[Disclaimer: Alas, Naruto will never be mine]
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Chapter 11 –
Sakura and Hinata burst through the doors of the hospital and made a beeline through the waiting area to the nurses' station. The place seemed deserted, but a lemony ammonia smell hinted at a janitor's recent passage. They followed the long stretch of green and brown carpet that led from the door to the check-in desk. Two young women in clean white uniforms staffed it. As Sakura strode up to the desk they were innocently wiping their mouths of crumbs as one of them quickly hid a cookie tin in a desk drawer.
Before the pink-haired girl could utter a sound the closest nurse began speaking to them in an unpleasant droning voice.
"I'm sorry ladies, vistors' hours are over. Unless you are immediate family I'm going to have to ask you to leave."
Hinata stopped dead in her tracks, but Sakura grabbed her arm and pulled her the last couple of feet to the counter.
"We are family," she said. "Hinata's brother is here and we've just found out about his condition." Sakura knew it was stretching the truth, but she wasn't leaving cause some closet-eating candy striper said so.
The two attendants exchanged unconvinced glances but the other nurse nodded and with a sigh the closest one started to flip through the card file on her desk.
"Name?" she asked.
"Hyuga Neji," Hinata said barely above a whisper.
The woman stopped flipping and closed the file with a quick snap. "I'm sorry," she said with a satisfied smile, "Neji-sama isn't taking any visitors."
"Domo." said Hinata with a small bow. She turned meekly to leave avoiding Sakura's gaze, but before she could take a step the other woman had grabbed her by the shoulders and spun her back around.
"And why isn't Neji taking visitors?" said Sakura asked slamming her hands down on the countertop. She was beginning to get really annoyed.
First nurse just stared blandly at her, while her partner stood up.
"Listen," said the other woman, now speaking for the first time, "I don't know who you two chuunin are, but Neji-sama is in with the Hokage right now." She crossed her arms continuing, "If you don't understand what that means perhaps we can find some Anbu to explain that to you."
Sakura smiled sweetly and with the nurses watching on she slowly raised her right arm and extended out to her side. When her hand became level with her shoulder she made a quick, loud snap with her fingers.
Sakura turned down the hall towards the stairs, pulling Hinata along with her. The dark-haired girl glanced back behind them to see the nurses seemingly frozen with void looks on their faces.
"Genjutsu... how did you?" she began.
"Simple," said Sakura. "When I snapped my fingers I made a seal with my other hand. Right now those two are watching us leave out the front door in a huff."
She had learned very early in her genjutsu training from Kakashi-sensei that basic deceptions are often the best way to fool opponents. If your adversary knows what your intentions are, then it doesn't matter how much chakra you expend, the illusion will still fail all the same.
Hinata's eyes grew with astonishment. "You can do one-handed seals?"
"Only with some basic jutsu." Sakura replied as they climbed steps. "I saw a very talented boy in Wave country do it when I was a genin." That was also when she realized how deeply she was in love with a certain dark-eyed teammate she thought ruefully.
They peeked through the doors going into the second floor hall. Sakura nodded to Hinata who performed the seals for the Byakugan and searched down the corridor with her eyes. She withdrew her jutsu before shaking her head.
"What about the Anbu?" she asked Sakura as they as continued moving up to next floor.
"I figured we would deal with that when we met one," Sakura said, "but I don't think there are any here... which is odd." The Hokage didn't normally run around without an escort particularly at night. It made her think something very bad had happened, but what exactly she couldn't fathom.
Hinata recognized Neji's name scribbled on a chart when they checked on the fifth floor. The two women walked silently down the long hall to where his room lay. Oddly, the floor seemed mostly vacant as they approached his suite. Sakura wondered whether the Hokage had him moved up here for a reason. Getting close, they could clearly hear voices raised in some sort of argument. Sakura recognized it as Naruto and the Hokage. Hesitating to enter the room in mid-yell she and Hinata paused to listen.
"I'm telling you it was Setsuko!" she heard him say. "I don't forget psychopathic albino chicks who have almost killed me!"
"Why would they be together though?" came Tsunade's voice.
"I don't know!" said Naruto, "One of them wants dissect me the other turn me into teriyaki. You still haven't explained what he's doing..."
The room became silent as Naruto's plaintive response was abruptly cutoff. Sakura looked at an anxious Hinata and got ready to knock when the Hokage spoke.
"Come in Sakura."
Trying not to blush with embarrassment Sakura entered the room with Hinata following at her heels. The room was wide and long with Hokage seated next the hospital bed with Naruto leaning against the opposite wall his arms folded tight crossed his chest. He had his head down and looked extremely angry with his feet for some reason.
"Ahh and Hinata too," said Tsunade. The Hokage seemed both relieved and annoyed at the same. Sakura felt the palatable tension in the room and wondered idly if she would start sweating.
"Well," she asked, "what did you two hear?"
"Well, umm... " stammered Sakura.
Hinata cut her off quickly. She hated to be rude to her friend, but Sakura had a habit of making things overcomplicated when they didn't need to be.
She said, "Ahno, we just came to the door when we heard Naruto-kun mention a person named Setsuko." Her pale eyes glanced briefly in concern at him. "Also about him being... dissected and something about food." Naruto seemed to ignore the comments, but his arms flexed with strain as he folded arms even tighter. If they were still genin Sakura would have swore he was about to throw a tantrum.
The Hokage's eyes locked on the dark haired kunoichi's. It was a moment that seemed hours.
"Nothing else?" she asked unblinking.
"That was all Hokage-sama," said Hinata firmly, Sakura nodded behind her teammate in sincere agreement.
Tsunade let out a breath that seemed almost a sigh of relief. "I'm feeling very tired all of the sudden," she said pleasantly in a magical turnaround of mood. "I guess I should go get some beauty sleep and let you girls check up on our patient over here. Neji-kun's all better now and," she said turning to look down at his peaceful form, "very awake."
The corners of his mouth turned up slyly as he opened his eyes. "You knew," he said sounding amused.
The Hokage walked casually to the door and turned to take them all in gaze. "Naruto. You, Neji and I will continue our talk as soon as he's discharged. Good night, everyone."
They were as still as statues as they watched Tsunade's departure. They remained as such while door swung to close with an almost agonizing slowness. It's latch catching reluctantly making the space private once again.
Four pairs of eyes met and broke away, shifting in an instant to a face they felt comfort in seeing. Sakura moved to sit on the edge of the bed beside Neji, her hand creeping gently into his, while Hinata joined Naruto leaning against the wall. She spoke to him softly laying a hand on his arm. Her touch seemed to calm him a little, reversing his transformation into a human knot.
"Let's go outside, Hinata," Naruto said. "This place is has a lot of hot air in it right now and smells like old people." He almost ran out of the room ripping the door open and striding away with Hinata moving to follow. Before she could clear the entrance way her 'brother' stopped her to address some family business.
"Hinata-san," said Neji who had long ago dropped the honorific when speaking to her. "We will need to talk about this soon."
A flash of something between fear and anger, yet very close to pain washed over Hinata's face as she responded.
"Hai."
Her footsteps faded quickly into the hall's echo leaving the remaining occupants in the returning silence.
"Damn Neji," thought Sakura watching them leave. "Why can't he just let Hinata be happy."
She looked down at him with an angry expression, but he was studying her hands as he held them. She tried to shrug him off but he held on. Taking his left hand he traced lightly over a thin, pink scar on her forearm.
"This one is new, " he said softly.
"Umm, it's just a scratch," she said. "I got it returning from Nagayama while carrying someone who was injured."
"You should tell Shikamaru to be more careful, " said Neji wryly. Bringing her hand to his lips he kissed it lightly. "It changes nothing."
Saying Neji had an eye for detail was a bit of an understatement. While they were dating Sakura found that he noticed every little change in appearance she made, from accessories to a new outfit, even a trim of her hair. It had almost made her even more obsessed (if that was possible) with never getting a zit. Once she teased him that he would fall out of love with her when she became a scarred and leathery old kunoichi.
It was funny... remembering his response still made her feel a little flustered.
"Flawless beauty like yours doesn't change with time," he said. Neji was very good at talking too. She had to remind herself how dangerous it was to let him keep talking.
Sakura noticed how his eyes seemed to glow in the soft moonlight that came through the window at his bedside.
"This isn't what I wanted to happen," thought Sakura. "I was concerned for him." Neji looked just fine, a lot better than fine actually. Why weren't there more lights on in this place?
"I should leave, " she said aloud.
"You were worried about me," he stated with a pleased smile.
Sakura felt her cheeks reddening. She turned her head away, feeling self- conscious. The words stumbling from mouth, "Of course, I was, " she said.
"I have other places to be right now," she thought. She needed to say goodbye politely and go.
As she felt him shift a little on the bed Sakura turned back to look at him. Neji was sitting up and his face was now very close to hers... and getting closer.
She was caught off guard. Before Sakura could say anything his lips met hers hungrily, driving away her ability to speak. She put her hands on his shoulders to shove him away, but instead of pushing her fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt to hang on. She closed her eyes and felt herself give into his embrace. Neji's hands wrapped smoothly around her waist as he drew her closer in his arms.
Sakura hadn't realized how badly she missed his affection. Over the past few months she hadn't been with anyone else and certainly hadn't let anyone, even friends, get too close. Focusing on missions and training, she felt that after ending it with him she had needed a break. She knew all along that pretending you can't feel the pain doesn't make it disappear.
The kiss was bittersweet.
Sakura broke away. "Neji!" she gasped sounding out of breath.
Neji's mouth formed a roguish little smile as he lay back down. "The nurse doesn't come back until after ten o'clock," he told her. "Want to stay and tuck me in?"
"I can't believe you," said Sakura exasperated. "You were just healed from a serious injury! What happened to you by the way?" She had to change the subject.
Neji's face became serious and he sat up again. It was all a deception however as he moved in again to steal another kiss. Sakura was ready for him this time and pushed him back quickly, this time with an added groan of frustration.
Neji laughed, but behaved himself. "Sorry, I can't tell you," he said, "Top secret."
Sakura wasn't sure if he was hiding something or still playing around, but she really did need to leave. She tried to get up, but Neji held on to her hands.
"Come on stay, I promise I'll be good," he said sincerely to her. "Please. Stay."
Sakura extracted her hands and stood turning to face the bed. "I can't Neji. It's Thursday night," she said looking tiredly at him. She felt like crying, but she was done with tears when it came to him.
A puzzled look appeared on Neji's face, but he came to the answer quickly without needing to ask the question. The warmth drained from his expression replaced by traces of steel seen clearly in his eyes.
He put his hands behind his head and stared up at the ceiling.
"I forgot about your charity case," he said coldly. He remembered that this was the night of the week where she went over Uchiha Sasuke's house to have dinner.
Sakura didn't seem to register his response and started to leave towards the door.
Neji could feel the anger building up and fought the urge to grit his teeth.
"You can't save someone who doesn't want to be saved Sakura." he yelled at her back.
Sakura paused before opening the door and spoke without facing him. "We all have to live with our mistakes Neji," she said, "even you and me."
Neji shut his eyes tightly and waited, listening for her departure. Remaining still he continued to listen as the sudden harsh silence that had threaded the evening's events together returned to the room.
He didn't understand until that very moment how much he hated Uchiha. The thought of losing her to him was more painfully than the hundreds of imagined stabs his twisted brother had made him experience with the sharingan, ...a lot worse.
As he escaped into sleep, Neji offered himself one small comfort.
"Still," he thought, "she did kiss me back."
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TO BE CONTINUED
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Chapter 11 –
Sakura and Hinata burst through the doors of the hospital and made a beeline through the waiting area to the nurses' station. The place seemed deserted, but a lemony ammonia smell hinted at a janitor's recent passage. They followed the long stretch of green and brown carpet that led from the door to the check-in desk. Two young women in clean white uniforms staffed it. As Sakura strode up to the desk they were innocently wiping their mouths of crumbs as one of them quickly hid a cookie tin in a desk drawer.
Before the pink-haired girl could utter a sound the closest nurse began speaking to them in an unpleasant droning voice.
"I'm sorry ladies, vistors' hours are over. Unless you are immediate family I'm going to have to ask you to leave."
Hinata stopped dead in her tracks, but Sakura grabbed her arm and pulled her the last couple of feet to the counter.
"We are family," she said. "Hinata's brother is here and we've just found out about his condition." Sakura knew it was stretching the truth, but she wasn't leaving cause some closet-eating candy striper said so.
The two attendants exchanged unconvinced glances but the other nurse nodded and with a sigh the closest one started to flip through the card file on her desk.
"Name?" she asked.
"Hyuga Neji," Hinata said barely above a whisper.
The woman stopped flipping and closed the file with a quick snap. "I'm sorry," she said with a satisfied smile, "Neji-sama isn't taking any visitors."
"Domo." said Hinata with a small bow. She turned meekly to leave avoiding Sakura's gaze, but before she could take a step the other woman had grabbed her by the shoulders and spun her back around.
"And why isn't Neji taking visitors?" said Sakura asked slamming her hands down on the countertop. She was beginning to get really annoyed.
First nurse just stared blandly at her, while her partner stood up.
"Listen," said the other woman, now speaking for the first time, "I don't know who you two chuunin are, but Neji-sama is in with the Hokage right now." She crossed her arms continuing, "If you don't understand what that means perhaps we can find some Anbu to explain that to you."
Sakura smiled sweetly and with the nurses watching on she slowly raised her right arm and extended out to her side. When her hand became level with her shoulder she made a quick, loud snap with her fingers.
Sakura turned down the hall towards the stairs, pulling Hinata along with her. The dark-haired girl glanced back behind them to see the nurses seemingly frozen with void looks on their faces.
"Genjutsu... how did you?" she began.
"Simple," said Sakura. "When I snapped my fingers I made a seal with my other hand. Right now those two are watching us leave out the front door in a huff."
She had learned very early in her genjutsu training from Kakashi-sensei that basic deceptions are often the best way to fool opponents. If your adversary knows what your intentions are, then it doesn't matter how much chakra you expend, the illusion will still fail all the same.
Hinata's eyes grew with astonishment. "You can do one-handed seals?"
"Only with some basic jutsu." Sakura replied as they climbed steps. "I saw a very talented boy in Wave country do it when I was a genin." That was also when she realized how deeply she was in love with a certain dark-eyed teammate she thought ruefully.
They peeked through the doors going into the second floor hall. Sakura nodded to Hinata who performed the seals for the Byakugan and searched down the corridor with her eyes. She withdrew her jutsu before shaking her head.
"What about the Anbu?" she asked Sakura as they as continued moving up to next floor.
"I figured we would deal with that when we met one," Sakura said, "but I don't think there are any here... which is odd." The Hokage didn't normally run around without an escort particularly at night. It made her think something very bad had happened, but what exactly she couldn't fathom.
Hinata recognized Neji's name scribbled on a chart when they checked on the fifth floor. The two women walked silently down the long hall to where his room lay. Oddly, the floor seemed mostly vacant as they approached his suite. Sakura wondered whether the Hokage had him moved up here for a reason. Getting close, they could clearly hear voices raised in some sort of argument. Sakura recognized it as Naruto and the Hokage. Hesitating to enter the room in mid-yell she and Hinata paused to listen.
"I'm telling you it was Setsuko!" she heard him say. "I don't forget psychopathic albino chicks who have almost killed me!"
"Why would they be together though?" came Tsunade's voice.
"I don't know!" said Naruto, "One of them wants dissect me the other turn me into teriyaki. You still haven't explained what he's doing..."
The room became silent as Naruto's plaintive response was abruptly cutoff. Sakura looked at an anxious Hinata and got ready to knock when the Hokage spoke.
"Come in Sakura."
Trying not to blush with embarrassment Sakura entered the room with Hinata following at her heels. The room was wide and long with Hokage seated next the hospital bed with Naruto leaning against the opposite wall his arms folded tight crossed his chest. He had his head down and looked extremely angry with his feet for some reason.
"Ahh and Hinata too," said Tsunade. The Hokage seemed both relieved and annoyed at the same. Sakura felt the palatable tension in the room and wondered idly if she would start sweating.
"Well," she asked, "what did you two hear?"
"Well, umm... " stammered Sakura.
Hinata cut her off quickly. She hated to be rude to her friend, but Sakura had a habit of making things overcomplicated when they didn't need to be.
She said, "Ahno, we just came to the door when we heard Naruto-kun mention a person named Setsuko." Her pale eyes glanced briefly in concern at him. "Also about him being... dissected and something about food." Naruto seemed to ignore the comments, but his arms flexed with strain as he folded arms even tighter. If they were still genin Sakura would have swore he was about to throw a tantrum.
The Hokage's eyes locked on the dark haired kunoichi's. It was a moment that seemed hours.
"Nothing else?" she asked unblinking.
"That was all Hokage-sama," said Hinata firmly, Sakura nodded behind her teammate in sincere agreement.
Tsunade let out a breath that seemed almost a sigh of relief. "I'm feeling very tired all of the sudden," she said pleasantly in a magical turnaround of mood. "I guess I should go get some beauty sleep and let you girls check up on our patient over here. Neji-kun's all better now and," she said turning to look down at his peaceful form, "very awake."
The corners of his mouth turned up slyly as he opened his eyes. "You knew," he said sounding amused.
The Hokage walked casually to the door and turned to take them all in gaze. "Naruto. You, Neji and I will continue our talk as soon as he's discharged. Good night, everyone."
They were as still as statues as they watched Tsunade's departure. They remained as such while door swung to close with an almost agonizing slowness. It's latch catching reluctantly making the space private once again.
Four pairs of eyes met and broke away, shifting in an instant to a face they felt comfort in seeing. Sakura moved to sit on the edge of the bed beside Neji, her hand creeping gently into his, while Hinata joined Naruto leaning against the wall. She spoke to him softly laying a hand on his arm. Her touch seemed to calm him a little, reversing his transformation into a human knot.
"Let's go outside, Hinata," Naruto said. "This place is has a lot of hot air in it right now and smells like old people." He almost ran out of the room ripping the door open and striding away with Hinata moving to follow. Before she could clear the entrance way her 'brother' stopped her to address some family business.
"Hinata-san," said Neji who had long ago dropped the honorific when speaking to her. "We will need to talk about this soon."
A flash of something between fear and anger, yet very close to pain washed over Hinata's face as she responded.
"Hai."
Her footsteps faded quickly into the hall's echo leaving the remaining occupants in the returning silence.
"Damn Neji," thought Sakura watching them leave. "Why can't he just let Hinata be happy."
She looked down at him with an angry expression, but he was studying her hands as he held them. She tried to shrug him off but he held on. Taking his left hand he traced lightly over a thin, pink scar on her forearm.
"This one is new, " he said softly.
"Umm, it's just a scratch," she said. "I got it returning from Nagayama while carrying someone who was injured."
"You should tell Shikamaru to be more careful, " said Neji wryly. Bringing her hand to his lips he kissed it lightly. "It changes nothing."
Saying Neji had an eye for detail was a bit of an understatement. While they were dating Sakura found that he noticed every little change in appearance she made, from accessories to a new outfit, even a trim of her hair. It had almost made her even more obsessed (if that was possible) with never getting a zit. Once she teased him that he would fall out of love with her when she became a scarred and leathery old kunoichi.
It was funny... remembering his response still made her feel a little flustered.
"Flawless beauty like yours doesn't change with time," he said. Neji was very good at talking too. She had to remind herself how dangerous it was to let him keep talking.
Sakura noticed how his eyes seemed to glow in the soft moonlight that came through the window at his bedside.
"This isn't what I wanted to happen," thought Sakura. "I was concerned for him." Neji looked just fine, a lot better than fine actually. Why weren't there more lights on in this place?
"I should leave, " she said aloud.
"You were worried about me," he stated with a pleased smile.
Sakura felt her cheeks reddening. She turned her head away, feeling self- conscious. The words stumbling from mouth, "Of course, I was, " she said.
"I have other places to be right now," she thought. She needed to say goodbye politely and go.
As she felt him shift a little on the bed Sakura turned back to look at him. Neji was sitting up and his face was now very close to hers... and getting closer.
She was caught off guard. Before Sakura could say anything his lips met hers hungrily, driving away her ability to speak. She put her hands on his shoulders to shove him away, but instead of pushing her fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt to hang on. She closed her eyes and felt herself give into his embrace. Neji's hands wrapped smoothly around her waist as he drew her closer in his arms.
Sakura hadn't realized how badly she missed his affection. Over the past few months she hadn't been with anyone else and certainly hadn't let anyone, even friends, get too close. Focusing on missions and training, she felt that after ending it with him she had needed a break. She knew all along that pretending you can't feel the pain doesn't make it disappear.
The kiss was bittersweet.
Sakura broke away. "Neji!" she gasped sounding out of breath.
Neji's mouth formed a roguish little smile as he lay back down. "The nurse doesn't come back until after ten o'clock," he told her. "Want to stay and tuck me in?"
"I can't believe you," said Sakura exasperated. "You were just healed from a serious injury! What happened to you by the way?" She had to change the subject.
Neji's face became serious and he sat up again. It was all a deception however as he moved in again to steal another kiss. Sakura was ready for him this time and pushed him back quickly, this time with an added groan of frustration.
Neji laughed, but behaved himself. "Sorry, I can't tell you," he said, "Top secret."
Sakura wasn't sure if he was hiding something or still playing around, but she really did need to leave. She tried to get up, but Neji held on to her hands.
"Come on stay, I promise I'll be good," he said sincerely to her. "Please. Stay."
Sakura extracted her hands and stood turning to face the bed. "I can't Neji. It's Thursday night," she said looking tiredly at him. She felt like crying, but she was done with tears when it came to him.
A puzzled look appeared on Neji's face, but he came to the answer quickly without needing to ask the question. The warmth drained from his expression replaced by traces of steel seen clearly in his eyes.
He put his hands behind his head and stared up at the ceiling.
"I forgot about your charity case," he said coldly. He remembered that this was the night of the week where she went over Uchiha Sasuke's house to have dinner.
Sakura didn't seem to register his response and started to leave towards the door.
Neji could feel the anger building up and fought the urge to grit his teeth.
"You can't save someone who doesn't want to be saved Sakura." he yelled at her back.
Sakura paused before opening the door and spoke without facing him. "We all have to live with our mistakes Neji," she said, "even you and me."
Neji shut his eyes tightly and waited, listening for her departure. Remaining still he continued to listen as the sudden harsh silence that had threaded the evening's events together returned to the room.
He didn't understand until that very moment how much he hated Uchiha. The thought of losing her to him was more painfully than the hundreds of imagined stabs his twisted brother had made him experience with the sharingan, ...a lot worse.
As he escaped into sleep, Neji offered himself one small comfort.
"Still," he thought, "she did kiss me back."
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TO BE CONTINUED