"So, did you catch up with her?" Tenten asked as I shut my bedroom door as I entered.
"Yes" here it comes. Hinata was awake and looking even more pale then usual.
"And?"
"And we're going on a date... tomorrow." Tayuya cheered triumphantly, she still needs to answer for this morning now that I think of it.
"OK well, uh I should get Hinata home" Tenten muttered, moving to leave as quickly as possible while holding Hinata upright. Obviously the news of my impending date has set off her homophobe survival instincts and she isn't as happy as Tayuya is. Hinata smiled at me as they passed and left the apartment.
"So where were we?" Tayuya smirked as the pair closed the front door behind them. Wait WHAT!
"What- what are you talking about?" I stuttered, my mind in complete dishevel and still throbbing.
"Are you positive you don't remember anything from last night?" Her face lit up in an amused smirk as she sat down next to me. Instinctively I pulled my legs up against my chest, shifting away from her. I already told her I don't remember anything, hell even Tsunade and Ino know as well. How many more times do I need to say it.
"N-no, nothing" Tayuya moved closer, and I slunk back further. This is wrong, what is she doing – didn't she just save my ass with Ino? "What are you doing?" A hint of disappointment seemed to sadden her eyes for a brief moment, but it was gone as soon as it was there. I must of misread it – that can't be right. This all has to be a joke.
"Stop worrying about what I'm doing, I promise I don't bite – unless of course you would enjoy that" my face drained of colour and a gulp was forced down my throat. Slowly Tayuya started to crawl closer, I continued to shift back until my back hit the headboard and I was trapped. Her fingers slid up my calves as she pulled my protective barrier down. Sliding her body up mine I could feel every movement, like I was on fire. A blush deepened my skin as I lost control of my tongue and arms.
What is she doing? I watched as her lips moved closer and her eyes fluttered shut. She's really going to. I snapped my eyes shut and waited.
A minute passed, and then two before I felt her press her forehead against my shoulder, hair tickling the sensitive skin on my neck. She's.. laughing? I opened my eyes and looked down at the mass of red hair burrowed into my neck, my heart pounded furiously as Tayuya began to laugh.
"It's probably a good thing you don't remember last night – you looked like you were about to piss yourself again." She relaxed against my body, curling against my side. Sighing Tayuya let her head rest in the nape of my neck.
"Can't believe you thought I was actually fucking serious though" haha.. yeah I totally knew you were kidding the whole time! Bitch. My heart pounded in my ears and I silently wondered if she could hear it. "I mean if I had a thing for you why would I run down all those fucking stairs to set Ino straight? I mean I coulda just let her blow up." That is true.. "I mean shit man," she laughed again, her body shaking against mine. "If I was really trying to get in your pants I coulda just fucking waited y'know? Then swooped in after to pick up the pieces and been the hero." She sighed and started to relax, the last words a whisper against my skin. "I would really be an idiot for doing that if I did love you."
A nagging thought pulled at my subconscious, I dismissed it as frayed nerves from the past 24 hours. What she is saying makes perfect sense, besides since when has Tayuya passed up a chance to mess with my head. This is all just another prank...right?
Anko must of returned shortly after to find us asleep again. Neither Tayuya or I had the nerve to say anything more. Lying in silence, and being as exhausted as I was - I fell asleep quickly.
I awoke with a jolt later that night, moonlight streaming into my bedroom. I blinked trying to readjust my sight to the dimly lit room. Tayuya was still curled up against my side, a blissful look on her face with an arm draped across my stomach. Smiling I brushed a strand of hair out of her face that was threatening to dip into her mouth.
Trying not to wake her up I looked around and found a note taped to a bottle of tylenol on my bedside table.
'I didn't want to wake you, I figured you were probably really tired. Not to mention Tayuya looked far to comfortable where she was. I guess that's something we need to talk about though – I feel like I barely know you.' Great now my mom thinks I'm gay to. Well, I am though aren't I? I don't know – that's something to think about later. Besides Tayuya adding yet another person to the list shes pretty much outted me to.
'Anyways, take some tylenol and sleep in today – it's the weekend after all! I need to take care of a few things, so I might be gone when you wake up. I will make a big dinner when I get home though and we can talk. I want you to tell me everything that I've stupidly missed.
I want my daughter back, I love you.
-Mom
PS I got a hold of Tayuya's parents so they know where she is. They didn't seem to worried thankfully, she better not have a habit of sneaking over here every night!'
Crap, I think I was just scolded? Maybe? Why does that make me so happy though – shouldn't normal kids my age hate to be scolded? I guess it's because she has never even bothered to figure out what I've been up to. So she has never had a reason to scold me before. It means she was really serious about sobering up and getting back in my life.
Setting the note back down I yawned and let my eyes close again, a smile on my face as I fell back asleep.
"Oi pinky, wake the fuck up!"
'Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!'
"Seriously dude, I'm going to smash your fucking alarm if you don't turn it off!"
Without opening my eyes I reached over to where the alarm should be and found nothing. I would if you didn't move it, why is my alarm going off anyways its Saturday. Doesn't it know this isn't a wake up day.
"Just hit the button on the base" I muttered, yawning and letting my arm slip over the side of the bed.
"I did last time and it just goes off again in five minutes!" Tayuya snarled and shoved the noisy alarm against my chest, leaving a sting.
"Ow!" I protested, angrily grabbing the jumping dog off my chest and pressing the small green button between the two larger red. "There - was that so hard?" I grumbled.
"How was I suppose to know that there are TWO snooze buttons, fuck you need to tell me these things!" Tayuya flopped back down on the covers and stared up at the ceiling.
"The bigger buttons are always snooze buttons..." that way you need to be somewhat awake to hit the smaller green one and less likely to fall back asleep.
"How was I suppose to know that, I've never had an alarm clock!" Then how do you know about snooze buttons?
"Then how do you get up in the morning?"
"When I want to" I rolled my eyes, no wonder shes constantly late for class in the morning.
"You're an idiot" I teased, checking my collar for drool. Knowing her she would probably leave a massive puddle and not tell me. Seems like a typical Tayuya thing to do. Either that or she woke up in the middle of the night to put marker mustaches on my face.. or I'm being paranoid.
"Fuck you."
The next few hours passed by with me getting out of bed, and going through my morning rituals while throwing random objects at Tayuya every few minutes. Eventually she put up a wall of pillows and proceeded to sleep behind the wall until a bucket of water was threatened to drop on her.
"Isn't your date with blondie today?" A disgruntled – and wet (she didn't believe my threat) – Tayuya asked from across the counter in the kitchen.
"Yeah but we didn't set a time, so I don't know when or anything" probably would of been a good idea to do that.
"Then call her, doh – geez you're fucking helpless." I glared back over the soapy water in the sink. Obviously I'd have to call her.
"I was letting her sleep in since its Saturday"
"Oh so you let HER sleep in but you dump a bucket full of fucking water on my head – how very kind of you. Last time I save your ass you stupid bitch! Wait no, I saved you TWICE – fucking twice!" And now you follow me like a lost puppy.
I wonder what she did before I beat the crap out of her. Actually, I have no idea what she did before hand. We've never really talked much about her – and she's always listened to me.
Suddenly feeling very guilty, I paused scrubbing the dishes as Tayuya continued to ramble.
"Oi – wake up, whatcha doing? You're gonna have pruney ass hands for your date y'little fuck!" Shaking myself out of my thoughts, I was interrupted as Tayuya continued on "you know Ino isn't gonna like it if you try n'grope her with pruney ass hands – trust me I know from experience."
My eyebrow visibly twitched as I could feel my blood pressure rising and a blush turning my entire face tomato red.
"What the fuck Tayuya!" I yelled back. She smiled and rested her head on her hands, doing her best to play the dumb role.
"What, it's the truth"
"First how do you know if Ino likes pruney hands or not! Second why were you groping a girl when – never mind I don't want to know. And third well, I don't know a third yet but I'm sure I'll think of something." I huffed, feeling completely flustered. Tayuya shrugged again, flashing a lewd wink. Urg and now she has my thoughts going in a horrible direction, damn her.
"I was just thinking that I know very little about you." Tayuya seemed to stiffen as she looked at me curiously.
"And why the fuck do you want to know more about me...?" You would think I'm interviewing her for a murder investigation. Not simply asking for a little info from the person I spend most of my time with.
"Um because we're already sleeping together, I think we should be on a first name basis" I rolled my eyes. Tayuya muttered something under her breath and scowled at me.
"Fine what do you want to know – and I don't have to fucking answer if I don't want to!" I haven't even asked anything and shes already looking for an escape route. Now I'm curious.
"Alright, well... uh do you have any brothers or sisters?" Guess I should start with the basics, I have been inside her home a few times but I haven't actually seen anyone there. It seems like no one really sticks around for long, but then that might be normal. Anko is always here, well was - and it was only 'sorta' here.
"I have a brother." She isn't going to make this easy on either of us if she? I'm going to have to pry for everything.
"What's his name? Does he go to our school?" Tayuya snorted.
"His name is Gaara, and he's a fucking genius, hasn't ever gone to a public school. He's three years younger than me and he is in his second year of university." Holy crap, so I guess the brains in the family weren't evenly spread out. Either that or Tayuya is secretly a mad genius and is really good at the dumb act. I'm going to have to be more careful around her.
"My dad is a judge, so he's never home – sorta the type that's used to being in control. My mom is a lawyer – she met him when she was an intern." Guess she has really big shoes to fit into, I wonder how she became the way she is? You would think she would be a book worm with parents like that.
Ironically she has the type of parents I always wanted, the type I always imagined I would have.
"They are going threw a divorce right now." Tayuya stared at the clock watching the hands tick around. She smiled sadly, seeming to fall into herself. "Y'know, no one is ever home – it's not a wonder your mom was surprised they weren't worried. They probably didn't even fucking know I was gone. Or care." I know what that's like.
"Oh and my favourite colour at the moment is green" huh? Well leave it to Tayuya to go from serious to strange in less then a heart beat. "Lucky number is five – why are you looking at me like that?" Crap, what kind of look did I have on my face, probably one that was surprised? Maybe? "You were giving me the fucking dead puppy look" nope, not surprise.
"Sorry, I just didn't know."
"Yeah yeah well now you do – don't you have to call Ino or something?" Oh crap, that's right – I glanced at the clock.. it's nearly noon. She should be up by now?
Draining the sink I went to find my phone.
"Hello?" I asked as I heard a click on the other end.
"Oh! Sakura? Good morning!" Great I woke her up, why must everyone sleep in until an ungodly hour. Tayuya grinned and started to do her best to mimic the blonde, twirling her hair around her finger and pretending to chew on a massive piece of bubblegum. Grabbing the dish towel I cracked it at her, receiving a curse in reply.
"Uh, sorry for waking you up – I waited until I thought you would be awake."
"It's alright, I needed to get up anyways – did you still want to meet up today" she chose her wording tentatively, not sure as to whether or not to use the word date.
"Yeah I do – do you?"
"Yes! Yes I do!" I pulled the phone away from my ear to avoid the squealing. Tayuya started to laugh and fell backwards off her chair with a resounding crash. Now it was my turn to laugh. "Hello Sakura? Did I just hear Tayuya scream?"
"Yeah" I tried to stop laughing long enough to breath "she fell off a chair and is cursing up a storm. Its great."
"Oh" Ino sounded disappointed "well I hope she's OK"
"Yeah she's fine"
"She came over awfully early, I would think she would still be asleep."
"She slept over" I replied without thinking, reaching down to try and help Tayuya to her feet. Silence. Crap, did I do something? "Ino?"
"I'm here sorry, I just don't remember seeing a guest room while I was there."
"I slept with pinkie" Tayuya confirmed after she had dragged herself to her feet, giving me a satisfied grin. "Pay backs a bitch" she whispered before heading to the bathroom. Great, I didn't even do anything! It's not like I pushed you off the chair!
"Ino...?" Please don't get the wrong idea or listen to Tayuya – she's an idiot who's about to realize how much of an idiot she is.
"Um yeah, want to meet up in an hour or two? I still need to shower and stuff" oh good, I'm not in the dog house – I think.
"Sounds good, I can come and get you or?"
"I'll meet you under the tree we have lunch at" or that, I don't know if I could find Ino's apartment building for sure anyways.
"Sounds good, so – at two under the tree. Got it"
"See you there." -Click- she's making it really hard to figure out if I'm in trouble or not. It feels like I've been stepping on egg shells around her since day one. Even if it has only been a week. Oh well, maybe after today everything will get better.. or worse.
Either way, I need to beat the crap out of Tayuya now.
"Oi how did it go?" Tayuya asked, toothpaste foam dripping out of her mouth with... my toothbrush.. sticking out of the corner of her mouth. Great, put that on the list of things I need to get. Without a word I walked past her as she watched me curiously. "Its fucking rude to ignore me pinkie!" Toothpaste drooled down over her chin "shit" she sputtered, leaning over the sink to spit the contents out.
Without a word I grabbed the shower head and turned the water on, making sure to make it as cold as possible.
"Saku- WHAT THE FUCK" a furious red head screamed as ice water sprayed her directly in the face. I held the shower head in front of myself, laughing as the water pelted her and she continued to curse.
Stumbling to the door she found it closed and locked.
"Oi you little fuck!" Blinded by the water she reached for me randomly, I skipped around her searching fingers – training the water on her like a homing missile.
"Pay backs a bitch!" I taunted, how do you like that? With a lucky grab Tayuya got a hold of my arm and swung the shower head to spray up. Directly into my mouth. Coughing for air we wrestled over the weapon until I finally hit the water off.
Both of us thoroughly drenched, Tayuya's hair hung in front of her face like a veil – soaked clothes weighing down her panting form.
"Run" maybe I should. But I'm to busy laughing my ass off. "Fucking run" yeah good idea. Tiptoeing by her seething hulk I unlocked the door.
"BECAUSE IM GOING TO FUCKING KILL YOU!" No sooner did I swing the door open and Tayuya tripped over her soaked pants legs did Tsunade come running around the corner.
Err... were we really that loud? Why does she look so freaked out. Her mouth gaped as she took in the bathroom and the two soaked teenage girls, why do I always get caught in situations like this? There must be some sort of homing device on me that lets everyone in a ten mile radius know when they can walk in on me doing something embarrassing.
"Sakura.. Anko was shot" I know it sounds cheesy but time really did seem to stop for me. I could hear every heart beat in my chest, pounding by painfully and slowly. I could see Tsunade trying to catch her breath – Tayuya get to her feet and look at me with open horror. Water dripped from my clothes onto the flooded floor, drip.. drip.. drip..
"Sakura!" Tsunade's nails dug into my shoulder as she shook me violently. "This is not the time to go into shock – we need to get to the hospital." Hospital why? Anko has to be fine.. she was just here this morning. She was sober – she promised..
"But she promised to make me dinner.." my face felt warm, small droplets streamed down over my cheeks as my eyes opened wide. "She promised we would talk.." salt dripped down my upper lip to splash onto my tongue. "She.."
"Sakura – we need to go to the hospital – Anko NEEDS you there!" Anko needs me? I shook my head slowly as I was dragged out of the bathroom. Colours swirled by me, my feet moving without my mind telling them to.
Looking over my shoulder Tayuya raced behind us, why does she look so scared? Everything will be fine – it has to be. There can't be a god so cruel as to take away my mother for a third time. They already took my away my father twice.
The trip to the hospital ticked by, we passed hundreds of cars that were headed to carry on with their lives. Not knowing or realizing the turmoil that was going on so close to them. Tsunade drove furiously, weaving in and out of the traffic lines. Tayuya sat in the back beside me, tentatively taking my hand and trying to be a comfort.
I didn't react to any of it, staring at the floor and trying to register what was happening. Anko is fine.
We raced through the large white front entrance way, the doors sliding closed behind us like the maw of hell. Tsunade was yelling at one of the nurses, pointing at me every few seconds. The words seemed to be repelled before they entered my ears, making everything seem like a dull pounding.
Something changed and Tsunade was no longer yelling, my head stopped pounding and we were walked to a waiting room.
Seconds ticked by, then minutes. A TV played in the upper corner, continuing on like nothing had changed. Like we weren't sitting in a hospital waiting.
Minutes ticked by and then an hour.. two hours, three. The TV continued to ramble, never ending. Tayuya sat beside me, stiff and silent. Tsunade tapped her foot leaning against the doorway, glaring down the hallway as if daring anyone to bring bad news.
Why are they so worried, everything is fine – Anko is making dinner for me tonight. We are going to talk and I am getting my mother back. Everything is getting better, I have friends now – not just the janitor. I have people who care – I have a mother who isn't a drunk. I have a girl who loves me for me, and one that is waiting for me right now. Ino is waiting.
Numb, I glanced at the clock ticking the seconds away on the wall 3:45 – we were suppose to meet at two.
"I was suppose to meet Ino" I whispered, Tayuya barely caught my words sitting next to me. My voice cracked – strained.
"Uh – I'm sure she will understand and all that" she replied, glancing at Tsunade who was oblivious to the exchange. To far away and to focused on the hallway. I looked up at Tayuya, my eyes feel swollen but that doesn't make sense – I haven't been crying. Why would I, everything is fine. Well I need to apologize to Ino but she will forgive me.
Tayuya looked right back at me, her soft brown eyes locked with my green, tears sliding over my stained skin.
"Sakura.." she moved as if she were going to hug me. Jerking back suddenly as Tsunade walked over to us.
"You can see her now Sakura." Her thin lips were strained, pressed tightly together as she stepped aside so I could see a tall man in a white coat. I rose to my feet shakily and nodded, moving to follow him. Why does he look so grim – doesn't he know I'm having dinner with my mother tonight?
The warmth of Tayuya's hand left mine as I walked further across the room, I glanced at it quizzically to see her being held back by Tsunade.
Silently the man in white and I walked down the smooth hallway floors. A door was pushed open and the man in the white coat stepped aside for me.
My eyes fixated on a sleeping form on the hospital bed in front of me. She has to be sleeping because the alternative doesn't make sense. My legs became numb as I silently screamed at them to move, I need to get closer I need to wake her up. If we don't leave soon we won't make it in time – we won't make it in time for dinner. And.. she, she promised me.
The bones in my legs seemed to disappear as I slumped to the floor. Scabs on my knees cracked and blood tarnished the perfect hospital floors.
Realization seemed to crash on me all at once, she isn't sleeping. She isn't coming home tonight. We aren't having dinner together. I'm not getting my mother back.
My body started to tremble as tears flooded and burned my swollen eyes. Suddenly I was staring at the ceiling and a eery wail was resounding through the hallways. I cried for all to see and all to hear.
I cried for the loss of my biological parents, for the loss of the childhood I should have had. I cried for the years I spent alone in the orphanage, the years of dreaming and hoping that were crushed before they could ever bloom. I cried for the loss of the girl that showed me how to live again, how to be happy. I cried for the the girl that found new guardians, new and unknown parental love that was taken away almost as soon as it was given. I cried for the years of torture to follow before her life finally started to piece back together before it was all destroyed once again.
Somewhere the sound of something hitting the floor sounded, a shout following it.
My fingers knitted into my hair, my body trembled as I bent over and my tears splashed onto the floor; mixing with blood.
The shouting continued, mixed the different tones and voices. My throat seemed to tightened and I struggled to breath. My chest constricted, my heart feeling like it was being squeezed by an invisible hand.
"Fuck you and you're policies of family only – don't you fucking get it? Besides Anko I am her only family!"
"Why are you crying Sakura?" I tried to keep my voice strong, I hated crying. Her hair was a light purple, it was almost as odd as my bright pink. I could tell it was dyed though, her hair doesn't match her eyebrows.
"They didn't want me, the man and lady who came to the orphanage." I could feel the corners of my eyes burning again. I had been here for so long, why doesn't anyone want me. The girl frowned and her legs swayed over the edge.
"Well Sakura, do you have any friends? Maybe you could make your own family – you don't need a mom and dad" the way she talked made me feel better, and I forgot about my crying to think for a moment.
"I don't have any friends" the only friend I had was adopted not long ago, I am incredibly lonely by myself.
"Then I'll be your friend and we can be a family! A real family!"
"Ino..?" I whispered, slowly turning to see what was going on behind me.
Just in time to see Tayuya push past a second doctor, the first was face down on the floor.
"Sakura!" Panic seemed to line her features as her arms folded around me, dropping to the floor.
"Mamn you can't -" the second man in white reached down and grabbed her shoulder, instantly met with a death glare.
"Please" I whimpered, needing the comfort as I looked at the still form lying in front of me. He looked around uncertainly, his eyes drifting to his unconscious co-worker before he grudgingly agreed, leaving without a word.
"It's alright" Tayuya tried to soothe, rubbing the skin of my back. I fell into her, needing to be held. She sat back against the door frame, pulling me with her. She followed my gaze to Anko and started to stroke my hair.
It's not alright.
"There's a good chance she can come out of the coma." Coma? What are you talking about? Slowly I turned to look at the girl holding me in her arms, trying to make sure this wasn't another one of her jokes. "I know it seems really shitty right now – but I mean she's not dead – she will come out of the coma." She's not dead? I looked at her in shock, her words processing slowly as I tried to take in what she was saying.
"Sakura? Didn't you hear the doctor when he came to get you?" She's alive. I looked back at the still form and traced the tubes and wires hooked up to her, the machines silently recording her heartbeats.
"They had to remove three bullets, but they were able to stabilize her.. she got hit in the head though. That's why she's in a coma. She will wake up" Tayuya's fingers stopped rubbing my back as they slid around my waist to pull me in tighter. "Everything will be OK."
Everything will be OK, we will have our dinner. She promised.
Tsunade stopped by shortly later, she talked to Tayuya about getting a change of clothes for us before leaving and promising to be back soon. Tayuya stayed the whole time, sitting in the doorway with me while I silently stared at the still form in front of me, willing it to move. Doctors walked by, having collected the one that Tayuya had knocked out earlier. Giving a wide berth to Tayuya's death glares.
A nurse walked by us a few times to check Anko's vitals, jotting down a few words on a chart before leaving.
I want to move closer, to talk to Anko and hold her hand so she knows she isn't alone. That I'm waiting for her, that I need her. But I'm scared.
I don't know when but I fell asleep.
The lights were shut off around us and we were left alone in the doorway watching as Anko slept. In the black of the hospital I waited.
Sunday passed slowly, we were given a couple of chairs to sit in by Anko's bed. Still to scared to approach her I sat in the room with my back to the wall, sitting on the floor and looking up at Anko as if she were on a pedestal.
Tayuya stayed with me, leaving briefly to get food for us from the cafeteria and once to make a call to her parents. I could hear the whispers on the other side of the wall, hushed but still audible.
"No mother I am not fucking coming home! No -" silence "she's my friend and she needs me- I don't care about school – No! Whatever, fuck you to."
Tsunade stopped by for a few hours in the afternoon, bringing food and a change of clothes which were both left untouched. She mentioned something about not worrying about paying rent until Anko got better before she left for the night. Doesn't she realize I don't have the energy to care right now?
I woke up on Monday before the sun rose out of habit. Looking at the form in front of me which refused to move, the soft glow of the morning light seemed to give her body a unearthly glow. I sighed miserably and looked over at Tayuya who was sleeping with her head on my shoulder. She hasn't left me for more then a few minutes in over three days.
I looked at Anko for a moment, trying to resolve a turmoil that was going on in my mind.
"What were you doing that caused you to be shot? I don't understand" I studied my hands that were resting on my lap. "You promised everything would be better, so why would you go out and" and what? I don't know what happened. Was it a freak accident or something more? Police had shown up a few times to talk to me briefly, they still don't know what happened either.
"I just don't understand" I whispered into the silence, a tear breaking free from its cage and trailing down my cheeks. One.. then two, suddenly I was crying silently.
"Oi pinkie, are you OK?" Tayuya yawned, blinking and trying to wake up. "Y'know it's to early for you to be cryin' again" she smiled lightly, trying to cheer me up.
"Sorry" I muttered, wiping away the tears with the back of my hand.
"Eh, no need to be sorry – you know what would make you feel better?" Oh god, not more strip clubs.
"No strippers" my nose crinkled. Tayuya grinned mirthlessly.
"Nah no strippers, I was gonna say swimming. Just getting out of this place – it's fucking depressing here. Maybe if you go and be a book worm like usual you will feel better. Just sitting here isn't going to fix nothin'" Swimming?
"But what if-"
"If you're ma wakes up they will let you know, but she wouldn't want you to just sit here and cry like a baby. I mean she would want you to go to school n'shit y'know?" Turning back to look at Anko I wondered if that's honestly what she would want me to do. She needs me here how can I just leave her, what if she wakes up and no one is here. Will she think I don't care about her? Will she lose her resolve to stop drinking?
"I can't, she needs me here" Tayuya frowned "you can go if you want, she isn't your mom."
"Like hell I'm leaving, she may not be my mom but you're my buddy. But if you want to stay here we can." I nodded, tomorrow maybe I will go back. Not today though – I can't.
She didn't wake up. The next day Tayuya and I talked again. Again I told her maybe tomorrow. By Wednesday I was starting to look half dead myself. I was barely eating, barely sleeping. I felt hollow and empty, deep dark bags were formed under my eyes as I watched endlessly the still form in front of me. It never moved, not even a twitch.
Tayuya continued to get food, grumbling when I wouldn't eat as much as she thought I should but otherwise not saying anything. My cellphone rung almost continuously, I knew it was Ino without even looking.
The battery died halfway through Wednesday, stopping the ringing and dropping us back into silence. Tsunade called the school and explained the situation. Tayuya's mother continued to call until Tayuya threatened to break her phone, which would cut off all connections between the two.
That night I slept fitfully, dreams torturing my subconscious.
"Mom?" I squinted trying to see the figure standing in the distance. Slowly I started to walk towards her cautiously. Flowing brown hair billowed down the figures back. Gasping in surprise I picked up the pace. "Mom!" I yelled again trying desperately to catch up with the fleeting figure.
She turned slowly and smiled at me. The smile was forced, like all her energy was gone – like it was being sucked from her. As I drew closer her skin slowly started to darken and sink into itself, leaving her as a hollow smiling skeleton that turned to dust before my eyes. As I grabbed at the wind I heard a rustle behind me.
"Sakura what are you doing sweetheart?" I jerked around and tripped, looking down at tiny fingers. I slowly rose to my feet and realized I was a younger version of myself. "You didn't hurt yourself did you?" Anko walked over to me and knelt down, looking me over to check for cuts or bruises. "You need to be more careful."
"You're OK?" The words choked out of my throat, strained. I wiped my eyes with the back of my dirt covered hands. A splash of liquid hit the top of my head and ran down over my scalp, coursing over the front of my face.
Tentatively I touched the sticky substance and looked in horror at the dark red glaring back at me. I reached out for Anko and the cold sting of ice jolted through my senses. Anko fell limp beside me, a bullet hole penetrating her forehead.
"Mom!"
Jerking awake my heart pounded furiously, my breathing haggard. Eyes open wide with terror I scanned the room to find everything to be the same as it had been for days. Nothing has changed, Anko is still unmoving on the hospital bed. Tayuya mumbled incoherently in her sleep, shifting slightly against my shoulder.
"It was a dream" I whispered, as if hearing it out loud would help to reassure myself. I can't take much more of this, I feel like my nerve endings are raw. Every little sound making me jump. "Wake up.. please."
Pulling my knees against my chest I stared at the same unmoving figure until dawn broke.
"Why are you awake already?" Tayuay yawned hours later.
"Couldn't sleep" I muttered in reply.
"You look like shit man" gee thanks, how should I look when my mother is lying in a coma in front of me? I suppose I should be off singing and dancing right? I glared at her irritably. If she isn't going to be of any help why stay here at all? Doesn't she have a life she needs to get back to? I doubt the teachers will excuse her from class because my mother is in the hospital.
"How should I look after sitting here for almost five days?" I snapped, a bit more harshly then originally intended.
"Sakura look, I really think you should go home. Or even just go for a walk or something, I think it would really help-"
"How the hell do you know what could possibly help?" I growled, "how could you possibly know hmm? Do you know what it's like to feel like you are about to lose everything for the second time!"
Cringing Tayuya licked her lips and took a deep breath, trying to keep her temper at bay.
"I'm just trying to help"
"You're not helping! Do you think your sitting here and nagging me is helping at all!"
"You don't mean that" I glared at her, trying to fight the tears that were building. Stress ran through my body like blood through my veins. Needing an outlet, I feel like I'm about to snap – an elastic band that has been pull to taut.
I want to yell at her but my tongue feels swollen in my mouth, I want to scream and release all the tension building in my body. My arms are tensed, like they need to hit something in order to relax. My entire being feels on edge.
"Leave" the words grate as they slip between my bared teeth.
"What? You can't be fucking serious! I'm not leaving!"
"Leave – I don't need you here! I don't want you here!" Tayuya's expression shifted between worry to shock and finally to anger.
"Fine" she spat. Standing slowly, fists clenching and unclenching at her sides. "But you are coming with me."
I laughed without humor, closing my eyes and resting my head back against the wall.
"I'm not going anywhere." I stated with finality.
Tayuya's hand flashed as it grabbed my wrist and jerked me to my feet. Furious I flexed and twisted in her grasp, grating at her fingers and trying to break free.
"You are coming with me, it's for your own good" Tayuya growled, taking a step toward the door. My knees locked as I pulled back, refusing to budge from the spot I have been rooted to for three days.
"Let me go! I am not leaving her here alone!" The muscles in my shoulders strained as I fought against her grip, a second hand grabbing my free arm. I started to thrash, my elbow slammed into the wall behind me and a flash of white filled my vision momentarily.
A nurse ran into the room, taking in the situation quickly before dashing for the panic button on Anko's bed.
"Don't you get it you little fuck!" Tayuya yelled, my hand broke free – fingers clawing at her other hold, trying to break free of my shackles.
"Get what? That you are trying to drag me away from my mother when she needs me the most!" How can she be doing this. Has she completely lost her mind? Let me go! I am not leaving.
"That I care far to much for you to watch you waste away here!" I stopped thrashing, her words striking a key in my memories.
"What are you doing Mom?" I asked, walking into the living room and looking at the scattered bottles lying around. "You promised you would stop drinking."
Anko looked up at me from where she was sitting on the couch, deep bags sunken in under her eyes. The stupor of liquor clouding her usually lively eyes.
"What do you care?" The question caught me off guard. What do I care? I'm your daughter. Don't you remember that?
"What do you mean? You're my mother – I care to much about you to watch you waste away to nothing" my lips trembled, looking up at the amused smile that was greeting my reply.
My arms were pinned to the wall as I was lost in my thoughts, my eyes drifted over Tayuyas shoulder, looking at the impassive sleeping form in front of me.
"Please" she whispered, I turned registering her voice. There was more pain there then I would think possible. The usually fiery friend is now pleading with me silently. I glanced back at Anko before nodding once in reply.
I'm sorry mom, I promise I will be back – soon. Maybe Tayuya is right, maybe I need to get away from here for a little while.
She sighed and let me go, turning to look at the nurse.
"Oi you!" The nurse squeaked in reply "you will be sure to inform Sakura if Anko makes any improvement won't you?" Nodding feverishly in reply, the frightened nurse glanced at Tayuya wondering if she was suddenly going to turn into the hulk again. She must have been informed about the first incident.
"Let's go" this time I followed her, my legs stiff as I looked one final time to my mother who refused to move. I'll be back I promise; and we will have our dinner.
Hey all :D Thanx for all the reviews, I love to read them and here what you think. Please read and review, I'm always open to critism and ideas.
Sorry for the depressing chapter, needed to be done for the chapter to progress the way I want it to, I hated editing this one – didn't like rereading the hospital over and over.
I apologize to everyone who is following both this story and my other naruto fanfic called pink crush – it turns out that wrist injury I mentioned before is actually worse then I originally though. I tore some sort of muscle that connects to my middle and forefinger ( for the life of me I can't remember or pronounce what it is called ) Anywho it has greatly slowed down my ability to type for any period of time.
On a side note I originally did not intend for Tayuya to turn into what she has. She was originally suppose to be comic relief and a side char that appeared every once in a while. Unfortunately I have taken a liking to her and looking back I realize I have focused more on her then on Ino. So heres my question to you all. First do you like Tayuya? (even if u don't shes staying cause I fucking love her :P) and second how would you feel about a mini chapter that has Ino's POV during Sakura's hospital experience. So you can kinda get a handle on her. It's either that or I sort of leave her as a deviant until later and you all get to guess and try to figure it out yourselves!
The main problem is I kinda of feel like no one is going to have any connection to her with the little bit of time she's been in and the limited amount that has been explained about her.
Let me know! Send me a message or leave it in a review. Thank you all for reading and PLEASE review :D Much love, Kiravu.