Authors note: Can't believe it's been a year that I've been writing this! How freaking crazy! Thank you all for sticking with me so long. I hope it's been worth your time..
Raina-- I kept your corrections in mind for this chapter. Thanks for your help and your comments
Complete Hollow- Lol thanks
Tip of the Top Hat- Hope this chapter doesn't piss ya off lol....thanks for sticking with me
You guys are all awesome and and love all of them, thank you again.
Chapter 25-Wake me Up when September Ends
here comes the rain again, falling from the stars. drenched in my pain again, becoming who we are.
as my memory rests but never forgets what I lost. wake me up when september ends
---
Sakura wondered how long she had laid in her tent unresponsive to the life that was going on around her. Taking in the atmosphere now, after what she could imagine had been hours upon hours, she realized it was pitch black in her tent and utterly freezing. She could see her breath on every exhale and she just now noticed her body shaking with extreme spasms. Somehow she managed to move and wrap a blanket around her body and she finally closed her eyes on the warmth that engulfed her.
Six or more hours had past and despite exhaustion, she couldn't stop her thoughts that ran with stampede proportion in her head.
Sasuke's words hadn't hit her for over an hour after the scene with Karin took place. She had cleaned herself, walked back to the bleak camp, ignored Suigetsu's questioning as she set up her own tent, and then upon laying down, his words struck her as devastating as a rampant tornado.
He slept with Karin.
At first she pretended she didn't care and forced her eyes shut but within the first hour, horrid dreams of their coupling took center stage behind her lids. She had to laugh at herself though, for every nightmare depicted Sasuke with ever passionate love shining in his black orbs. And again, at first, she chided herself for being so melodramatic.
But as her sleepless dreams continued, her self-pity was quickly becoming disgust for her one time lover and his new female counterpart. Anger was only one of several negative emotions to pass along through the many hours she laid comatose and alone in her icy apartment.
Now however, acceptance was finally coming around and her eyes were slowly closing with fatigue.
She could not hold it against him. Hell, it's not like she had been celibate either. They were both growing teenagers despite their adult lifestyles. She could only imagine how alone Sasuke had been over the last three years. In comparison with her own life, she knew how dreadful loneliness was. Physical connection with another human being was the only way she had gotten through those years without succumbing to depression.
No…she definitely couldn't blame him for seeking some sort of release from the desolate world they lived in. She could only feel sorry for him. She should have been there to help him through the years. How badly she had wanted to be there for him. She wondered, as she always did through their time apart, what life would have been like if Sasuke had taken her with him. What kind of person would she be? What kind of lifestyle would they have had together with Orochimaru?
Sakura rolled over to her other side. It was stupid to think about and yet it had taken up most of her private time growing up. It took many many months to close the door on that missed opportunity.
Sakura sat up. A smile was pecking at her lips. Realization was finally setting in again. She was with Sasuke now. She was no longer alone and neither was he. No longer did she have to dream about being with him. No longer did she have to worry and fear on what he was doing or how he was feeling. He was here! Just a few feet away!
She stood. She wanted to be with him. Breath the air he breaths, touch the same ground, see the same sky. If he shuns her, it would be no different from when they were younger, she would just ignore it as she had done then. No words of his could deter her.
Sakura poked her head out of her tent to search for him. She was unsurprised to find him sitting in front of the fire, staring at the wiggling flames. She gazed at him in awe to see his gorgeous features in such light, struck in stillness by his beautiful eyes in the shadows of his chin length bangs. His chest was barely visible showing the slit of his muscled shape pecks. Sakura forced herself to shallow, the old familiar nervous pain in her stomach responding instantly. It was feeling long since forgotten. It's the feeling she missed most. She felt so alive with him so near.
Movement from the bushes distracted her and she reached for a kunai on her side just in case but her brows knit upon seeing Karin step through and into the light. Her gaze went to Sasuke and he had lifted his eyes to her. It was silent between them and she wondered just what was passing in silence. She knew it was jealousy passing in her.
Sasuke stood and turned his back and she switched her sight back to Karin. Pity now was pushing down the jealousy. How many times had Sasuke turned his back on her when they were younger? Maybe Karin and her didn't have to be enemies. So they both loved the same man, why hate her for realizing what kind of person Sasuke was?
Sasuke stalled in his footsteps toward his tent. His head tilted just slightly, "We leave at sunrise." He disappeared behind the fabric.
Karin smiled brilliantly and stepped off to her own tent. Sakura dropped back into her own and curled up into her blankets. If anyone understood her at all it was Karin. They were in this together.
Sakura shut her eyes and finally was able to sleep.
--
Nearing Konoha was a relief for some and a dread for others. No moon shined now and even if the clouds weren't thick in the sky, there would be no light in result of a new moon. It was just beginning to drizzle but the thunder and lightning in the distance promised a serious downpour later. It had taken ten hours to reach home and they were all plenty exhausted from the nonstop trip. Naruto had pushed them past their limits but no one complained. He had done it only to keep himself from turning right around and going after his two ex-teammates.
Naruto glanced back, a momentary weakness he had experienced many times in their long and silent flight. His eyes returned to the forefront, barely catching Hinata's glance. He wanted to force a smile for her behalf but he was incapable of doing even that. It was better for her if she just stayed away. Chances are she'll end up abandoning Konoha just for knowing him.
"TenTen!" Lee's voice sounded and everyone grabbed a hold of their branches to stop themselves. Lee free fell after the unconscious body of TenTen and quickly wrapped her up in his arms before they hit the bottom. Everyone dropped to the floor, circling around her.
Ino pushed aside her teammate to kneel down next to her. She felt along the woman's face, analyzing the problem but she shook her head, "I don't know what's wrong. Sak--" Ino stopped herself, catching Naruto's blue gaze but he dropped his eyes from hers. "She's better at this stuff then I am." She finished weakly.
Neji stared at the female, his expression emotionless but inside, he knew he needed to fear. His Byakugan surrounded his eyes and looked over her. He was shocked to find her chakra completely drained even her life-force was diminishing. He clenched his fists tightly, "We must get her to Tsunade-sama quickly."
"Hai!" Lee lifted her gently in his arms. Neji watched discreetly, clenching his teeth to keep himself from reaching for her. They took off, caring little about the rest of the group.
Naruto stayed behind, staring at the ground. He closed his eyes tight, fisting his hands at his sides. Stopping in front of the gates had destroyed whatever courage he had gained over the last few hours. But now, being so close, the many worrying thoughts fought for attention.
How was he going to explain this to Kakashi? Their mentor had expected him to come home with both of his comrades and yet instead he was empty-handed. How could he expect Kakashi to understand? To forgive him for being so foolish? What words did he have for Sakura's parents when they ask 'why' or 'how'? And what possible excuses could he tell Tsunade?
What right did he have now to return when he failed? Failed at being a friend and a teammate? And again he was forced to realize he had no right to be future Hokage any longer.
"Naruto." Kiba's voice filtered through his thoughts and he lifted his gaze to find the diamond pupils. "Sakura didn't want to leave--"
"I know."
"You didn't fail at this, Naruto. No one expected Sasuke to stay."
"I know."
Kiba barred his fangs, "Stop being like that. Stop acting like you lost everything!"
Naruto narrowed his gaze angrily, "What do you know? You still have your team." He push past the beast but his arm was grabbed ruthlessly. Naruto shoved him back.
"Is that how it is? You're going to attack your friends now?" Naruto turned his head away shamefully but his rage was ever so present. Kiba ignored it. "Just because you lost your team doesn't make everyone else around you your enemy. We all are upset Sakura left. And I know that she was your teammate. But you still got all of us, Naruto. We're not going anywhere." Akamaru sneezed in agreement but neither of their words seemed to penetrate. Naruto turned and jumped into the air to catch the next branch.
Kiba rested a hand on Akamaru's head, "Wish she was here, huh?" His friend whined softly.
------
The rumble of the earth disturbed her pleasant sleep. Sakura groaned in irritation and twisted in objection beneath her flannel blanket. She sighed happily falling back in the peaceful abyss sleep had brought to her. Only a few minutes later another growl vibrated the ground under her ear and she snapped her eyes wide in sudden fright. But it was only the sound of thunder and it calmed her immensely.
She stretched with a childish moan, her brows knitting, She knew she had slept for a long time but it was still pretty dark within her tent. Wrapping the blanket around her shoulders she unzipped the flap to peak out. Snow had fallen plenty during her long slumber and two feet of snow piled against her shelter. It was dark only on the cause of the storm that had past and the thunder still muttered sporadically in the distance.
But all of this information wasn't what had stopped her breath. The camp was empty. No tents lingered, no bodies were present and the fire had long since been extinguished.
He left her.
Retreating into the warmth of her tent she was quick to put on her boots, her long beige cloak and grab the content so fher bag and shove them quickly in to it before dashing out into the open. She stumbled blindly in the weak snow and swung this way and that, searching pathetically for any sign of their presence. But there was nothing but silence.
Panic quickened her heart rate and she panted with terrible fear, her breath smoking the air in front of her. "Sasuke!" She yelled. "Sasuke!"
The thunder was her only response.
Tears pierced her eyes and a sob clogged her throat.
Her breath caught and she snapped around. With thoughtless action she ran with rampant blind speed through the trees, shoving her way through bushes and limbs, stumbling and falling in the soft snow till she pushed her way through the brush, tripping on a root as she did so and landing roughly in the snow covered meadow.
Her bright green eyes caught the blackness of his gaze across the wild field. He panted as he lifted his long chokuto and slid it back into its holster. He stood in a patch of green earth, the field itself was completely without snow, previously melted away by his Uchiha fire techniques. Suigetsu glared back at her in annoyance, putting his own sword away with muttered curses while Karin jumped down from high branch having watched the battle from the distance and glared at her fallen form. "What the hell was your problem?"
"I" she tried to make up any excuse she could but nothing came to mind. She just rested her attention on Sasuke. He would know what had caused her such panic and that's all that mattered to her.
"Where's Jugo?" Suigetsu slandered up to her with crossed arms.
"Huh?" She questioned still not conscious enough to speak.
"Jugo. You were suppose to untie Jugo and bring him with you."
"Nani?"
Karin fixed her glasses, "The note."
"Note?"
"Great," Suigetsu growled. "I'll go get him. Baka ama." He disappeared into the woods.
Karin was shaking her head and looked to Sasuke who was currently walking toward them albeit slow but walking nonetheless. "She's useless."
"Hn." Sasuke replied wiping the sweat from his brows finally coming to a stop before them.
Sakura roughly pulled herself to her feet. The adrenaline rush had rocked her body and it shook uneasily in the aftermath. She held her head that swayed, "I think I need breakfast."
Karin snorted, "That's not all you need." Sakura knit her brows in question but the woman turned her head indicating she wasn't going to explain herself. She turned her narrowed eyes over to Sasuke and found his black eyes on her but the moment she caught his gaze he shifted his sight to Karin.
"What did you see?"
Karin smiled flirtatiously, leaning over to him, "Your chakra's back to its normal color."
Sakura budded in, "What do you mean by color?"
"I told you before." Karin aggregately sighed. "I see chakra in people. I tell their strength by the color of their chakra. White is weak- You. Black is strong- Not you. And not only that but I can sense chakra signatures from over a two hundred meter distance. Making it very easy to find people. For instance. I know within that two hundred meter distance there are one hundred and twenty four people. None are above green, which is a normal color for ninjas. And five of those are animals. Now what can you do that's of any use?"
Sakura huffed, stepping forward and nicely nudging Karin out of her way to stand before Sasuke. Without looking at him she grabbed his arm, pulled up his rip sleeve to reveal the deep bleeding cut he had been hiding since the fight long ago ended. With her green chakra emitting from her hand she rested it upon his skin, healing it instantly before wiping the blood with a small clothe she had in her pocket.
Karin shook her head, "Great. You're a med-nin. All the more useless."
Sakura clenched her fists brutally, willing herself not to show her true strength while at the same time, begging her fists to make their own decision and slam them into her face. It was however the brutal pain that held her back. She gripped her chest painfully, her knees giving out to land roughly in the snow. Her panting breath echoed with a soft cry she dared not voice. Karin giggled, "As I said. That's not all you need. Keep up, little girl. If you can." Their footsteps shuffled the white flakes beneath their boots meeting with Suigetsu and Jugo.
Sakura watched after them, hating their ignorance. Being treated as if she was nothing was not something she had been use to. People in her village respected and cared about her. She had made more friends within the village hospital then she had ever before. But here, she was little less then dirt that clung to their clothes.
She knew what was wrong with her. Her chakra was depleted and without proper rest for a week or more, the chakra was not going to be coming back any time soon. She had used what little she had gained with her nap on Sasuke's arm. It had been stupid but proving herself valuable was becoming an even more difficult task.
She knew what Karin was doing. She was trying to get Sasuke to see how useless she really was so they would get rid of her. Sakura would just have to glue herself even closer to their every move. Being left behind like this morning was an incident that could not happen again. Sasuke would more then likely leave her behind again and next time, she was sure he wouldn't be so close by.
"Shit." Karin growled suddenly and Sakura popped up, lightly jogging to catch up. Her red eyes were trained to the south. "There. But it's fading."
Sasuke was the one that answered Sakura's silent question. "Akatsuki." His body disappeared along with the rest of the group. Sakura ran with as much speed as she could muster with such little chakra remaining but despite not being able to see them, hear them, or feel them near, she knew to keep going south.
Thoughts were running just as fast in her head. Her heart beat throbbing and breath coming in wild pants. They were going in the direction of Akatsuki. Why? She knew Itachi was within Akatsuki, hell she remembered very well her last encounter with the notorious member. And she remembered distinctly never wanting to meet anyone else from their ill-natured little cult. She took it to pride that she had been able to defeat a member but she wasn't a fool to think she could have done it alone. Chiyo had saved her on several occasions and without her, Sakura was sure she would have died ten times over.
Sasuke was stupid if he thought he was capable of beating a damn Akatsuki member. Maybe with all five of them- well technically four of them since she was helpless- they could possibly hold their own but to go looking for a fight with them was really ridiculous.
Nearly fifteen minutes and she still couldn't find any traces of them. Curses were muttering under her heavy breath but she continued for as long as she could till finally she dropped to the ground and roughly leaned against a trunk of a tree for support. She wiped the sweat from her brow looking all around her. Then through the brush her brows knit. She took a few steps closer, hiding defensively now behind a tree trunk, hugging her body close to it. Two creatures stood in the middle of a field, black and red cloaks covered them. She was unable to see any particular signs of identification from this far away. But the strangest part was she could feel any power from them. Maybe they were just two normal humans lost in the woods.
Perhaps…but not logical.
Fear of Akatsuki poured into her blood. She needed to run as fast and get as far as she could possibly go. She would die otherwise.
Swiftly she spun around and jumped to go but slammed instead into a newly planted body. With wide terrified green eyes she lifted her gaze. Her mouth fell open in unsurpressed surprise. A two-toned colored face connected with her. Black and white split directly down the middle. But that was not the oddest part for her to swallow. A giant fly trap encircled the upper portion of his body which was wrapped with the black and red she came to fear. Akatsuki.
She pushed with panic but his grip upon her arm was nothing she ever felt before. Sakura groan in pain but shortly that groan became a horrible cry when he snapped the bone in her bicep.
The member released his grip allowing her to fall to the floor to cradle her shattered body part. Sakura lifted her gaze to locate her attacker but to her shock he was no longer there. But apparently he had accomplished what he had set out to do. The other two partners had just taken his place.
Blond hair shaded the left side of his face but from this position she could see the mechanical eye that zoomed down at her. Her gaze narrowed with disgust realization. This had been the man Naruto had chased after. "Lost in the woods are you?"
Clenching her teeth to keep the pain from sounding so obvious in her voice, she whispered, "Didn't Kaka-sensei kill your sorry ass?" She bit back.
"Oh?" Deidara smiled happily, "You speak bravely for one rank with fear." His gaze too widened upon recognizing her, "Don't you look familiar. The kyuubi's girl? Luck is on our side, Tobi.."
The man next to him giggled. Sakura now turned her attention to him. His body was loose and unburdened by power it seemed. He wiggled where he stood seeming unable to stay still. His face however was covered by some wrap red mask. "Luck? Where'd your luck go when they cut off your arms?"
The blond glared at the man, "Tobi, what did I say?"
The spiraled face man jumped back when a kick was aimed for his head. "Armless Deidara! Armless Deidara!" He laughed.
"Armless, huh?" Sasuke's voice sounded and Sakura closed her eyes with relief. She could have cried if she didn't know any better. Instead she managed to stand, bravely even though it was with the help of the tree behind her. She looked up and found all four staring down at them from the branches above.
The member Deidara dropped his head in annoyance. "Kuso." Deidara bit turning away, "Haven't you died yet?"
"Well," Karin giggled, "If it isn't my favorite member."
"The whole team's here, what a relief." Deidara sounded sarcastically. "Any words to Konan?"
"Drop dead."
"Pleasant sibling rivalry. Speaking of which."
Sasuke narrowed his eyes as Deidara looked to him specifically. "Where is Itachi?"
"You're still on that bit, are you? Well, get on with the torturing. I've lost both my arms as you've been told." He bit glaring at Tobi. Deidara straightened shaking his head to get his bangs from his eye. "There's not much else you can do to me."
Sasuke smirked, extracting his large katana, "I can take your legs."
"Tobi! The girl!" The faceless man ran behind Sakura, wrapping his arms tight around her, laughing crazily.
"I got her, I got her!" He triumphantly cried, jumping back and forth on each foot happily, "Tobi's a good boy, Tobi's a good boy." The man chanted. Sakura bit her lip to keep the groans of pain at bay.
Deidara dropped his head in aggravation, "Dumbass." But he smirked satisfied nonetheless. "Stay back or we'll kill her."
"You made a judgment as if I care."
Deidara didn't seem effected, "Expect nothing less from Itachi's little brother."
"Umm. Dediara?"
"Tobi I'm busy." Diedara snapped never taking his gaze off the dangerous Uchiha. "Unless you want to be tortured. I personally would rather visit the bitch that bore me then stay here."
"I thought you killed her."
"That's not the point, would you just shut up?"
"But it's really important." He whined.
"Nothing is more important then getting away from here."
"Are you that scared of us?" Suigetsu smirked.
Deidara scoffed, "You, I could take even without my arms and my legs." Suigetsu dropped to the floor, whipping out his long sword and holding it to Deidara's throat.
"Say that again."
"Oh, I'm so afraid."
"Ahhh!" Tobi's scream sounded and Deidara turned his gaze just in time to watch him get thrown violently over the female's shoulder. Sakura panted, holding protectively to her arm, watching Tobi land roughly out in the middle of the meadow.
"What the hell is she?" Deidara looked to Sasuke in question. Sakura was very proud of Deidara regonition of her strength but was utterly crushed when Sasuke paid no attention to it.
"Where is Itachi?"
Deidara shook his head, "Aa, you need a hobby. I don't know, Uchiha. I am not his keeper. I tend to keep distance between me and a Uchiha. For obvious reasons. You both are insane."
Karin giggled, "Someone's cranky today. I bet it's hard to eat without any hands. I'd be more scared of Sasuke-sama then Itachi if I was you, Deidara-kun."
"Karin." Sasuke stated simply and she snapped her mouth shut. He stepped forward, Sugetsu falling back knowing better then to get in between the young Uchiha and his prey. Sasuke's Sharigan activated and Deidara stared right back, trying to appear as if he was un-intimidated. It was several moments later, the power disappiapated. "You do not lie, I will leave you then."
Suigetsu lost his confident smirk, "You can't just leave him."
Sasuke turned his large black eyes to the older man. "He gave us correct information before and he does not lie now. He may become an asset in the future."
"Or just another thorn in our sides. Let's be rid of him now. There's no point in letting him live."
Karin rolled her eyes, "What harm can he do? He doesn't have any arms." The female poked Deidara's cheek receiving a death glare that she just smiled at.
"That's not the point. The point is to get rid of as many Akatsuki members as possible."
"While you argue, I'll go." Deidara side stepped to the side only to be stalled by the large sword pointed at his throat. He sighed irritably, glaring at Sugetsu.
Sasuke turned his back. "Kill him if you can." He began to walk into the meadow where the man named Tobi had just risen. His laughter was still heard no matter the distance that separated them.
He waved his arms erratically, "Deidara, did you see Tobi fly? Did ya, Did ya?" He bounced wildly back and forth however coming to abrupt stop in front of the Uchiha heir.
Sakura watched with knitted brows. They spoke softly with one another, Tobi giggling every once and awhile but other then that completely un-intimidated by him. She turned her gaze to Deidara to see if he noticed their interaction but he was clueless to it as Suigetsu got his attention with a wide swing of his sword.
"Suigetsu." Jugo's rough deep voice finally sounded and Sakura snapped her attention to him in surprise.
Stalling for the one single moment and Suigestu felt his neck grasped between two strong legs and with supernatural power he was swung off his feet and thrown into Jugo's concrete form.
Cursing and fuming, Suigetsu got to his feet but he found a hand grasping firmly to his shoulder. He looked up to the giant form. "Nani!"
"If Sasuke-sama leaves, I will not be controlled."
"Well then go!"
Karin sighed irritably, "Not a chance. Let him go Suigetsu. He's really too easy now. It won't be fun."
The three watched Deidara run for Tobi and together they disappeared. Suigetsu yanked from Jugo's hold and took off.
"He's got such an attitude. He really needs to be mellow. Like Sasuke-sama." Karin smiled dreamily. But it slowly depleted, "Speaking of which. Damn it Suigetsu." With that growl she jumped to the trees upon which Jugo swiftly followed. Sakura groaned but forced herself to run upon the ground in their direction. Her chakra was to vaulable to waste upon tree jumping and she certainly couldn't use it on herself at the moment unless she wanted to be left behind again.
This crowd was more active then she had previously thought.
------
Neji had his back rested against the wall. His arms crossed, his eyes shut, and to any onlooker he seemed at ease and content. But he had always been an expert on masking what was really going on inside him.
They had brought TenTen to the Hokage and she had quickly brought them to the hospital which she instantly took TenTen into an emergency room with Shizune as her right hand. Three hours later, TenTen was wheeled out on a gurney asleep. Lee attacked the Hokage with questions, telling her also about the accident involving his petite teammate. Lee kept his hand gripped to her as they rolled her into another room. Tsunade had pushed them out of the room, more because Lee wouldn't stop with his questions then anything else.
Now it's been an hour since the door had closed on them.
Worry was not a feeling Neji ever wanted to get use to. Not only did it break apart all of his usual rational thinking but it made his stomach queasy. From his readings with his blood limit, TenTen had woke up a few minutes ago. She was healing but still unbelievably weak. Overall she would be fine physically but that wasn't was worrying him.
Neji snapped open his eyes. Lee paced before the doorway, worry etched on his thick eyebrows, his hands twisting this way and that in his nervousness. And when the Hyuuga pushed himself from the wall, Lee's pacing came to abrupt stall in front of the door.
It swung open and Tsunade eased out, quickly shutting it back up before they could even get a peak in. And Lee tried desperately to 'peak in.' The woman smiled, "She will be fine." She quickly assured, "But she will stay here for a week."
Lee rushed out, "What happened? Is she okay? How's the baby?"
Neji dropped his eyes. A disturbing piece of information neither TenTen nor himself could reveal yet.
Tsunade had caught the gentle shift in the Hyuuga's posture and smiled softly before resting her hands on Lee's shoulders, looking him directly in the eye. "Lee." He straightened, "You know her favorite food?"
"Hai, dumplings."
"Go and get her some. I'm sure she'll love them when she wakes." He sped down the hallway and disappeared.
Neji lifted his pale eyes and met the Hokage's gaze. The fact that he knew TenTen was already awake disturbed him. She was going to hide from him. He wondered for how long and how he'll manage to stay away. "Am I wrong to assume?" Stiffening for only a moment, he looked away and hesitantly shook his head. "Come with me." She walked to the next door over and held it open for him. With closed eyes he followed behind, hearing her sigh with the shut of the door. "What happened?"
"Lee--"
"Wasn't there and doesn't know any facts. A simple kunai stab would not have done that kind of damage."
Neji swallowed, a flash of a blade slipping straight through her stomach, the expressing of her face wide and fearful. "It was a sword." He managed to get out.
It was silent for a moment. "Sasuke…" It hadn't been a question but Neji nodded once. "And Sakura? Was she there?"
"She healed it the best she could."
"She did a horrible job. She healed it but just barely. TenTen has been bleeding internally for the past few hours. I'm going to break Sakura's neck when I get my hands on her." Neji said nothing to the whereabouts of Sakura. Tsunade was bound to find out soon enough, it was not his worry at the moment. "I take it she told you though." The woman whispered. He stiffened drastically and readily directed his gaze over to the window, giving no other response. But it was an answer nonetheless. "Gomen."
Neji grit his teeth, closing his eyes begging for it to all fade. The memories of the last few days played over and over in his head. But the most bitter memory of all, was knowing that he could have done something and instead he had done nothing to save her.
Tsunade coughed, clearing away the emotional frog in her throat. "She needs rest and no visitors. It's enough to be going through this at all, I can't imagine what it's like for someone so young."
"Does she--" Neji cut himself off. He hadn't meant to voice anything and now foolishly he wished he had finished it before rational thought broke through. He gripped his arms, "Does--" He couldn't say it. He couldn't bring himself to say because he felt he had no right to know.
"Does she blame you?" Tsunade finished the small question. Neji relaxed gratefully and nodded. "That would be too easy." His brows knit upon her answer but it made it all the more obvious. Blame was only pointed at herself.
How was he suppose to fix that? He had no words to speak. Words meant nothing. How to show her, prove to her, that it hadn't been her fault? Was that possible? Was he capable of doing even if it were possible?
Her footsteps made for the door but Neji did not turn to face her. "Lee is your teammate and your friend. Maybe it would be good if even you had someone to talk too." She stepped out but the door did not shut.
Neji continued to stare at the window. Lee's voice sounded, "Please tell her we're here and we wish her well."
"I'm sure she'll love them." Neji stepped in the doorway just as Tsunade disappeared into TenTen's room. Lee stood there eager and alert but after several moments his head dropped.
"Lee." The young man's large black eyes turned to him and when Neji went into the room, Lee followed.
--
Tsunade shut the door behind her and stalled next to it. She held the box of food in her hand but she tossed it carelessly on the dresser. No lights were on and even though the curtains were pulled open, there was barely any light shining in to show the morning sun. It hid behind hideous clouds and the rain poured thick and loud. She was still capable of seeing TenTen's form however.
Tsunade prided herself on being the type of woman with a stone heart. She never pities, never feels sympathy and best of all never gives into the motherly instinct that all women possess at some point in their lifetime. However, all the emotions she never feels, was seemingly getting the best of her.
TenTen was curled on her side, facing the darkened and soaked window. She wore a hospital gown since her clothes had been ripped apart during surgery. Tsunade softly stepped closer. She glanced momentarily to a chair but didn't reach for it, instead she sat on the bedside.
A hesitant hand rose, shaking. She looked at it in confusion but it was only for a second before placing it gently, awkwardly, upon TenTen's head, running her fingers through her brown locks. "I'm here, TenTen." She whispered and cleared her throat when she felt the vile film of emotion sticking to her tongue. "I'm here." She assured but she kept her eyes from gazing at the young female. She didn't think she could keep herself back from whisking the girl into a tight motherly hug if she paid attention to the tears that dripped deafly off her nose to soak the pillow beneath her.
So I made Karin come back. Wonder how many of you are mad about that. That would have made it way too easy for Sakura (as if Karin is competition yea right)
Poor TenTen. I love her and she'll get her happy ending just like everybody else....if you can call any of it a happy ending...cryptic I know...lol