I don't own Naruto!
All Sasuke felt was pain. His whole body felt like it was on fire, every breath he took made his chest ache, the cuts on his legs stung, and his head throbbed from the large gash that run through the back of his head. He groaned loudly, fisting the soft sheets his arms rested on, before it finally hit him. He was lying on a blanket, when all he remembered was the coldness of the footpath he had fallen on before he had passed out.
He opened his eyes, vision still covered in a haze present since the cut to the back of his head. Pushing himself into a sitting position, he groaned as pain shot up his sides.
Rubbing his eyes, he gazed around the room trying to make sense of his surrounds, clearly being very different to the cold pavement he had collapsed on. The room was unmistakably feminine, a room he did not recognise stuffed animals and discarded clothes littering the floor. Fear pulsed through him for an instant, thinking he was in one of the houses of the female gang members, one of... his friends, but he shook of the thought almost instantly. The room was way to childlike, to innocent to be associated with anything so dark, so dirty.
"Arghh" A soft voice groaned, causing him to jump. At his sudden movement, the figure who had sat leaning against the end of the bed awoke, sitting up quickly and moving to the corner of the room. Frightened of him, he guessed. Ironic, since he was the one waking up in a complete strangers house. He took in her appearance quickly, from the unorthodox mop of pink locks, to the glowing emerald eyes full of uncertainty gazing back at from him.
They both sat staring at each other for a few minutes, before she blinked rapidly, shaking it off. "Who are you?"
A look of surprise flashed across his face. "Who am I? Who are you?"
She cringed at his words, clearly realising how utterly absurd the whole situation was.
"Oh yeah, right" She laughed awkwardly. "My name is Haruno Sakura, and this is my place. My parents used to own a hospital so I have a lot of medical supplies." She mumbled quickly, cheeks reddening in embarrassment.
"..."
"Well you were hurt, and I wanted to help... I don't know!"
Sasuke shook his head, in awe. He couldn't even contemplate someone showing such, irrational, crazy, stupid kindness, let alone to someone as low as him. This girl had no idea who he was for fucks sake! He could have been a serial killer for all she knew, especially wandering around the street beaten and broken the way he was.
He hadn't had contact with anyone expect.. him.. and his friends in years. It was a completely foreign, and slightly frightening experience. He didn't know what to do.
he sat up, swinging his legs out of the bed, in an attempt to escape, though the simple movement caused him to double over in pain on the floor. The Sakura girl rushed over to him, helping him back into a sitting position on the bed, putting her hands on his forehead, trying to get a closer look. He jumped back, recoiling from the touch. She frowned at him.
"Stop being such a baby and let me look." She demanded angrily, causing the corners of his mouth to twitch upwards momentarily. The amount of fire in such a little body amused him.
She grabbed his chin, examining his face from both angles, while fighting the blush that was trying to force itself up her cheeks, while noting how pale the boy's face was, as well as the thin layer of sweat covering his skin.
"You have at least three broken ribs, a pretty bad concussion and internal bruising all up your body. Get back into bed, I need to get you more bandages" She listed off his symptoms.
He grew annoyed." If it's that bad, then why didn't you take me to a hospital like a normal person would." He grumbled angrily, as this strange girl forced him back into bed.
She paused, looking nervous for a second. "Because you specifically asked me not too..."
He froze for a second, memories of the previous night flashing through his mind, causing him to shiver. He tried as best as he could to quell the beginnings of fear, as well as growing appreciation for this girl he didn't know. "Hn." He grunted, slowly laying back down and closing his eyes. It was silent for a few minutes, before his voice broke the silence. "Sasuke, my name is Sasuke." He whispered softly, before blackness overcame him.
Sakura stayed back for a few minutes, before slowly walking towards the boy when she was sure he was definitely not faking sleep. Tentatively, she put her hand on his forehead, wincing at the scorching skin under her fingers. Infection was possible, she did find him in a load of trash after all. He wasn't doing very well. He should be in a hospital. She bit her lip for a second, before cracking up at the absurdity of the situation. Lying in her bed was a badly beaten stranger, who refused to go to a hospital, could be a drug lord or a axe murderer for all she knew.
She walked out of her room, shutting the door as silently as she possibly could, walking down the long narrow hall towards the kitchen. She had some antibiotics in the fridge that she could give him. The house was dark, big an empty, the cold silence suffocating, just as it always was. She thought she had learned to deal with this, being on her own, the loneliness of it all.
Though thinking of the boy sleeping upstairs, she realised that was very far from the truth. She laughed coldly. "I'm so pathetic.." She whispered to the silence.
She looked up at the clock in her living room, which was chiming loudly, as if trying to make her aware that she was now in fact three hours late for school. Usually this would send her into a panic, but today the last thing she wanted to worry about was having to deal with a bunch of idiots. That would be tonight anyway. She didn't really need to go anyway, she was already at the top of the class and could easily pass without going to the lectures. "Not like they can call my parents or anything." She chuckled darkly, before laying down on the couch, keen on getting a few hours sleep.
But of course, she would not be allowed to sleep for long. Six phone calls and 23 text messages later she realised that it would do her no good ignoring Ino any longer, picking up the phone and answering with a "What do you want?", which was quite out of character.
Ino didn't answer for a second, clearly shocked. "Urghh... Are you okay sweetie? You sound a little grumpy." In the background Sakura could hear Tenten shouting at Ino, "Clearly she is annoyed that even taking a day off to get away from you she can't escape'. Sakura laughed loudly, causing Ino to huff loudly into the receiver. "Don't be a bitch. I was calling to see if your still coming tonight." Ino said cooly. "Not to see if I was okay? Oh Ino, your kindess touches my soul." Sakura bit back sarcastically. Ino chose to ignore the comment. Her selective hearing skills were amazing.
"So you will come over to mine after school right? So we can get you presentable and stuff?"
"..Fine." She knew she would never hear the end of it if she declined.
"YAY!" Ino Gushed. "Uchiha-Taicho will be there, so it's a perfect time for me to move in on him! (like she didn't try to everyday, Sakura thought grinning) I'll pick you up when we finish yeah?"
Sakura froze. "OWW! Tenten what was that for?" Ino yelled in pain.
"It's okay Ino, I'll walk." Sakura replied, voice icy calm before hanging up and throwing the phone into the corner.
Sometimes (all the time) she wondered why she was friends with such a person.
Grabbing some food from the cupboard and walking into her bedroom, she leant down next to the sleeping boy, checking his temperature one more time. Still up high. He flinched away from her hand subconsciously. She frowned.
He was muttering under his breath, tossing and turning and in clear distress. She quickly scribbled a note and left the food next to the bed. She thought it best to leave before he woke up and her rational side convinced her about the absolute absurdity of leaving this boy in her house alone.
"Come here you little shit!" He growled, pasty arms reaching out for me. He was drunk again, I could tell. The smell of vodka clung to him like a permanent stench. I jumped clear of his reach, moving back until I hit the small, sinking to the ground. No, not again, not tonight.
"I SAID COME HERE YOU WORTHLESS SCUM." His fist connected with my face. I'd like to think myself used to it by now, that it doesn't even hurt anymore, but it does. It hurts just as bad as it did the first one. He would hit me again, and again until I retaliated, which he would use as an excuse to hit even harder.
Afterwards he spits on me, tells me its my own fault, it's what I deserve and stumble off in the other direction to go pass out for another night, leaving me to nurse my wounds and broken pride.
He's right. I am worthless. This is what I deserve.
Sasuke woke in a sweat, swearing loudly. He ran his aching hands through his sweat drenched locks, taking deep breaths in an attempt to calm himself. Dreams. One of the biggest factors in his intense hatred for sleep. The other factor was how vulnerable you were when you were asleep. It was almost impossible to hear people coming. He looked around the room, surprised to see that the strange pink haired girl.. Sakura.. was not in the room anymore. He smirked slightly. Probably frightened away. He glanced down the side of the bed, noticing the plate of food and hastily scribbled note.
Maybe not then.
Sasuke,
I know this is really weird, but just go with it.
My name is Sakura, I am 17 years old, and you are currently in my house. It's just me here, so you don't have to worry about running into anyone else.
Be careful not to move to much, you'll open up your stitches and I will be royally pissed. Stiches are hard to do. Some of the wounds may have infections setting in, so take some of the antibiotics next to the food. If your up to it, the room next to this one has a shower.
I'm sorry If I sound all bossy and all. I don't really know what to write.
I won't be home till tonight.
Please... don't go anywhere. Your not well enough.
Sakura
He shook his head in disbelief. This girl was incredibly strange. He started eating the food infront of him in haste. He was not one to turn down food, even when his pride was at stake. He knew all to well that your next meal was never guaranteed.
Walking across the town to Ino's house carrying four dresses (three of which being Ino's) was not Sakura's idea of a pleasant day. She refused to think about how much easier this would be if she would only use one of the cars in the family garage, but she couldn't even go near the place.
Spying a small cafe in the distance, she dumped the bags at a table and went inside, in dire need of a caffeine boast.
The shop was small, though filled with many older couples, probably regulars, the kind of place she loved.
She walked up to the counter, shuffling through her coat pocket trying to find change. "Caramel Latte please."
"Coming right up." A smooth voice answered, causing her head to shoot up in surprise. She recognised that voice.
"Uchiha-Taicho?" She asked incredulously. Uchiha Itachi, heir to multi millions, working at a small cafe. Sakura couldn't deny how attractive he was, work shirt opened slightly at the top to reveal the top of his chest, long ebony locks loosely tied back so that a few of his bangs feel infront of his eyes. His eyebrow shot up as he looked up. "Sakura, fancy seeing you here." He said, handing the finished coffee to her. She tried to hide the blush lightly colouring her cheeks. He knew her name.
"Just Itachi, I am not president of this store" He paused. "I would appreciate it if you did not tell others at school that I work here." He added looking slightly apprehensive. Sakura snickered. "Don't worry, last thing those crazy fan girls need is caffeine.
He looked relieved, or she thought he did, it was hard to tell with him. He did not show much emotion.
"Thank you, I appreciate that." He seemed thoughtful for a second. "Are you going tonight?" He asked casually, beginning to make another order.
"Yeah unfortunately. I guess I will see you there?" She sighed, pointing to the mass of bags she still had to carry a good 2km.
"Hnn. Maybe. You shouldn't let that Yamanaka girl push you around." He said, nodding his goodbye and walking off to take an order from an elderly couple, smiling an interacting in a way that she had never seen him do in school and leaving her in a state of shock.
"Where is he?" The man hissed from his bed, arms heavily bandaged and panting as if every word caused him agony. Though the group of men around his bed still shook slightly, terrified of the man in front of him.
"He escaped last night, we have sent out search parties but no luck so far" The man kneeled in front of the bed, head bowed so low that it almost touched.
"You let him escape!" The man howled angrily, causing all the men around to avert his eyes.
"Kabuto, dispose of these idiots, I can't handle incompetence." The Silver haired man on the right of the bed nodded and the hysterical men were dragged out of the room.
"I want you all to find the boy within the week! It was so much effort to get him here, I wont have him escape that easily!"
They all bowed "Yes Orochimaru sir!"