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Title: Sakura and her merry band of misfits
Summary: I've never done anything bad ever. I always do my work, listen to my elders, and shown respect to everyone I've ever met. So why am I in a mansion with a bunch of freaks that are at least seven years older than me? sakuraXmultiple
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
"Talking"
'Thinking'
Emphasizing
"Dark Zetsu" 'cause he's kickass like that
Chapter 13: Bad little patient
When you free fall in a dream, have you ever wondered what happens? Some remember waking up right as they're about to connect with the concrete. Others say that you never wake up when you collide with the ground and that's how people die in their sleep. Sakura could personally tell you that the earth was just the first layer. Those who don't open their eyes as they're free falling in an unconscious state were just stuck somewhere. When you begin falling from that building or cliff or whatever starting point you have, you phase through the ground. Next you go down. Along the molten core, gliding by the Milky Way, and just as you reach the end of the universe you start from the top. Past the stars, through the heavens until you come crashing into your body. And that's just what she did.
With a gasp of air, Sakura sat up in the hospital bed and tried to even her breathing. Her eyes burned as they adjusted to the light and her entire body ached. She groaned loudly unaware of the occupants in the room until she noticed movement from the corner of her eye. "Sakura go back to bed, yeah." Deidara complained as he adjusted himself in the not-so-comfortable hospital chair and Sakura mumbled an apology. She scratched her head as she thought about what to do when the blonde jumped up so fast she flinched in surprise. "SAKURA! YOU'RE UP!" He was practically beaming causing the small girl to nod confusedly. Rosy lips parted but as she was about to question his excitement when another yell interrupted her.
"Are you shittin' me blondie?!" The small bathroom door burst open and Hidan's violet orbs zeroed in on her with such intensity her hand itched towards the nurse call button. "I think you forgot to wash your hands you disgusting ass." Zetsu commented off handedly before he turned to the lone female. "Please get dressed Sakura. I'm tired of all this damn white." With a nod she swung her legs off the edge of the bed and winced as she stood. Deidara gave her an easy going smile before leaving. Soon Zetsu followed dragging a struggling Hidan by the scruff of his collar. Once they left Sakura she frustratedly ran a hand through her hair and sighed.
'Why do I feel like I'm forgetting something?'
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"Really guys, I'm fine. I don't need anything!" Sakura took a minute to look over the men before her with raised brows. They had little to no color, red eyes from lack of sleep, and deep bags under their lids. Though she wasn't one to talk with how bad she was beaten up. All in all she was lucky to still be there. "I can still move around-" As she reached for her crutch, Kisame pulled it out of reach and shook his head. "Take a load off for once Chibi-chan. Just watching you makes me exhausted." He laughed but it was shallow and drained making her frown. "But…"
A deep scowl began to tug his stitched lips downwards. "You're really going to argue after how much your hospital bill cost?" Sakura was about to argue that she could work off the debt but the second his eyes narrowed she immediately quieted. "S…Sakura-chan…" Tobi shifted from foot to foot with his arms slightly out stretched as he looked conflicted with what to do. The frown didn't fit the usually happy male and her brows drew together in concern. "What's wrong…Tobi-senpai?" She added the last part hoping it would cheer him up a little but it only made him even more restless.
"Tobi wants to hug Sakura-chan but she's hurt! Hugs make everyone feel better! Bu-But Zetsu-san said Sakura-chan is sore so Tobi's hugs would hurt…" He looked so at war with himself Sakura didn't know whether to laugh or leave. The hug-deprivation was really getting to him. The green eyed woman lifted one arm with a sigh and told him to come here. He lit up like she'd just given him Christmas on a platter and practically charged at the offered appendage. She braced herself for the worst and the on slaughter of pain but nothing came.
Tobi stood in front of her with his hands squeezed into tight fist at his sides. "No…Tobi will wait until Sakura feels better." He nodded resolutely and a small chuckle escaped her. "You guys are acting weird. First being nice then respecting my personal space? Why are you guys freaking out so bad?" She earnestly looked confused before a look of realization came upon her face. "You didn't want me to be a liability, right?" In a different situation, Kakuzu would've felt proud that she was thinking that way as she flashed him a smile. "Isn't it obvious?" Sasori sounded surprised but at her puzzled look knew the answer.
Itachi looked at the pinkette from her sitting position and she blinked innocently up at him. He lowered himself to sit on the ottoman in front of her and placed his hand on her good leg. "We love you." His face was impassive and his voice was sure as he waited for her to process his words. A pregnant silence followed his confession and Sakura inhaled sharply. Plump lips pressed in a thin line as she looked down at Itachi's hand. It was hard to tell who was shaking more but she placed both her trembling hands on his one and lowered her head. Sakura took large gulps of air as she turned an alarming shade of red from the crown on her head to the tip of her toe.
The tension was so thick she could choke on it and inwardly blamed that for the reason she couldn't speak. Soon the trembling in her hands spread to the point where the surrounding males could notice it. Deidara and Hidan were barking insults at the raven's back, Sasori and Zetsu were rubbing her shaking shoulders, and Kisame and Tobi were trying to figure out what to do.
"Why?" Sakura's voice was barely above a whisper but it caused all the surrounding chaos to stop. "Why would you say that? Why am I still here when my community service ended five visits ago?" Her voice wavered but remained at the same low volume and missed the widening of their eyes. "Why do I feel like you mean it? Why am I so happy…" Zetsu and Sasori softly pushed her shoulders back so they could see her face. Tears rolled down her rosy cheeks and fell on to her hands. "…to hear the words I hadn't heard before?"
Once again it was silent but Pein broke it with a drawn out sigh. He slumped against the door frame and slowly slid to the ground. "Pein?" The ring eyes male looked at Sakura's wet, heart shaped face and she blushed at the gentle look they held. She could see the relief in them but only for a short second as he got up to answer the phone. Pein would've never thought a teen, let alone a small and pink haired one would have such an impact on his life. Still the time he was about to spend with said teen was interrupted by the phone. It had better be important, he had eleven weeks to make up.
As he pressed the curved plastic to his ear he waited for the other to speak. "Hello? I'm Tsunade Senju. I'm calling to ask about Sakura Haruno's past injuries since this hasn't been her first visit to the extensive care unit. I prefer we have this conversation in person." With a frown Pein agreed and hung up just as Kakuzu walked into the study. "We have to go back to the hospital."
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Kakuzu pulled up to the hospital and Pein raised a brow. "I have to take care of something else." The tan man didn't go into further detail but in their specific line of work it wasn't needed. Pein merely got out and went back into the large building alone. The receptionist noticed him approaching and smiled; remembering him from the two and a half months he visited the girl in 203. "Welcome." The brunette would admit that he was an imitating man but that didn't mean she needed to be rude. "You have an appointment with Tsunade-sama, right? She should be five doors on the left." Her brown eyes followed him until he was out of sight and heaved a sigh when he was gone.
Pein wasn't out of ear shot but ignored it all the same as he entered the blonde's office. "I tried to contact her guardian but I couldn't get through. You were listed as her emergency contact." Tsuande licked her finger and flipped one of the many pages in the Manila folder. "Age four, May eleventh. Blunt trauma to the head and puncture in the lungs from a fractured rib." She gave her index a quick swipe of her tongue and flipped another page. It was brief but Pein saw a glance of her injured face forcing a smile making his blood boil. "Age seven, August twenty-fourth. Hypovolemic shock. Major loss of blood through the back." Page flip. "Age nine, March twenty-seventh. Schizophrenic episode. Memory loss."
Here the busty bomb shell snapped the folder shut and leveled a stare at the man across from her. "Age seventeen, July ninteenth. Greenstick fracture in the anterior left wrist, torn ligament posterior thigh, deep gash in iliac region. Eleven inner stitches, twelve outer. Multiple bruising." Pein returned the look, inclining his chin slightly. "Sakura Haruno had been in my care as of March second of the previous year. She will continue to be in my care for for the later years as well." Tsunade's honey brown eyes hardened as she stuck her hand out. "Take good care of her." Instead of a polite request like it should have been it was as clear as day that it was a threat. Nevertheless, Pein grabbed the offered hand and firmly shook it.
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Sakura sneezed before gently rubbing her now rosy nose.
Woot woot! I did it! I feel like I made Sakura softer in this chapter but anyone would after falling off a fire escape. Bye and tell me if you think I should stop with the drama!