The stars twinkled brightly in the pitch black sky. Obviously, night time had settled over the Leaf Village, sending its inhabitants to their dreams. But tonight, at three-thirty nine A.M., Sakura, as try as she might, could not fall asleep. It was either the leukemia or the fact that the chemotherapy was today, she did not know. With a frustrated growl, Sakura angrily kicked her covers off, sending them tumbling to the hard wood floor. She then stood up and headed towards the kitchen.
'Maybe if I eat something I might be able to fall asleep.'
Minutes later, a simple bowl of cereal sat on the glossy counter. Sakura was quietly eating the contents of the bowl, the cold milk washing down her throat was a pleasant feeling. Slowly, she felt her eyes droop and she smile at the thought of sleep. Drowsily, Sakura stumbled through her house, hitting various objects on the way. Finally, she reached her room and immediately started to head towards her bed. Once inside, she snuggled up to her cotton filled pillows and drifted off to sleep.
Hours later at six o' seven in the morning
A chorus of soft knocks on her door awoke Sakura from her sleep. Almost immediately, her face scrunched up in anger. Kicking off her covers (quite forcefully, too) she ran downstairs (A/N Sakura's house is two stories, okay?), ready to pulverize whoever woke her up. Unlocking the door's many metal locks, Sakura pulled the door open to come face-to-face to Naruto who, in fact, looked horrible. His blond locks were matted and he had bags under his azure eyes. At the sight of him, Sakura's face softened and she gave him a questioning look.
-"Naruto? You look terrible! Why are you here?" Sakura questioned. Naruto gave a sheepish grin.
-"I couldn't sleep, Sakura-chan. I guess I was nervous about today. I thought you'd be awake, too." He replied.
-"Nervous? What are you nervous about?" The stare she got from Naruto told her the answer. "Oh...That. If anyone, I should be nervous about today. I mean, I'm the one getting the treatment, not you. So you have nothing to worry about." Sakura said, trying to raise the boy's crestfallen spirits. It brought a small smile to his lips but nothing else. Seeing this, Sakura decided to compromise.
-" Okay then. How 'bout we get Ichiraku ramen later?" At the mention of Ichiraku ramen, Naruto was grinning from ear to ear, his cobalt eyes twinkling happily.
-"Really, Sakura-chan! Really?!"
Sakura grinned a small grin "Really. And I'll pay. How about you come to my house in an hour?" Ecstatic nods followed by a wave. Naruto was leaving to go back to his house. Sakura waved back and proceeded to get ready for the breakfast of sorts. It was six-fifteen in the morning, after all.
One hour later...
Sakura's ears perked at the muffled sound of Naruto's voice behind her door. Smiling at his antics, Sakura went to go greet him. Opening the door, Naruto was revealed to be grinning happily, his hands stuffed into his pockets. Next to him was Sasuke?
- "Sasuke-kun? Why are you here?" Sakura asked, surprised at her (anti-social) friend's appearance.
- "Hn." Sakura shrugged her shoulders but accepted the answer anyway. The three stood in an awkward silence. That is, until Naruto broke it. Very loudly.
- "What are we standing here for?! Let's go to Ichiraku already!" Naruto yelled as he ran towards said place. Sakura held in barely contained rage, her body trembling with the effort. Sasuke just raised an eyebrow but said nothing as he started a slow pace towards Ichiraku.
'Why does Naruto have to be so loud in the morning?'
Taking a deep breath, Sakura calmed herself down and ran to catch up with Sasuke. They walked side-by-side, in sync. Finally, after five minutes of walking, Sakura and Sasuke came upon Ichiraku. Sitting next to Naruto (who was slurping his 2nd bowl), they mumbled their order (spicy chicken for Sasuke; shrimp for Sakura) and waited patiently. Besides Naruto slurping, their was an uncomfortable silence between team 7. But Naruto broke it, staring at the broth of his ramen.
- "Hey, Sakura-chan?"
- "Yes Naruto?"
- "When is your... appointment?" He finished hesitantly. Seeing her friend's distressed expression, Sakura decided to lighted the atmosphere.
- "It's today at one o' clock. But don't worry," She smiled and placed her hand on his which brought him to look at her. She smiled. "I'll be fine." (A/N: There's some slight NaruSaku for you, NaruSaku fans. Rejoice.)
- "Right." Naruto murmured. The sound of money slammed onto the hardwood bar, startling both Naruto and Sakura.
- "Sasuke-kun?"
- "Let's go." Sasuke replied, already standing to leave. Sakura joined him while Naruto looked around franticly.
- "You mean we're just going to LEAVE our unfinished ramen?!" He exclaimed. Sakura sighed in embarrassment and started walking towards the training grounds.
- "Hurry up Naruto! Or you'll be later than Kakashi-sensei!" She called as Naruto was eating what was left of his precious ramen as fast as he could. Finished, a contented sigh escaped his lips as he pat his full belly. His eyes widened when he remembered the situation. Sasuke and Sakura were merely dots now in the distance.
- "SAKURA-CHAN! SASUKE-TEME! WAIT FOR ME!" Naruto yelled, sprinting to catch up with his friends, his family (minus Kakashi). Once he caught up, his breathing was ragged but he kept in pace with his companions. After a few minutes walk, the trio came upon Team Seven's training grounds, silver haired sensei included. Sakura and Naruto stood, gaping at their teacher while Sasuke stood off to the side, standing coolly.
- "K-kakashi-sensei... You're-you're early." was all Sakura was able to manage out.
- "Something is up. Kakashi-sensei is never early." Naruto summarized, observing his teacher.
- "I should explain myself, shouldn't I?" Naruto and Sakura nodded while Sasuke just stood there.
- "Well, I thought I'd surprise you by showing up on time. But when I came, none of you were here. So I decided to wait for you guys. So, what were you guys doing?"
- "We went to Ichiraku." Sasuke replied.
- "Oh? You actually went, Sasuke?"
- "Shut up." Sasuke retorted.
- "Yeah, Sasuke-teme came. He actually asked me if- Itai! What was that for Sasuke-bastard!" Naruto exclaimed, nursing the large bump on his head. He was ignored and he glared at Sasuke who smirked in return.
- "So, Kakashi-sensei?"
- "Yes, Sakura?"
- "What are we doing today?" She asked.
- "You aren't doing anything. But Naruto-"
- "What! Why not Kakashi-sensei?!" Sakura exclaimed, fuming.
- "Why can't Sakura-chan train with us?" Naruto inquired. Sasuke, too was paying attention. Kakashi's gaze softened at the sight of his pink haired student.
- "Because, Sakura. You're not in the best of health. We- I do not want you to get sicker than you already are." His murmur turned into a soft whisper. "I don't want to lose another another precious person." (A/N/ I could end it here but I'll make it longer because I made all my wonderful readers/reviewers wait oh-so-long for this chapter.)
'Kakashi' Sasuke thought in sympathy (A/N A very rare thing for Sasuke, mind you. It shows his bond with Kakashi. And if you're thinking romance, you're dead wrong. Sorry KakaSasu fans.)
Naruto smiled a small smile, agreeing with Kakashi whole heartedly. Not that he'd tell Sakura that though.
- "...Sensei... Alright. I'll just sit and watch," Sakura said reluctantly.
- "Thank you."
Sakura leaned on a towering pine tree, its seeds scattered all around her. The sunlight wrapped around her figure, only shining up to her stomach. From there, the tree creates a cooling shade which made her quite comfortable. The breeze carries the sound and smell of Naruto and Sasuke's training with Kakashi. The air smells like her boys while she hears every word they speak and every attack they launch. The breeze is caressing her as if to say: Sleep. Go on. Nothing will hurt you. You'll be alright. And Sakura obeyed. Slowly, she shut her eyes, and she drifted asleep.
- "Wake up Sakura." Sasuke says softly, waking up his only female teammate.
- "...Huh?...Sasuke-kun?" Sakura slurs drowsily. Blinking her eyes to readjust to the light that was not present.
- "What time is it?" Sakura asks, the drowsiness gone as if it wasn't there in the first place. She takes Sasuke's offered hand and stands up. She stretches her sore limbs before getting her answer.
- "It's twelve-fifty." Sakura gasped in realization.
- "My appointment! I'll be late if we don't hurry!" Sakura cried. Sasuke really wanted to just thwack the girl on the head and say,
- " No freakin' duh. That's why I woke you up. So you wouldn't be late.' But Sasuke knew that was out-of-character for him. So he kept it to himself.
- "Hey Sasuke-kun? Where and Kakashi-sensei and Naruto?"
- "Their waiting for you at the hospital. They left me here to wake you and bring you there." Sakura nodded and the two began their walk towards the hospital. Complete tranquility hang over the two ninja as they made their way to the hospital. That was, until they found Ino. Or to be more exact; Ino found them.
- "Sasuke-kun!" She squealed, latching on to him. An annoyed look became present on his face. Glancing around, she found Sakura who was next to them, standing patiently. "Sasuke-kun! What are you doing with Billboard Brow over there?!"
- "I'm sorry Ino, but I can't fight today. Sasuke-kun and I have to go somewhere." Ino gazed at Sakura before she gasped, jumping off of Sasuke (who inwardly sighed in relief) and stared accusingly at the two.
- "Don't tell me you two are going on a date?!" She screeched. Sakura flushed a dark maroon while Sasuke hid his face to hide his own light pink blush. (A/N: Finally! Some Sasu/Saku fluff! If you're wondering, it's 'cause Sasuke's blushing at the though of going on a date with Sakura.) Sakura smiled sadly at her best friend/rival.
- "No Ino. We're not. But seriously, we have to go. See you around." Sakura flashed Ino another small, sorrowful smile before she and Sasuke continued on their way. Ino didn't even put up a fight as she stared at her proclaimed rival with puzzlement.
'What has happened to you Sakura?'
Once again, Sasuke and Sakura were walking in-sync towards the hospital. Silence also loomed over again. Sakura apprehensively twiddled her fingers, anxious about the treatment. Sasuke noticed this within the corner of his eye and decided to do something about it in his own Sasuke-like way. So, he halted all together, catching the attention of his companion.
- "Sasuke-kun? Is there something wrong?" Sasuke spun around so that he was now facing her, eye-to-eye. He then embraced her in a gentle hug, startling her immensely and causing her to blush a pale red.
- "S-sasuke..What-" He interrupted her with a hushed whisper.
- "Don't worry. Everything will turn out fine."
But as soon as the hug began, it vanished and Sakura felt the cool air on her skin instead of Sasuke's warmth. The pink was still evident on her features as she stood there, dumbstruck. She had not even noticed Sasuke began walking on without her. Or that she was late for her appointment.
"Catch up," he called, which snapped her out of her daze.
- "Coming!" She caught up with him and they began their stroll once more. The hospital came into view after a few minutes and they entered it silently. Naruto was the first to notice their arrival.
- "You're late!" he declared. The doctor and Kakashi gazed at the two before smiling warmly at them.
- "Ah. So you're finally here. I see my habits have been rubbing off on you two, ne?" Kakashi mused. Neither ninja responded. The doctor cleared his throat before speaking.
- "Now that you're finally here, Sakura-san, would you liked to get started?"
- "Ano...before we start, I have a few questions." Sakura asked, nervous.
- "Why, yes, of course." The doctor replied warmly, his nut-brown eyes shining with understanding. (A/N I put that last sentence there so you would know the doctor is a guy. That's all.)
- "...How long will this take?"
- "Twenty minutes at the most. But I don't know for sure." He replied.
- "And one more question, "She paused to organize her thoughts before proceeding.
- "What is the treatment exactly? And its side effects?"
- "Right now, we're going to use radiation on you're brain to make sure their is no recurrence of leukemia there. We'll do this for about two sessions just to make sure. Later on, we'll use IV therapy continually to get rid of the leukemia. When we first start the IV therapy, I'll inject you through a syringe with an attached hollow needle into your volar forearm, or the vein that is visible on your wrists." Sakura flinched but said nothing. "We'll be doing this once a week every three weeks. We can do it here in the waiting room if you want. Afterwards, you'll be put on an intravenous drip and receive it that way. If all goes well, you should only have to use the intravenous drip once a week until the leukemia has vanished completely. You would get an occasional check up every once-in-a-while to make sure the leukemia's not coming back. Other than that, you would be a completely healthy Kunoichi again. The only side-effect is through the radiation; which will cause your hair to fall out. Anymore questions?" Silence. But Naruto jumped up, determined.
- "Sakura-chan will get through this! Just you wait! She'll be healthy in no time! Right Sakura-chan?" Sakura stared at him in awe before a grin of her own came upon her face.
- "Right."
- "So if you'd come with me, we'll began the treatment." She nodded and followed the doctor; only turning around to flash her friends a smile. Kakashi and Naruto returned it warmly while Sasuke smirked. She then vanished behind the large double doors. As soon as she left, Kakashi's grin faltered as he stared at the double doors.
'I hope you're right Naruto. I really do.'
Author's Note:
I'm so sorry for taking so long to update. It was from a stupid writer's block (damn you writer's block!) and I wasn't really motivated to write, either. But, I forced myself and this chapter was created! I'm also happy that I got some Sasu/Saku in this chapter.
If you're wondering why Sakura hadn't coughed up any blood or passed out during the entire six pages of the chapter, well, here's why: I don't want Sakura sick in all the chapters, I mean, wouldn't that get kind of boring if she coughed up blood and ended up at the hospital every chapter? And I want her to enjoy life too, you know. So there's my reasoning. If it wasn't clear, that was Kakashi thinking at the end. Don't forget to review!