SasuNaru
Locked Up With You
Disclaimer: I do not own much but the plot
--
The beds on either side were empty. The only noise in the room was Kiba's soft snoing. Naruto turned over, looking at the half made bed that Gaara was in. The redhead had gotten up and left by the time Naruto was awake. Though Naruto couldn't say he minded there only being three of them in the room, as he only spent one night with five, but he felt the difference. Gaara seemed more angry when he was in the room, though nither Kiba nor Naruto knew who it was he was mad at, and Kiba would always spend about half an hour staring at Neji's bed or Sasuke's bed.
Naruto? He just had to take longer to get used to the room. It felt almost as empty as his room at home, but with different emotions hanging the air. Not to mention the fact that he was initially getting used to a...nicer room.
The snoring gradually died down and there was a loud yawn before silence.
"Kiba?" Naruto asked. "You awake?"
"You're still here?" Kiba asked.
The blond froze, trying to figure out what Kiba was saying. "Yeah..."
He just doesn't want you here!
Naruto groaned, holding his head as the voice boomed through his blank mind.
"Naruto," Kiba said with a shaky voice. "I didn't mean to-to hurt you...I didn't mean it like that..."
"It's ok, Kiba," Naruto said with a strained grin. "I'm getting used to it- the voice I mean."
"You should tell your nurse," Kiba exclaimed, dropping his head over the side of their beds. "Sakura will be able to help!"
Naruto nodded, looking at the boy. Brown ruffled hair hung, falling to the floor.
"We should go get breakfast," the blond suggested. Kiba nodded and jumped off the bed, landing on the floor with a thud. Naruto chuckled and stood, passing Kiba and opening the box he kept his things in. Pulling out some shorts and a T-shirt, he quickly changed his current shirt and walked to the door, Kiba was quickly ready soon after, jogging after Naruto. The two walked down the hall to the living room, Neji ad Gaara in their usual places.
"Sakura!" Naruto called, waving to the pink haired nurse.
She smiled happily and walked over to him. "I thought I was going to have to send Gaara in to get you both, breakfast's almost over!" she said, frowning a little. "You know, you should start getting up earlier!"
"Sorry Sakura," Kiba apologized, putting his hands on Naruto's shoulders. "But now, we shall go fill our empty stomachs."
The taller boy steered Naruto to the lunch hall, running up to get some lunch. Naruto turned around to see Shikamaru pass, a book in his hand.
Naruto and Kiba sat down, a proper cooked breakfast in front of them. The blond frowned a little, still not used to the lack of ramen. Kiba, however was over the moon.
"You going to come to occuapational therepy today?" Kiba asked before putting a strip of crispy bacon in his mouth.
Naruto frowned a little. "Not sure, are you?"
"Yeah!" Kiba exclaimed. "Haku said he'd teach me how to cook!"
Naruto had discovered that, rather than using sign language or paper to communicate, Haku and Kiba generally got Ino or Shikamaru to do the translating. Haku's teary, sweet eyes were enough for Ino, and almost anyone could drag the lazy ass into doing something that didn't involve writing reports.
Sakura had told him about occupational therepy. There was a resorce room that was split up. It had a lounge, a kitchen with sewing suppilies as well, an art room, and a few other rooms.
"I might," the blond said.
"You should! I'm sure Haku will teach you how to cook as well!"
Naruto nodded with a small smile. Kiba grinned and took it as a yes.
"So glad to see you again...I hope they treat you well?"
"Wasn't there for long..."
Naruto's head shot up, looking to the double doors. He saw Sakura, happily talking to someone with a familiar voice. Frowning lightly, the blond leant back to see the other person, a nagging feeling of who it was. Kiba gave him a weird look, looking at the door to see what was so interesting.
The blue eyes locked with obsidian ones for a split second.
"Ahh!"
Sakura spun round, looking into the cafeteria to see one of her patients laying on his back, blue eyes blinking widely. she sighed a little with a smile, becoming even more surprised when the patient she was talking to entered the cafe, heading straight for Naruto.
A smirk. "Dobe."
The blond growled, shooting up and twitching slightly. "Teme!"
"Have a nice trip?" Sasuke asked, stuffing his hands ino his pockets.
Naruto stood, not helping the height difference. "What the hell do you want?!"
From the door, Sakura leant on the frame with a sly smile. This might well work for her...
--
Each ward in the Hutton Unit would do a different thing during occupational therepy. There was the grounds, and the resorce room. There generally wasn't many people on a ward, the St. Luke's wards were full of people while the maximum in the Hutton Unit was about eighteen. There was aout fourteen in Naruto's ward, leaving eight spaces.
The kitchen really wasn't that big. There was a group round the table, playing cards, and a few people were helping cook. Some had gone to the art room to do some painting, but the other rooms were full of people from other wards. Sakura and Ino were supervising the cooking, while Shikamaru was sat at the table playing cheat with everyone else.
Haku batted Kiba's hand as the brunet went to take some of the cake mix. Haku frowned at the boy, who grinned sheepishly.
"What's up, Naruto?" Kiba asked. "You've been kind of quiet..."
Naruto looked up and bit the inside of his lip, pushing it out slightly. "Nothing really...I've just been thinking."
Haku nudged Kiba to get his attention and then pointed to the person next to Shikamaru.
There sat Sasuke, gazing out the window with a far off look, no expression on his face. He hadn't said a single word to anyone since the morning after talking to Naruto.
"Kiba, Haku, Naruto," Sakura hissed. "Staring's rude!"
The three cringed. "Sorry!"
Turning back to their bowls, Haku demontrated how to fold the cake mix, while Naruto absent mindedly folded his own.
"You know, they've had him under constant watched. Sakura and Shikamaru have been trying to convince the doctors of something, but I don't know what," Kiba said.
Haku clapped his hands a bit, but his face fell as he realized he couldn't tell them. However, Naruto wanted to know.
"I take it we can play sharades?" Naruto asked mischieveously, getting Haku to brighten up a little.
The boy drew a square on the table. Naruto and Kiba thought for a moment.
"A box?" Kiba asked, getting a small shake of the head.
Haku then put his hands together and tucked them between his cheeks and shoulder, pretending to sleep.
"Sleeping box..." Naruto started. Haku gave him an expectant look. "Bedroom?"
Haku grinned, probably glad that he could comunicate with the others.
"Of course!" Kiba exclaimed. Naruto and Haku shushed him. "They want him back in a room with people, maybe that's it."
The long haired boy nodded and shot a look at Sakura and Ino, the latter who was looking at them suspicially.
Naruto gripped onto his arm, looking serious. Haku gave him a nervous look. "Distract the nurses, I want to talk to him."
"Why?" the brunet asked as Haku looked furious. "He hasn't said a nice word to you since you got here."
"Yeah...but I just want to know if he's ok."
"You knew him for a day and a bit, Naruto. You're niceness must have a limit somewhere."
Naruto ignored Kiba and walked up to where Sasuke was. His two friends panicked and Kiba did the first thing he thought of.
"Shit!" he exclaimed, grabbing his foot. "Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow! I stubbed my foot...I'm never going to get this! It's hopeless!"
Shikamaru was by his side in seconds.
"I just fail at everything!" Kiba cried, sounding like a melodramatic teen.
"It's ok, you just subbed your foot, do you want to leave the room for a few moments?" Shikamaru asked, catching the boy before he fell over.
Almost in tears Kiba nodded, clinging onto Shikamaru's arm. "Only if you come with me..."
Shikamaru nodded and guided the heavy boy out the room, shutting the door.
Meanwhile, Haku tackled Sakura. He stood in front of her and made all kinds of hand gestures, well aware that the nurse didn't know sign language. He got more frantic as the moment went on and no was there, try to calm him down.
"Haku, I can't translate if you're so...over the top."
The franticness got worse.
Ino took the feminine boy out the room, trying to slow him down.
Sakura turned her attention to Naruto and Sasuke. Naruto stood in front of Sasuke, eyes narrowed as if he was analyzing the boy, while Sasuke remained impassive.
Then she was confronted by Gaara. The redhead had been cooking quietly, compared to his three co-cookers, and didn't seem to be in any trouble.
"Sakura...I'm ready for the blood test," he said, teeth clentched.
The pinkette's attention was diverted to him alone. "Gaara! I'm so proud of you, this is a big step towards facing your fears!"
The redhead growled. "Just take me to the room."
"I'm afraid I have to see to the room and-"
"Before I change my mind..."
Sakura's warm smile faultered for a second, but she nodded and escorted him out anyway.
"What?" Sasuke snapped, fed up with being survayed.
Naruto's face broke into a grin. "You said something!"
One of Sasuke's eyebrows rose. "And?"
"You haven't said anything since this morning! I thought your voice box would go rusty!"
"Dobe," the Uchiha stated before turning his head to the cupboard boredly.
"Don't call me that!" Naruto exclaimed. "Why aren't you talking to anyone?"
Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Many reasons. Mainly because the people I know- being my ex-room mates, are all annoying as hell."
Naruto fumed, crossing his arms across his chest. "Gee, thanks. Nice to know you care."
"I don't."
The blond sucked in a breath. "You're ho-"
"Naruto," Shikamaru snapped, apearing behind the Uchiha. "Weren't you baking?"
Sasuke stood, looking directly into Naruto's blue eyes. "No, let him finish. I want to hear that word coming from him."
"You're, hopless," Naruto said slowly, letting the words roll off his tongue. He swore he saw a flas of emotion shoot through the dark haired boy's eyes, but it was too quick to identify.
"Like I haven't heard that one before."
The male stalked out the room, slamming the door behind him. Kiba popped his head round Shikamaru's back, and Haku and Ino soon came into the room. Haku looked at the floor in shame, while Ino didn't look happy. She scared Naruto when she was mad.
"Kiba, Haku, Naruto," Shikamaru adressed. "You either cook in peace, or Ino will escort you back to the ward, have I made myself clear?"
The three nodded and walked back to their bowls. Naruto looked to the bowl next to Kiba's, face softening somewhat. Gaara wasn't there. Neither was Sakura.
--
The brunet jumped as a book landed on his stomach, winding him a little. It was a thick hardback, and winded him a little. He looked up from his normal position on the couch to see a redhead, arms crossed across his chest and an expectant look on his face.
"I'm not amused," Gaara spat in his usual monotone voice.
"What's wrong?" Kiba asked, sitting up properly and holding the book.
The redhead leant forward so that his face was inches away from Kiba's. "Thanks to your little game in the kitchen earlier, I had a blood test."
"Ok, I'm confused...you got rid of Sakura by having a blood test?"
Gaara stood up properly and turned his back to Kiba, planting his hips on his waist. "That book has fifty pages left to read, and you have leave today. I'll have finshed it by the end of the day, and I want one for when I go to bed."
"I'm not your skivy boy!" Kiba shot back.
Gaara ignored him. "Now, the book I want is called 'Norwegian Wood' by a 'Haruki Murakamo', it's only a few hundred pages long, so it should last me the night. Can you do that, skivy boy?"
"I have to walk Akamaru today, Shikamaru said I could take him to the park and-"
Gaara turned to face Kiba, a homocidal look in his eyes. "Well I say you will take him to the bookshop and buy this book for me."
"You want me to buy it?!" Kiba demanded.
He shrunk back a little when Gaara stepped forward. "Yes, is there a problem with that?"
"No..." Kiba managed, holding the book in his hands to his mouth. The look in Gaara's eyes faded and he nodded, grabbing the book Kiba was holding and retreating to his corner.
Shikamaru came into the room soon after with a small grin. "Ready to go, Kiba? I'm dying for a smoke!"
Kiba glanced at Gaara, who was reading remarkably quicky. "Yeah! Now's a good time!"
--
"So, you say you heard a voice in your head since you got here...how often do you hear it?" the black haired lady asked, writing something down.
The blond fidgetted in his seat. "Well, about once a day."
"Ok, have you heard it yet today?"
"Yeah...this morning, when I was talking to Kiba."
Shizune nodded, scribbling something else down. "What did it say?"
"That..." Naruto paused, looking at the ground a moment. "He didn't want me here...or something."
"Ah...did Kiba say something that made this comment surface?"
"He asked if I was still there, seeing as I normally leave the room by the time he gets up."
"Ok...does it normally say something while you're talking to someone else?"
Naruto thought a moment. "Yeah, normally it comments on something someone else said."
"Thought so...going back to what it said about Kiba, did that comment hurt you?" Shizune asked, looking up with her warm dark eyes. Her face was a beautiful shade, and when she smiled it shone with warmth. When she was being serious, like now, it was colder, the only heat in her eyes.
"Not really," the blond said, shrugging. "I'm used to that comment."
"So the voice has said it to you before, I pressume?" Shizune questioned, tilting her head to the side curiously. She looked compleately innocent.
Naruto bowed his head, looking to the floor again. "No, not the voice...it was someone else."
Shizune noted something down again and heaved a sigh, smiling sweetly. "Well, I won't persue that topic today, I know what to give you for the moment. You'll be fine, I promise- and I'll tell you a little secret about Kiba," she said, winking a little. "He seems overjoyed that you're here."
Naruto felt relief flood through his viens and he nodded thankfully. Shizune's smile widened slightly and she leaned across the desk to hold out her hand. Naruto took it, shaking it happily.
"It was nice talking to you Naruto, you can stay while I talk to Sakura, or you can go back into the lounge, up to you. We'll be talking about your medicine and reports and things."
Sakura stepped forward, walking to the desk.
"I think I'll go see what's on TV, thanks anyway," Naruto said, nodding his head.
"Talk to you later, Naruto!" Sakura chimed, waving a little.
"See you," he replied, walking out the room. A nurse he didn't see before approaced him, thick rimmed glasses and layered hair that was messily hanging round her face. She held out a letter with the writing 'Naruto' in fancy quill pen scrawled across the envolope.
"Naruto? I got told this was for you," she said.
"Thank you..." Naruto trailed off, not knowing her name.
She paused before rolling her eyes a little. "Karin."
Before the blond had a cance to reply, she was gone. Shrugging, he slowly walked into the lounge and sat in the seat he liked best, brushing the question of were Kiba was to the side ad focusing on the letter. Opening it quickly, he pulled out the letter and unfolded it.
Dear Naruto
It's weird having to write to you, I have to say, but I don't know the phone number for the hospital. We'll, I'll probably ask when I talk to the receptionist, but you know how I've aways been, snail mail's fun!
A smile graced the tanned face; he didn't need to read the name at the end to know who it was.
A week now, huh? I hope everyone's treating you nicely! Sorry if being a teacher makes me less of a weapon to use if they're not. I could always give them homework and detentions! And just because I will be ringing you, doesn't mean you can not write back! I want a traditional HAND WRITTEN letter from you, young man! Practice your grammar!
Well, I've been watering your plants. I'll be sure to try arrange to visit you soon, it'll be nice to see you, seeing as I normally see you every weekend. Work's as demanding as ever, and I broke a glass at your house- please don't be mad! I didn't mean to! It's better than the time you set my tea towel on fire!
Naruto snorted wth amusement, grinning at the memory.
I don't think there's anything left to say really. Be sure to tell me all about the people you meet in your letter, because I want detailed explanations, not the little things you'll probaby give me on the phone.
Get well soon.
Iruka.
The blond jumped as he felt a graceful tap on his shoulder, turning to see Haku smiling softly. The tanned skin reddened slightly.
"Ah, it's a letter from my high school teacher...we got really close while I was in high school and we became good friends when I started collage..."
Haku plopped down next to him, giving him a look to go on, happy with the subject.
"He's called Irkua, you can read it if you want?"
The boy took it, skimming through the words. He stopped at a line and pointed to the 'detailed explainations'. Pointing to himself, Haku flicked his bangs and touched his chin to his shoulder, fluttering his eyelashes. Naruto laughed and nodded. "I'll be sure to tell him how beautiful you are!"
Haku pushed lightly on Naruto's shoulder as he stood, running to his room. The long haired male was back a few moments later with a piece of paper in his hand, passing it to Naruto.
The blond looked at the photo of Haku, who was smiling softly, while dancing in the light flittering through the trees.
"I can't take this..." Naruto said. "You're not expecting me to take it, are you?"
Haku nodded pushing it closer to Naruto. The blond looked down and let a stray lopsided smile settle on his face. Jumping up, he ran to the offices.
"Sakura!" he called, catching the nurse as she left the doctor's room. "I need some paper and a pen, I need to write a letter.
"Sure, hold on..."
When Naruto retured to Haku's side, he put the paper on the floor and read as he wrote.
"This is a photo of my friend Haku, who is the most beautiful, and girlish, boy I have ever met!"
Haku giggled silently and nudged Naruto with his foot. Naruto pulled on Haku's hand, brimming with excitement. The two stood at a table sitting at the side of the lounge and Naruto pointed his pen at Gaara.
"I have a redheaded friend called Gaara, who sits in the corner and reads a lot," Naruto wrote, reading loud enough for the redhead to hear. The pale boy looked up, raising a brow. "He's currently looking at me weirdly, probably wants to know what I'm doing. He's one of my room mates, and is really quiet. He doesn't like needles either, though I think the glare he's giving me means that was a bit of a secret. I'm sure he'd like it if you gave me some good authors for him. Well, at least he's stopped glaring!"
Gaara rolled his eyes and glanced at Neji, who quickly diverted his eyes.
Haku was laughing silently.
Naruto pointed his pen to the window before writing again. "There's also a boy called Neji, who used to be in the same room as me and Gaara, but he has a bad temper. He has long hair like Haku, but you can tell he's a boy."
Haku punched Naruto playfully in the shoulder, still grinning. Neji rolled his head Haku and Naruto with a 'what are you doing' look.
"He's got whitish eyes, so he's a Hyuuga I bet. They really are pretty...now he's glaring at me. I told you he had a bad temper."
Neji stood and walked into the offices, coming back with a blue board pen and crossing out the 'pretty', and underlining the 'can tell he's a boy'. Haku and Naruto were sniggering, while Gaara got up, coming over and taking the pen from Neji, underlining the 'gave me some good authors'.
Naruto continued with the three looking over his shoulder. "The blue marker pen stuff is Neji and Gaara. Mainly Neji.
"My other room mate is Kiba, who snores a lot. But I don't mind, he's fun to be around. He's currently out walking his dog with his nurse, Shikamaru. I think Shikamaru just wanted a cigarette though, he smokes like a chimney! Maybe when you visit you'll meet him. My own nurse is called Sakura. She's really pretty, she has pink hair and big green eyes. The other three people I've met so far are Ino, who's also a nurse. She's blond and is Haku's nurse I think...Neji's too. And then there's Sai...I don't know much about him yet though, he knows Haku. The last person is Sasuke Uchiha. He drew a picture of me and mum...don't ask me how. Maybe I could show it to you? He's really mean though! He calls me dobe, how rude?! He's always being mean to me! And he's so full of himself. He used to be my room mate too!
"Well, I best be off! I hope that was a good explanation? Lots of love! I hope my plants don't miss me too much!"
Naruto signed his name at the bottom, grinning happily and nodding. Haku clapped his hands and Gaara held the pen out to Neji, who took it and walked back to the offices to put it away.
"I best go and get an envelope for this...be back soon!"
--
Neji ignored the two who sat with him, not bothering to acknowlage them. They knew he knew they exsisted, unfortunately.
"Why did you agree to buy Gaara the book though, I thought you wanted to go to the park," Shikamaru asked.
"I thought we covered this earlier? It doesn't matter..." Kiba muttered.
Neji watched the two with mild interest.
"And don't think I haven't forgotten about earlier, I know damn well there was nothing wrong with your foot. And Haku was just making a fuss about nothing. And Gaara getting his blood test? Please, what the hell happened?" Shikamaru persisted.
Kiba sighed. "Nothing!"
"Gaara had a blood test?" Neji asked boredly. "I thought he was afraid of needles?"
"He was, that's what I want to know."
Kiba pouted a little. "Naruto wanted to talk to Sasuke and you three were watching him so much that he couldn't...he just asked us to distract you," the brunet said.
"Maybe Naruto in the same room as you and Gaara was a bad idea..." Shikamaru said. "You seem to be causing more trouble, and Gaara seems to be helping."
Neji scoffed. "Maybe he should be in 'his own room',"
"Neji," the nurse spoke, voice solid. "You know why you're in your own room. Improve, and you go back. I think it'd be best for you, but the doctor said to Ino that until you behave, you're on your own. Spitefulness will-not-help."
"Whatever," Neji muttered, munching on his shepherd's pie. "I don't care."
Shikamaru turned back to Kiba, whose interest had been swallowed by Gaara and Naruto's table. Looking over, Shikamaru saw something that wasn't supposed to be there.
Sasuke Uchiha.
"What's he doing at their table?" Kiba pondered out loud. "Sasuke doesn't even like Naruto, or Gaara. Why would he want to sit with them."
Neji looked to Shikamaru with a curious look, one that was returned with confusion. The two looked back to the table at the back to find…
Gaara was glaring fiercely at the wall with a tired look, while Naruto and Sasuke seemed to be having what was looking like an eating contest. And if it wasn't already, it was going to be soon.
"You'd think they'd choke..." Shikamaru muttered, cringing slightly.
"I feel kind of sorry for Gaara," Kiba admitted, though there was a grin on his face.
"Why Gaara? He deserves it."
"Neji-"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever," the Hyuuga mumbled, going back to his food. "Spitefulness will not help."
Kiba sniggered as Shikamaru swore, starting to stand, but not going to the table. Neji raised a brow and turned his head, seeing Gaara pat Naruto on the back hard, holding his water in front of the boy and showing the most emotion Neji had ever seen on his face. He did look like he was panicking. Sasuke however, looked very smug. His plate was finished, and he was resting on one hand.
Gaara looked to Shikamaru desperately, getting the nurse to run round to them and say something to Naruto. Haku came up behind Sasuke and clapped his hands, congratulating Sasuke, who chuckled and stood.
"Dobe."
Neji and Kiba watched him leave, Haku plopping where Shikamaru once was with a schoolgirl look, sighing dreamily. Shikamaru came over a moment later, Gaara and Naruto calmed down, the blond giving himself a confidence boost while Gaara still looked slightly unsure he was better.
"What's wrong with Haku?" Kiba asked, looking at Shikamaru. The longhaired male did some unclear hand signs before giving up.
The nurse sighed. "Haku's charmed by Sasuke's good looks. He'll get over it soon no doubt. He's done that with every silent, elite type of male that's been here."
"Even Gaara?" Kiba asked, getting a nod. "And Neji?"
The Hyuuga frowned. "Don't be stupid."
"Sorry Neji, you're the one who decided to be a heartless, silent dark horse when you first met Haku," Shikamaru said.
The beeping of a watch sounded again and Shikamaru let out a long, relieved sigh. "I thought it would never come! Smoke Break!"
--
Naruto rolled over again, facing Gaara who was studying the wooden pattern of Neji's old bed.
"What?" he asked in a hush voice.
"Thanks for earlier by the way," Naruto whispered. "I owe you one."
Gaara sighed and got up, walking over to the table and pulling open a draw. He returned holding a ribbon, which shone a silver in the subtle moon light coming in from the window. Gaara insisted it would stay open at night. The redhead sat on his bed, looking at the tie a moment.
"Give this to Neji for me," he said, hair covering his face so that Naruto couldn't see.
The blond tried to hide an amused smile, failing miserably. "Are you…embarrassed?"
Gaara looked away, thrusting his hand out and clutching the ribbon, a light blush adorned his face. "Just do it!"
Naruto chuckled and reached out, taking the ribbon. "Whatever you say. Do you want a love note attached?"
Gaara lay back down, picking up a book from the night shelf and burying his nose in it.
"Come on Gaara, don't be like that!"
"Quiet, fool. Kiba's sleeping."
"Since when did you care?" Naruto teased, rolling over and tucking the item he was holding beneath his pillow.
There was complete silence while Naruto drifted off. Gaara looked at him with a soft look, somewhat sad.
"He'll accept it from you…"
--
Kitty: in library. Two mins left. Bye bye
Ja ne
Kitty
Preview –
"Here, Neji!"
"What…where did you get this?"
"I, er…found it?"
"…Thanks."
"Gaara gave it to me!"
"Oh…well."