It's true that Sakura isn't the sharpest. School and medicine were her passions, so this kind of situation is probably the worst thing to happen to her. She leaves Sasuke and Naruto alone for the rest of the evening, deciding to retreat to the bedroom and gaze out the small window above the bed. Ino still haunts her, and it's tearing her mind apart. The image of her dead best friend is the worst kind of torture, that reels through her mind constantly. She's on the verge of panic, concerned about wether she's a saint or a sinner.
While she was treating Sasuke's wounds, her hands shook, ever so slightly. Blood dripping from her fingertips only reminds her of Ino. Is she happy, wherever she is? Will she ever forgive her? Despite her wavering sanity, she manages to save him. For, now. She realizes that time will not stop for them, and they're out here in the most dangerous kind of situation. Even if he makes it through the night, there is no guarantee that Sasuke will live. Still, she refuses to tell Naruto that. He loves Sasuke too much.
She wonders if her own lover is dead. Have they decided to spare him, as a sick form of torture for her? She wonders, but doesn't say a word. Thinking of him hurts too much, and there's still a chance. As long as there's hope, she won't give up on Kakashi. He needs her now more than ever, and Sakura has been his crutch for awhile now.
Slick drops of rain coat the windows, cascading down the surface at a rapid pace. A clap of thunder roars from a distance, causing even more rain to fall. Sakura has never liked rain, it reminds her of too many things from the past. Rainy days always seem to attract bad omens. She lets her legs dangle from the edge of the bed, before slowly standing and turning to face the window. She can swear she sees petals falling from the sky, but quickly rubs her eyes and rushes off to check on the boys.
How would they treat her if they knew she was a killer?
Neji is glad that he happens to run into the Sand siblings. They're ruthless, cunning, and would probably be the most likely murderers of the class. That's his intuition, at least. He's smart enough to be on their good side, and has been for awhile now, ever since Gaara and his siblings stopped their street fighting habits. There was always a rumor in middle school that Gaara had been the reason Lee hadn't been in school for weeks, but Neji didn't pay much mind to it.
Gaara wouldn't injure someone that badly, he's sure of it.
Still, the air is tense as the four move together. Gaara in the front, with Kankuro and Temari behind them to watch Neji. They're the strongest allies he's going to find, with the exception of his two best friends and cousin, but there's no way he would drag Hinata into this. She is his most precious treasure in this wreckage of a world, and if anyone deserves their innocence, it's her. He's worried about her all night, but has stayed fairly hopeful since her name wasn't called in the morning announcements.
All of a sudden, the three in front of him stop even though they're on the middle of a dirt road.
"We're setting up camp for now, it looks like it'll rain soon and we need all the rest we can get."
"In the middle of nowhere?" Gaara cuts Neji a sharp glance for his outburst, but ignores it and goes back to assigning all of his siblings a task. Kankuro and Temari start to break branches, in the hope of starting a fire. Neji joins them over in the cluster of trees that line the side of the road, but he doubts their fire will amount to anything. He's always been the type who hates getting his hands dirty, which isn't remedied by the moss covered bark and the ants that march up the trees. He makes a soft noise of disgust, causing Temari to snort.
"I hate rich kids like you." She flashes him a toothy grin. "Whatever. My goddamn weapon is a fan. Wind makes more fire, ya know." She gathers a few twigs and lies them down at her brother's feet, then decides to pester Neji even further when she's finished her job. "Did you get anything useful, pretty boy?" Her words strike a chord in him, something he'd rather bury than let it come to light. Neji has always had bad luck, ever since the day he was born. His own father was late getting to the hospital. Official Hyuga business, he said.
"Actually, I did." He replies, narrowing his eyes at Temari. A small pocketknife rests in his pocket, and he slowly pulls it out to show her. Nothing more than a simple switchblade, but Temari is fascinated.
"Wish I woulda got somethin' cool like that." She crosses her arms over her- rather large- chest and draws her lips into a pout.
"I've been training in Kendo since I was quiet young, I don't suppose I'd need it unless there's an emergency. You're defenseless as well, it wouldn't do much good to leave you unarmed." With hesitance, Neji flicks the blade back into place and holds it out. A peace treaty, he supposes, since Gaara has been watching them this entire time. He doesn't trust Neji with his sister. Neji doesn't really blame him, the Hyuga family was known for their lavish lifestyles which left no room for compassion and proper social skills. Neji was barely 16 and already spoke like an old businessman worrying about if he filed his taxes or not.
Her small hand reaches out and clasps the knife, yet she's on alert. Studying Neji with her large emerald eyes which have widened in surprise. When she realizes he isn't going to attack, she slouches once more and gives him another odd looking grin. What a disgusting girl, nothing like Hinata. The Hyuga heiress is prim and timid, never speaking unless she's spoken to first. Temari is a wild card, and Neji isn't sure if he hates it or is slightly intrigued. Before either of them can say another word, Kankuro yells at Temari to come help with the fire, much to her disdain.
Several minutes and plenty of wood later, they have a small fire going. Temari gathers close to the edge, fanning the flames. Every time the fire crackles or makes the slightest pop, Gaara flinches. Neji would have smirked at that, if Kankuro hadn't been glaring at him. The four have gathered around the fire, taking comfort in the flickering flames and the daybreak.
"As soon as we're finished, I'd like to find my cousin," Neji speaks up.
"Hinata?" Gaara asks, his voice sounding even more weary and emotionless than he looks. "She won't last very long."
"Gaara's right." Kankuro interrupts, trying to sound intelligent when he isn't. Their words fill Neji's veins with fury, but he keeps his hands in his lap and doesn't speak up.
"If someone ain't killed her, she's killed herself." Temari's remark is the last straw. Neji's palm goes straight across her cheek, leaving a subtle streak of red in its wake. The other two aren't sure what to say, and Temari only rubs her stinging cheek.
"Hey asshole, why are you hitting a girl?!" Kankuro barks, hastily trying to stand up and give Neji a smack of his own. Gaara yanks him by the arm, having to restrain him from doing something he regrets.
"Just cause I'm a girl doesn't mean I can't fight my own battles. Shut up." Temari leaves him stunned, unable to come up with a comeback other than a half hearted and muttered apology. This girl- no, she's a woman, Neji reminds himself, is something that he's never seen before. Their society constantly told them that women were meek, and their dominance came from their choice of a man. Yet, Temari has no trouble speaking her mind, with raised brows and a sort of sophisticated fierceness that no one else could pull off.
"Guess I should say sorry for talking smack about your cousin. She just doesn't seem like much of a fighter to me." The girl shrugs her shoulders. Surprisingly, Neji doesn't respond. It's true, Hinata isn't a fighter. The only time he's seen her fight was during family affairs, and Hinata's father had disowned her. An occasion that brought out the sort of nature she hated in a person.
"I'm here to protect her. Hinata is very important to me, if you've failed to notice that little detail."
"Hey, I'm protecting my idiot brothers. You're not the only one." She smiles, giving him the feeling that everything will be alright- but it won't be.
"I can't stand the thought of her out there, alone.." Neji sighs deeply. Maybe she's with someone.
"Kankuro, come with me, we need more wood." Gaara stands, leaving the warmth of the fire and the tense conversation to elsewhere. He's giving them privacy, Neji realizes. He doesn't exactly know why Temari is the one to help him, but Gaara seems to know, giving him a nod before dragging a confused Kankuro back into the forest.
"Y'know. You've been around for years, but I never really payed attention to you. All that snooty Hyuga clan stuff never really appealed to me. My word probably doesn't mean too much to you, but I never said it had to." Temari is wringing her hands, and despite how strong she is she's shying away from the serious tone of the conversation. "My big brother is well suited to this kinda stuff. Killing, fighting, it's in our blood. I'm not from around here, I'm from Suna. It's way out, in the slums. Can't say it's any worse than there though. We had to fight because of the rough place we lived in, not because some old guys thought it would be a good show."
"I understand how you must feel. However, what does this have to do with me or Hinata?" Neji says, trying to get straight to the point. He comes off as insensitive; which is just another unlikeable part of Neji that neither he nor his father have been able to correct.
"I was getting to that!" She protests, shooting him a glare before continuing. "Gaara used to be real messed up, before we moved. Doctors told us he was insane, to keep away from someone like him that would come back to bite us. Weeks, even months, I went without seeing my brother. He was all alone, in a tiny little white room, with no visitors allowed. When we moved to a new city, he didn't get much better. He fought a lot, it was really his only way of coping with being so lonely." She shrugs. "My point is, what happens- happens. She may be out there, but we can't do anything until we find a safe way. I couldn't do anything for Gaara, and it was terrible. You shouldn't have to feel this way."
"Temari..." Truthfully, Neji has no words. She's practically spilled her life story to him, and all he can do is gape at her like an idiot. She trusts him, but does he trust her?
"Don't look at me like that. I don't like people to feel sorry for me! Treat me like your equal, like your.." A pause. "Friend." The word sounds odd, mixed with her rough voice. A light flush dusts her cheeks. "We're gonna survive together, so I might as well call you that."
"I suppose you're my friend now." Neji scratches the back of his neck awkwardly. His father never really let him have friends, outside of the clan. Conversation about things other than business affairs and politics is like a whole new world to him.
"Good. If we're gonna be friends, I'm gonna need to know more about ya. Other than that ya got a big stick up your ass!"
She's crude, and snorts when she laughs, but Neji finds himself enjoying her company. Gaara and his brother don't return within the next hour, leaving the two to tend the fire and talk. She likes illegal video games, the fighting kind, of course, and heavy metal music that would make Neji's eardrums burst. The only thing they seem to have in common is a love for tea, and an overwhelming urge to protect their families from the cruel world around them. Temari tries to crack another joke for what seems like the billionth time that hour, before she's interrupted by a loud screech and a slippery voice that stops them both from saying another word.
"Noon already? My little test subjects have fared quite well overnight, but the death toll is quite low I'm afraid. The first pig for slaughter this morning was Hyuga Hinata. A pity for all those who bet their fortunes on her. Bloodlines aren't everything, it seems."
The feeling those words give Neji is indescribable. A heart wrenching pain that starts in his head and leaves his whole body numb in a sort of shock.
"No.." Then, he repeats it, hoping it will make it all a big lie. "No..."
It doesn't.
Temari tries to grab him by the shoulder and shake him, but Neji is too numb, too stunned to react. His first thought is that he wants to join her.
"My father's philosophy is that I should live to keep the branch family alive. My birth was only to make sure Hinata was safe." He mostly mumbles to himself, yet that doesn't stop Temari from hearing it.
"I'm sorry.. I'm really sorry." Temari offers him some comfort, it's just not enough. Without his family, what does Neji have to live for? A bloodbath of his last few days, ticking down to when someone will betray him. His uncle has already killed his father, and his mother left long ago to care for Hinata's younger sister. His half lidded eyes dart towards the trees, and the faint sloshing of the waves in the distance. He knows what he must do. Like clockwork, he rises and darts into the cluster of trees and flowers.
"Neji, wait!" Temari yells.
He doesn't listen.
Pure adrenaline courses through him as he hops over roots and thorns. He no longer cares if he tramples flowers, or cracks branches beneath his feet, because what he cares about is gone and he no longer cares about anything. It hurts to keep running, yet he does until he reaches a rickety bridge overlooking a steep cliff. Perfect. By now, Temari has caught up, dashing behind him to try and stop him.
No more shame of being the family embarrassment, of having no talent. No more feeling worthless compared to his cousin. Once he jumps, Neji is free. He has always believed in fate, and this seems like his fate. Even in the afterlife, he will be looking for Hinata, because she is his fate. The unluckiness of the Hyuga name is his fate. Temari's hand reaches for him, but it's too late. Neji has dashed to the first creaking board of the bridge and crawled through the ropes keeping it upright. In one swift motion, he dives into the depth of the rocky cliffs.
For the first time in his life, Neji is free.
Temari does not cry. She has only cried once in her entire life, at the death of her mother. Everyone told her that tears won't solve anything, and somehow she believes that to be true. It feels like letting the tears flow will ease some of the ache, yet somehow she knows nothing will fix it. It almost makes her sick, seeing someone throw their life away so easily.
Still, she does not cry, and only treks back to the fire which has long burnt out from the steady drops of rain that have started to fall.
When Sasuke wakes up, he's disappointed. In pure misery that he isn't dead yet. No, the almost painful throb of his heart reminds him of that. Call it cynical, but dying seems more fortunate than living like this. He can barely lift his head without pain searing throughout his body. There's no way he'll make it out of this. Everything hurts too much. He simply has lost the will to live. The cold load of bread and water Sakura brings him look as appealing as dirt, and his appetite is nonexistent. He just wants to die.
When she sees he won't cooperate with her nursing, she makes Naruto hold his head back so she can force him to drink and get fluids in his system. It's pitiful, and Sasuke fights them the whole time. He's convinced he should have died back there, and left Naruto to win instead of watching Sasuke as if he'll disappear any moment. Sakura can't bear it for too long and flees to the other room. Everything is so quiet, even Naruto. Usually he'll ramble on and on about things that don't even matter, but he's more quiet than he's ever been.
"If you're going to do something useful, get me something to eat," Sasuke barks at the blonde. It's a blatant lie. Still, he wants to cheer Naruto up, and knowing that he's 'recovering' will cheer him up. Lies, all lies, but he's far too stubborn to thank his best friend or offer a simple thanks for sticking with him. He can't really see that his rude request has made Naruto beam from across the room. In a flash, he's right by Sasuke's side, unfortunately with that disgusting loaf of bread in hand.
"Sakura's resting right now, so I'll have to cook for you. There isn't too much here that would be good for you, but there's ramen. I can make you some if you-"
"Fine, fine. Anything but that bread." Naruto nods at his response and leaves, no doubt going to make something even more inedible. A clatter from the kitchen makes Sasuke cringe, only afterwards does he finally find some peace and quiet in the darkness. The rain helps him think, although all the things he's thinking about are less than pleasant. It's then that he realizes he's so empty, all of his life has been empty. He has no one left, except Naruto who shouldn't be wasting his time with such a hopeless fool. Sasuke only brings destruction in his path, no happiness can come from being around him. If only Naruto understood this. That's why he tried to protect him, so he could find something better to chase after.
Sasuke has never liked the taste of ramen, much less the smell. When Naruto comes in carrying a bowl of it, he has to pretend not to be disgusted. He expects the bowl to be set down by his side and left alone like usual. Unfortunately for him, Naruto doesn't like to do things the usual way, and unlike Sakura's manner of leaving Sasuke alone if he gets too rough, Naruto crouches by his side and holds the bowl in his own lap. Which can only mean-
"No. You're even more idiotic than I thought if you think I'm going to let you feed me." Sasuke protests. Of course, his resistance is met with that sweet smile that Naruto always gives him when he's trying to look happier than he feels.
"You know as well as I do that if I leave it here, you aren't gonna eat it! Let me help ya, damnit." That cheerful grin is replaced with a tight lipped frown and a grim tone. He's worried.
"No." Despite his pleas for independence, Sasuke's hand is grabbed tightly and he's forced to sit up. It hurts to even try, but his best friend's rough hand rests on his back, helping him do what feels impossible due to the searing pain he feels all over. The other tanned hand places the warm bowl in Sasuke's lap. He wants to dump it all over the floor, but doesn't. He only stares into the dark liquid, not even bothering to try it.
"Come on, you need to eat something. I thought you were actually getting hungry." Naruto whines. It only makes things worse, and so Sasuke ignores it. He ignores the hand on his back, keeping him steady, and the shaky voice that begs him to eat and get better. Saying no will only prolong the argument, which results in him staying completely silent. Still, Naruto begs. He hears a door click open. Sakura.
"I'm not giving up on you."
"Why?" Is the only answer Sasuke can come up with. Questioning those odd motives is all he finds entertaining, because he doesn't see what Naruto is so hung up over. Like he's some kind of treasure when Sasuke himself knows he's nothing but a tainted bronze, instead of the gold Naruto believes him to be. His best friend swallows nervously, and the hand on his back grips Sasuke's tattered shirt for dear life.
"Because, I Lo-"
Sasuke will never know his reply, because Sakura comes stomping in, accompanied by another shadow that's immediately recognizable as that odd transfer student that came from one of those charity art programs. His name is Sai, but not many people know that since he rarely speaks. With raven hair, almond eyes, and a height of nearly six feet tall, Sai is almost the spitting image of Sasuke. Sure, he's a little bit wider and his hips and face are more curved, but they could pass for twins if his hair wasn't so short.
"He got stuck out in the rain, and doesn't have a weapon on him. I figured it would be okay to let him stay tonight, since he's soaked to the bone." Sakura says, ushering Sai into the room with the other two. Sai's eyes narrow on Sasuke's thin frame, yet he keeps his sarcastic comments to himself and stays in the corner to remove his sopping clothes. "Hey! I'm gonna find you something to wear, but don't strip in front of these two!" Sakura yells. What the hell has she brought in?
"My apologies. I assumed they'd seen a dick before." A sly smile graces his lips, along with his drawled out tone. It sends a shiver down Sasuke's spine, and he noticed Naruto's hand is gone now.
"Don't get too comfortable, we're not a bunch of perverts like you." The blonde hisses.
"Stop it! Sai's in art class with me, he's not that kind of person." She groans. "Whatever, I'm taking him to get changed! Be nice." The last sentence is said in a whisper, as she tries to sound threatening. No matter what, Sasuke knows he won't be kind to this stranger. The two leave the room, and suddenly that ramen seems even more unappetizing.
"That guy is pretty creepy." For once, he agrees with Naruto on something.
"No kidding. Now, what were you saying before they interrupted?"
"Ah, it's nothing. Just.. eat your ramen, kay?"
He has the feeling those missed words meant more than he thought.
30 Students remaining
Author's note: That new chapter broke my heart. naruto would never give up on Sasuke for 12 years! Not only that, but they ruined Temari's character in that Shikamaru book! I hate Kishi's miserable excuse of an ending. At least I can write SasuNaru and ignore it.
