Chapter VI
Light and Ino, with a private passage through town, burst through the hospital doors. He demands to see Sakura, but she is in a state where only family is allowed. Light paces the floor, his hair a wild mess, the blood from Misa's visit rubbed away by his nerves. Those waiting in the front office turn heads and whisper amongst themselves. It is a rare sight to see the new Commissioner out of his office or home as he is not as social as Naruto. Several take out cameras and snap pictures while others just gaze in admiration. After numerous paces, Light storms up to Ino. Hinata hangs behind with the Mayor, Temari. With such powerful figures in one place, the group begins to draw a crowd. The hospital workers don't mind as they need the publicity—as well as they gawk themselves.
"What happened? Why is Sakura in the hospital?"
Ino, once in a cowering stance, straightens herself. "She'll tell you when she's ready."
"Don't be stubborn. Why bring me here if I can't see her?"
"Because when we caught her, too late it was, she cried your name. And when she convulsed and entered her suffering, all she said was Light, Light, Light. They've been pumping her stomach and feeding her fluids all night. They don't know if she's going to make it."
Light's shoulders sink. There's a chance I'll never see her again? That smiling face…gone forever? His hands tremble as the thoughts persist. Suddenly they've become surrounded by admirers and amateur paparazzi. Light curls into himself, dropping to his knees, shocking all around him to the sudden display or weakness. Ino kneels next to him, resting a hand on his back. His voice shudders, "I have failed, Naruto." Tears burst from his eyes as he begins to sob. "I made a promise. It was my duty to protect Sakura, and I was too naïve to do it."
"You can't blame yourself." Hinata and Temari finally take notice of the crowd and try shooing them away for any privacy. "No one could've known this would happen."
An image of Sakura sleeping soundly on his chest flashes through Light's mind. "I could have." Ino's eyebrows twitch. "Sakura spent the night at my house one night," He sniffles.
"She did?" Ino makes an amused expression, almost in a taunting manner.
He looks up at Ino, "I could've talked to her. In her sleep she said Naruto; I could've asked how she was dealing with her mourning. I encouraged it. I encouraged her to mourn. I did this." Light's whole body begins to shake at this realization. I've killed the woman I love.
Ino's teasing nature ceases.
Hinata turns to see them still sitting there. "Ino, you should take Light somewhere private. We won't be able to disperse this crowd." Ino nods and brings Light to a stance, shoving through the crowd back outside. They walk over to Light's personal limousine and hide. The driver takes them in circles, remaining in the somewhat-near vicinity of the hospital, as ordered, and, in turn, loses the crowd.
Light slouches in his seat, his face dry of sorrow. Ino leans over and grabs a bottle of Sake, "Do you want a drink?" Light nods, looking no further from his lap. She pours them each a glass. He gulps down most of it and takes a deep breath. He mutters 'thanks' somberly. Ino sips her drink, looks at Light, then out the window. She taps her glass with her nail, "About what you said in there, was it true? Did she really sleep over?"
Light swirls the drink in his hand, "What're you talking about?"
She faces him, "You know exactly what I'm talking about."
"Yeah, it's true, not that it matters. If I can't save Sakura from herself how can I be expected to save her from anyone else? I just wish I could've helped her. Maybe if I knew why she did it, it would make sense, but it still can't reverse the past."
"Light, there's something you don't know."
"Hmm?"
"Sakura…hired a private detective to investigate Naruto's murder." Light tenses, his eyes showing his distress. "Last night the four of us, Hinata, Temari, Sakura and I were hanging out, having a friendly get-together. Everything was fine. Sakura seemed anxious about something, but overall she was fine. It was just before curfew, and we were sitting in her living room when the door rang. It was the young man named Mello. He had called her earlier, saying he had a lead and wished to speak with her, but it took him all day to arrive for some reason. He didn't waste any time, and he didn't care that we were listening in. He revealed that his first lead was you, but that it didn't add up despite the career being a motive for you. Instead he found someone more fitting, an arch enemy. He didn't say who. Then he proceeded to leave, but was run over by a semi-truck. You know how the traffic is when it's close to curfew, everyone's rushing. It hit Sakura hard. I get the feeling she knew who he suspected. He hinted at it I guess, but I have no clue."
Light's grasp on his glass was so strong it began to crack. "Scum," He spits out under his breath, finishing his drink and reaching for the bottle. He fills the glass and gulps it down. Ino watches, regretting what she said. He finishes the glass and tosses it to the side, drinking from the spout of the bottle instead.
Ino yanks it away, "Light stop it! Drinking your worries away won't solve anything."
Light sighs, sitting back in his seat, rubbing his eyes. "I should've never left her."
Ino orders the driver to stop. He pulls off to the side. "You shouldn't blame yourself. All we can do now is hope she'll make it and be there when she does." Light shifts his lips to the side, having no doubts that Sakura will meet death soon. Ino sighs with the slight shake of her head, "I have to go, and I'm taking this with me." She sways the bottle in her hand. "Sai and I must attend the funeral for one of our students. He shot others he suspected of being chakura-users and then offed himself." Light nodded, believing the boy did a righteous thing. "Don't drink anymore, what if Sakura saw you like this?" Light hangs his head in shame, playing Sakura's disappointed and doleful expression to his actions in his head. Ino exits the car, drinking from the bottle as she makes her way down the street.
Light, shaking off the numbing sensation in his head, sits tall. "Driver, take me to the hospital." The driver nods and takes off. He reenters the building, whipping his hair to the side as he strides over to the front desk in an authoritative manner. The petite woman stares up at him in astonishment, nothing but admiration flickering in her big round globes. He towers over her stature, the shade in his features giving him a gloomy persona. "Sakura Haruno." Fidgeting slightly, the woman nods, looking through the stack of papers on her clipboard. She gives him the room number, fumbling over her words while stealing glances at his extraordinary good looks. He thanks her and proudly continues down the hallway.
He reaches the elevator and presses the button. The doors slowly slide open, then the sardine-packed individuals freeze at the sight of him. All of their gaping expressions make Light grin. He steps in and stays at the front of the box, pressing the five. Everyone is silent on the ride up. Usually there always seems to be one person that has the desire to cough or clear their throat, but not this time. The air is so still it's notable that the people are indubitably holding their breaths. Light glances at the admiring faces in the reflection of the doors, then returns his line of sight at nothing in particular.
The doors whoosh open and he steps out, walking down the hall. The breathless individuals remain in the cube, watching him leave. The man in front of the crowd lifts his palms to view, "I just stood next to the Commissioner."
Finally, Light reaches the desired designation. Taking a gulp of courage, he opens the door gently. A lean body lies in bed, a breathing mask over her face. Light steps in, quietly closing the door behind him. He looks at the exhausted soul from afar, afraid of what he might see. Rolling his hands into fists, he takes a step forward, and another. Soon, he is at the bedside, peering down at the patient. Her light pink hair is scattered and knotted, her jade eyes closed, her face weathered with stress.
Looking intently at his love, Light forces himself to hunch over and plant a soft kiss upon her forehead. Before he does, tears bombard his eyes. "Ohh Sakura," He falls to his knees, failing his much-desired affection. "Why did you do it?" He grabs her hand, pecking her warm, nimble fingers. Resting his head on the edge of the bed, he caresses her hand with his thumb. Then, halting his motions, he catches a glimpse of her wedding ring.
His breath is caught in his chest as it clenches ever so agonizingly. A pain shoots through his heart, bearing the upmost grief. His eyes stare at it, unable to veer away from the sparkling golden band. Through it, he sees his eyes, and all that lingers there is a foul conniption. His eyebrows furrow, making a slight crease in between. With his free hand, he wipes his lips, almost disgusted with her tainted flesh. He straightens his back so he is perpendicular to her, glaring at the jewelry. The hand currently lapsed over her smooth flesh now situates around that mere finger, twisting the ring to view all angles.
It's Naruto's, He thinks to himself, trying to calm the flaming anxiety consuming his person.
Finally, Light relinquishes his held breath, almost blue. He quietly pants with a scowl, gently sneaking the ring from Sakura's lifeless limb. Holding it up to eye-level, he rises to his feet, analyzing the engraving carved on the inside of the hoop. "To my dearly beloved? Tsk, how cliché." Light rolls his eyes and tosses the ring in the air, catching it subsequently, repeating the action as if it were a ball or a ring of keys. He walks to the window and peers out from between the milk curtains. It is midday, the sky is a godly gold with plush clouds, outlined in the light of the sun hidden behind. Cars drive by down below, unaware of the lives being lost in this moment. While even as Light stands here, peering out the window to distract himself for loathing his best friend, a life is ending, and people go on as if nothing is out of the ordinary.
He stops tossing the ring and looks at it once more until he quells a feint murmur. Shooting his attention to Sakura, he witnesses her fluttering eyes. Quickly, he stuffs the ring in his pocket and approaches her side, cupping her naked hand and holding it to his lips.
She looks around, making incoherent noises, the whiteness of the room being too much for her sensitive eyes. Then her sight focusses on Light's melancholy features. "Light…? Is that…is that really you?"
Submitting to his urges, Light wraps his arms around her, burying his face in her shoulder, holding a strong defense against the imploring tears. "Sakura," He whispers with a quaking voice, the effort in that alone being nearly enough to cripple him to depression's will. His body tremors as relief steadily flows through every inch of him.
Sakura slowly takes off the breathing mask and strokes his hair. "Where are we?"
He gulps down this foreign display, "The hospital."
"Hospital? But, I thought—"
"You thought what?" He lifts himself off of her body, retaining a face that screams emotional turmoil. "Go on, there's no need to be shy now." She stammers, incapable of making an explanation. "Dammit Sakura, what on Earth were you thinking?" He runs his fingers through her dirty hair, "Why did you…?"
"I-I just wanted to see Naruto again," She blurts without thinking. Afterwards she scrunches her face in realization and disappointment.
"He's dead, Sakura." Light, once mumbling and facing away, turns to her, roughly placing his hands on her shoulders, making her gasp. "Naruto's dead! I had my suspicions, but I had hoped this wasn't the reason you did what you did. Now that it is, I don't know what to say but how could you? How could you do this?"
"As if it's your place to say—"
"You know damn well it's my place! You're my responsibility, my reason…"
"I'm not a child, Light. As an adult I'm allowed to make my own decisions."
He releases her and steps back, "Who are you?"
"What?"
He lifts his hand over his mouth in frustration, shaking his head in disbelief. "You're not Sakura."
"What're you—?" She catches the scent, "Are you drunk?"
"You're not her!" He flings out his arm, tightly gripping onto the bar at the end of the bed. His outburst shocks them both, but he perpetually flows with adrenaline to keep him going. "The Sakura I know wouldn't just give up; trade in her cards for the easy way out. Even if she failed, she'd try again, and again. Is that who you are? Is that who you are now?" He takes a deep breath, "Naruto wouldn't have wanted this, Sakura. If you met in the next life, would you think he'd welcome you with open arms? No. He'd stand a few feet from you, with a straight face, and disappointment in his eyes."
"Stop it," She begins to sulk.
"Would you do that? Would you be happy to know that you were the reason someone wanted to kill themselves? Or would you be filled with regret, that if you hadn't died, neither would they?"
"Light! Please…"
"Sakura, I'm telling you this because…because…I care about you, deeply. You need to see this from a logical perspective that isn't completely riddled with overwhelming emotion to impair your judgement."
"How can you stand there and say those things to me?" She lifts her gaze and meets his eyes. "How can you stand to live with yourself, with your animosity?"
"Sakura—"
"It's not as easy as it seems. To go on, day after day, living alone in a big house when there used to be so much life in it. To roll over in bed and suddenly realize that it's empty. To wake up early in the morning to his alarm. To never feel that warmth he gave you, that comfort, that security. That hand that once traced the line of your jaw is gone, that face in which would always want to make you laugh, those eyes that displayed nothing but love, or the lips that expressed it. All his quirks, perfections and imperfections, activities or meddling, arguing for the hell of it, complaining because he can, helping because he cares, or holding because he loves. It is all gone. Everything about him or that related to him is gone, it all died with him. And now the rest of us need to figure out where we stand from here on out, to try and go on with life even though his piece of the puzzle was the largest. Now, it is incomplete, and it will always be like that, forever, stagnant and unwavering. Maybe I can't accept the removal of that missing piece. Maybe, it'd be better for the puzzle to be complete again."
Light steps forward and holds her head faintly, barely caressing the strands of her tangled hair, planting a soothing kiss upon her head. "Let me…" He kneels down, lowering to her level. "Let me be that missing piece."
Sakura holds her breath, wondering if what she heard was correct. "…What?"
"I want your life to be whole again. So give me all of your sorrow, your pain. No one deserves such suffering, especially not you. Let me make your life whole. Let me make you happy." His fingers graze along the curvature of her pink-coated cheeks, his thumb brushing away a solemn tear. "You mean more to me than you could ever know, Sakura."
"Well," She begins, still in shock, "you made a promise to Naruto."
He shakes his head, "It's more than that. You are so much more than an obligation to a promise."
Tears bank at Sakura's lids, yet not out of sadness or despair. Her heart thumps against her ribcage, racing like mad. That calming sensation from a single touch she only got from Naruto washes over her now. She gradually closes her eyes and opens them again, a relaxed sigh slipping from her full lips.
Light's thumb gently sweeps over her lips. He watches them with the bite of his own, trying to overcome this near panic. He whispers her name, "Sakura…" His thumb moves to the side as he leans in, closing his eyes, "Be mine." Sakura's eyes calmly drift closed while she leans forward slightly. He is but a breath away. And when his lips just barely skim over hers, she pulls away.
"Where's my ring?" It finally occurs to her.
Light opens his eyes and slumps his shoulders, failing to hide his dismay. "Uhm, I don't know. Perhaps the staff confiscated it so they could operate on you." He stands up, dropping his hands to his sides.
"Operate?"
"Yeah," his voice is bitter, "to keep you from dying."
"Ohh…" She hangs her head, not wanting to see his sullen eyes.
"I must go now, but I'll be sure to visit before you return home." He forces a slight smile and briefly waves. She tilts her head up, observing. Then he walks out the door without so much as a second glance. When the door latches closed, he rests his back against it with a heavy sigh. It's not her fault. She still loves Naruto.
Light composes himself and strides in the direction of the elevator. As he waits for the cube to arrive, he realizes something. That's funny. I was so certain she'd die, but I could see her death date the entire time.