey?" Sakura looked up, eyes wide. Zabuza was in the doorway, looking worried. "You okay in here?"

Sakura blinked and swallowed, thankful for her calm composure in spite of her turbulent thoughts. "Yeah, I'm just having a little trouble moving the cot. I forgot to turn the brakes off." She laughed to cover up the lightness of her tone.

Zabuza nodded, stepping in to reach for the opposite end of the cot and tug at it. "Don't worry. You're probably tired, right?" He glared when she started to shake her head and deny him. "Don't tell me you're not. I don't know what else you did today, and I'm not sure what happened back there in that room with Haku, but you look tired. Let me at least take care of this." His tone softened. "You've done so much-more than enough as our doctor. I could never thank you enough."

"I didn't do that much. I was the least useful person there," Sakura laughed.

"I don't think so. You're all important, and it's like you said…" Zabuza pushed the cot out and paused at the threshold. "You worked together. Haku wouldn't be alive without Chiyo, yeah, and he might not be alive without Tsunade, yeah, but don't forget you. He wouldn't have made it if you didn't save him that time like Chiyo said you did."

Sakura rolled her shoulders in an off kilter shrug. "It was no big deal. I just wanted to help."

Zabuza almost looked like the words were bitter to hear, but his expression cleared up right away, making it hard to tell what he was thinking. "Yeah, that's you through and through. Of course you would say something like that."

When Sakura awoke the next morning she wanted to scream into her pillow. It hurt to move.

It was only through pure willpower she managed to pull herself off the couch, she had missed the bed again, and into some new clothes. The best she could manage was a long sleeve dress with deep, reinforced pockets and her only pair of boots.

It was a good effort on her part, she thought to herself as she looked at her reflection in the mirror. If she bothered to tend to her hair and apply some jewelry she might even look date worthy. Funny how the most comfortable clothes could sometimes be so practical.

Sakura came downstairs, tried to make herself some coffee in the break room, but gave up part way through when her arms hurt too much. She let her hands settle in her pockets and hang out there. If she was lucky she wouldn't have to use them too much. She guessed she'd be sore for another day, two at the most, before she would be back to her old self.

"You up?" Shizune asked, stepping in and frowning. "It's early for you."

"My coffee maker isn't as nice as the one down here," Sakura admitted with a pout. "But I think I've changed my mind about coffee. How are Haku and Zabuza?"

"Still here, still asleep, and still nothing you need to worry about. They're both fine. In an hour or two they'll be awake and we can discharge them. Haku even has color back in his pretty pink cheeks!"

Sakura snickered. "Don't let him hear you say that. I think he still has his pride."

Shizune's eyes were dangerous and sharp when she grinned. "Not after this episode. If he doesn't bow and kiss the ground you walk on he'll never be able to call himself a Mizu boy. He owes his life to three women."

Sakura felt her faked smile falter. "I didn't do that much."

She was supposed to be the town doctor, she was the one they went to first for help, but in the end she hadn't been enough or even halfway decent enough to save a single person.

"Don't think like that. You don't know what you did. What I saw yesterday when they brought him in was enough to scare any immortal, but you're so much younger than I and yet you didn't hesitate. You thought of Haku first and I never saw you afraid."

"Yeah, just stupid. I don't know what I was thinking."

The older woman reached for Sakura's shoulders and held them. "You did the right thing, you were brave, and I'm proud of you."

It was enough to finally make her grin. "Thanks."

Shizune's smile was warm as she moved her hands down Sakura's arms to hold the doctor's elbows in a motherly embrace, but Sakura flinched at the contact and Shizune froze. Eyes suddenly narrowed Shizune prodded at Sakura's arms and it was after only seconds of investigation that Shizune demanded a honest analysis of Sakura's condition.

Coming clean resulted in Sakura being relieved of her duties for the day after she checked Haku and Zabuza out. She was prescribed muscle relaxers and instructed to sleep off the strain. When Sakura protested, saying she could still move and work, Shizune refused to hear it and pulled rank.

Sakura was the doctor, but Shizune knew what was best.

So that's how Sakura ended up back in bed, curled up around one of the library books.

Outside her window, raven and crow sat perched, looking in and watching even more keenly than before.