Disclaimer: sigh Nooo, I don't own Naruto…
Perennial Love
Chapter Two: Raw Irritation
Kabuto:
All I remembered was the pain. The agony and the suffering, yet I felt only a numbing, tingling sensation. Had I really been saved? My dark eyes opened cautiously, as if afraid of waking up from a dream and discovering I was still in the forest, feeling the full wraith of my wounds.
"Where am I?" I grumbled, confused and more than a little irritated.
My vest was gone and I saw that my wounds had been healed and bandaged. I observed my surroundings suspiciously, my survival instincts suddenly springing to life. The walls were a light blue and it was a bedroom. Simple, but I could tell it was a woman who resided here. Suddenly, the memory of being carried flooded back to me and it only added to my confusion. Glancing down at the comfortable bed I was in, I nearly jumped in surprise.
"Who…?" I trailed off slowly, my breath catching in my throat.
The person who had saved my life, the person who was no doubt, a resident of Konoha and the person whom I regarded as an enemy, lay sleeping soundly beside me, without a care in the world.
"Shizune." I whispered, barely able to speak from the utter shock of it all.
Only then, did I realize my glasses had been removed and I couldn't help but laugh aloud at the craziness of it all.
"Why would she do this? What could possibly move her to do such a thing? This has to be a trap" I realized and I glanced around again.
Looking back down at her sleeping form, I shook my head. Her breathing was soft and her black hair was tucked neatly behind one ear. Not only was she here beside me, she was completely unprotected. If I wanted to, I could kill her and she wouldn't even have time to react. Sitting up quickly, I let out a grunt of pain, the familiar agony flooding back and Shizune sat up, rubbing her eyes. As soon as she saw me upright, her sleepy expression vanished and her face became serious.
"What are you doing? Are you trying to cause more internal bleeding?" She cried and I was forced back down.
Grabbing her wrist, I pulled her down with me and she yelled out in surprise.
"Let go of me." She said furiously, her nose less than two inches from my own and I gripped her wrist tighter.
"What's going on? Where is Tsunade and how long have I been here?" I fired questions at her in a demanding tone and she winced in pain.
"She doesn't know about anything." Shizune almost shouted, ripping her wrist away from me and my eyes widened in surprise.
"What?" I managed to stammer and Shizune avoided my heavy glance.
"She doesn't know, I…I don't why I even bothered." She muttered and I still didn't comprehend the situation completely.
"Why? Why did y-"
"I don't know." Shizune interrupted and her face was red with anger.
"I saw you lying there and I couldn't just walk away." She yelled, tears were starting to form in her eyes and I swallowed hard, at a loss of words.
Millions of thoughts were running through my head and for once in my life, I didn't have a plan, I had no idea of what to do. On one hand, she had sacrificed her position to save my life and I owed her more than I could ever imagine. On the other hand, she was the enemy and no matter the circumstances, I had always been taught to demonstrate force. Then, there was the issue of trust, could I even believe her?
"You have to trust me, I know it's hard, but you have to." She whispered in a desperate voice, as if reading my thoughts and at that moment, I could tell that saving me had been an impulsive decision.
She wasn't prepared in the least and she was starting to panic.
"I…don't know what to say." I whispered quietly.
Shizune looked away, as if contemplating something in her mind, but she spoke only a few seconds later.
"I know Kabuto, but you don't have a choice anymore. I could leave and tell Tsunade right now and we'd be here with the Anbu squad before you could even sit up. I don't know why I saved you. This feeling came over me and I knew I…I had to do something. Please, you need to trust me." She said through gritted teeth and I opened my mouth to speak but the words wouldn't come.
"Can you do that?" She asked, staring me down and I frowned, shaking my head.
"How can I? How can I believe a word of what you say? That Hokage could be in the kitchen right now and I wouldn't know. You could be lying through your teeth and I would have no idea." I yelled in an angry voice, but she didn't appear to be shaken in the least.
"I could be, but like I said, you don't have a choice." She shrugged and I scowled at her.
"Fine." I muttered, feeling that there really was nothing else I could say and my scowl stayed right where it was.
"Thank you." Shizune smiled, something she had never done in my presence before and the scent hit me hard.
"Lilies." I whispered and I realized it had to have been her who had carried me here. Her lovely smell of stargazer lilies.
Giving me a funny look, Shizune appeared as though I had said something incredibly outrageous or inappropriate.
"It's nothing." I murmured and she shrugged, her pretty eyes never leaving mine.
A look of remembrance flashed across her face and she pulled out my glasses from her kimono sleeve.
"You need these, don't you?" She asked curiously and I snatched the broken glasses from her outstretched hand.
"Not really, I can see pretty well without them." I said quietly, avoiding eye contact and she nodded in understanding.
Reaching out her hands towards me, it was my turn to give her a funny look.
"You are covered in blood and dirt, you need a shower." She explained and I figured she was probably right.
Nonetheless, I still felt the need to rebel, my broken pride attempting to heal itself. Shoving her hands away, I gave her a dirty look.
"I don't need your help." I muttered and I tried to stand up.
Pain blinded me momentarily and I stumbled almost falling and I would have too, if it hadn't been for Shizune, who caught my around the waist.
"Apparently, you do." She smirked and although I was unhappy about her smugness, I reluctantly allowed her to help me to the bathroom.
--
Somehow, after much effort, I managed to have a shower without passing out or needing any assistance from Shizune and I was especially grateful for the latter. Shizune had lent me baggy pyjama bottoms that were much too huge for her and a plain, big, blue t-shirt. Inside, I admitted that having a shower and a change of clothes had been a great idea, but I couldn't bring myself to say anything to Shizune.
I hated the way she was so calm and how she kept treating me like we were old friends. We weren't, it was as simple as that. We weren't even neutral, we were enemies and I struggled to keep my temper.
Emerging from the bathroom, Shizune was at my side in an instant and I felt my mouth twitch in annoyance.
"Are you alright?" She asked sincerely and I ignored her efforts at kindness.
When I was back in bed, she sat beside me in her gray kimono and we stared at each other in silence for a while. I was trying to send out vibes that I didn't want her around and either she wasn't getting them or she didn't care. Knowing her, it was most likely the latter, and that only succeeded in making me angrier. Finally, she broke the heavy silence with a sigh.
"I have to go, Tsunade's expecting me and if I don't go, it will attract attention. Don't even try to run." She warned in a serious tone and I wondered how she knew that I was considering it.
Leaving the room with a flourish of her kimono sleeve, I heard banging around in the kitchen and she re-entered the room with a boxed lunch and a glass of water. Seeing the food that she laid in front of me, I realized how hungry I really was and at that moment, I didn't care if she had poisoned it or not.
"Thank you." I grumbled, looking her in the eye and she smiled half-heartedly at me.
"I'll be back in a couple hours. Like I said, if you try to leave, you won't make it far with your injuries and you'll attract unwanted attention. So, I would advise you to stay put." She said calmly and I nodded, my mouth full of rice.
Waving goodbye to me, she left and despite wanting her to leave a few minutes ago, I couldn't help but be a little disappointed she was gone.
--
Shizune:
As soon as the door to my apartment had closed behind me, I buried my face in my hands and the tears that had been threatening to spill all morning, finally came.
"What am I going to do?" I whispered to no one and the tears wouldn't stop.
Not only was Kabuto confused, he was upset and angry.
"He hates me, even after what I've done. How am I going to take care of him, when he won't cooperate?" I asked myself and I hated the unfamiliar feeling of being overwhelmed.
Wiping away my tears with the back of my hand, I started on my way to Tsunade's building, taking the long route through the village and avoiding the forest all together.
"He doesn't want my help, but I can't give up on him. He has nowhere to go and he'll die without a bed and medical attention." I told myself and I knew I wouldn't be able to stand the guilt if I did, in fact abandon him.
"Why do you care? And honestly, what did you expect? Did you think he would smile and thank you for your generosity?" A voice rose up inside of me and I shrugged it away, already knowing.
Still, I was proud of myself, I had held myself together and had been amazingly convincing that I was angry with him, when in reality, I had felt like breaking down and crying.
"Maybe things will be different when I get home." I thought optimistically, but inside I knew that was almost impossible.
Reaching the Hokage's building, I began my long climb up the winding stairs. Still out of breath from the stairs, I walked down the hallway, spotting Genma coming towards me and I cursed silently.
"Great." I muttered under my breath and I hoped he wouldn't see me.
Surprising enough, he did.
"The lovely Shizune, good morning." He greeted loudly, stopping me in the middle of the hallway and I smiled weakly.
Without a moments delay, he began to berate me with pointless questions. Such as; How was I? What was I up to? Was Tsunade treating me nicely? And I answered his questions with as few words as possible, wanting nothing more than to leave.
"Oh Shizune, I almost forgot would you care to join me fo-"
"Genma, I'm sorry, Tsunade's expecting me and although I'd love to stay and chat, I must value Tsunade's request. It's great to see you, it really is, but we'll have to finish this some other time." I interrupted, fluttering my eyelashes prettily.
With a smile, I ran past him to Tsunade's office, leaving a dazed but very happy Genma, standing in the hallway.
"She's like putty in my hands." Genma grinned obliviously and he continued on his way.
Breathing hard, I burst into Tsunade's office and slammed the door behind me. Safety measures of course, I wouldn't put anything past this guy.
"Genma giving you trouble again, Shizune?" She snickered behind, her huge, wooden desk and I frowned.
"How does she always manage to know everything that happens to me?" I wondered and Kabuto's face flickered across my eyes.
"She doesn't know about that though, she can't ever know about that." I thought fearful of what she would do if she found out.
"He won't leave me alone." I finally answered, grumbling under my breath and she shrugged.
"Give him a chance." She suggested, but I shook my head stubbornly.
"You know I'm not concerned about that kind of thing, Lady Tsunade." I replied as she sighed heavily.
"I know, Shizune." She whispered and I avoided her eyes that held so much meaning.
I knew how much she wished for me to have romance in my life, a beautiful one, even better than hers had been, but I wasn't willing to bend. Not under Tsunade or Genma or anyone. I had sworn to myself that I wouldn't and so, I wouldn't and nothing would convince me otherwise.
The passed slowly, without any events or disturbances and I found my thoughts returning to Kabuto. Was he ok? Did he try to leave?
"If he tries anything, he will be caught and I will be labelled a traitor." I whispered to myself and my blood ran cold at the thought.
I tried not to give away my nervousness but Tsunade was smarter than that.
"Shizune, what's wrong? Are you upset about something?" She asked gently, while I was sorting files and I froze for a split second, my hands shaking.
"Just Genma, I hope he's gone home." I lied and Tsunade's eyes narrowed, studying mine but she didn't say anything more.
Finally, she dismissed me and I left with a friendly goodbye to her, like I usually did. Luckily, Genma was nowhere to be found, so, I was able to make my escape. As I walked home, my thoughts crowded each other in my mind and I realized I was afraid to see him again.
"Just tell him the truth. Tell him about your pathetic feelings, don't act the hero. Tell him you were an emotional coward who was too burdened with guilt to leave him there." A voice advised me and I winced at the harshness of it's words.
Still, I considered listening to it for once in my life.
--
Kabuto:
Today, the clock seemed to take twice as long to turn and I was left alone in Shizune's room with nothing to do, but think and await her return. It was almost nauseating watching the clock turn from nine to ten and then finally to four.
I also had no idea if she would snap under guilt and tell that unusual Hokage everything. I had gotten up only once to go to the bathroom and that had left me gasping for air and wishing, more than ever, Shizune was back to help me, even if she was smug about it.
In my mind, I had decided it was probably best if I let go of whatever remaining pride I had left and cooperate. It seemed to make sense to do so, seeing as the last thing I wanted was for her to break under the pressure I was idiotically applying.
After hours of doing absolutely nothing and thinking I wouldn't be able to stand another minute of it, I heard the key turn in the front door and I figured if it was Tsunade or the Anbu squad, they would have just kicked the door in. Meaning, Shizune hadn't said anything.
Leaning forward, I completely ignored the pain and I managed to glimpse Shizune standing in the kitchen, her eyes shut as if summoning up her courage. A heavy feeling settled in my gut and I realized, I was starting to feel bad, something I hadn't done in years. As I saw her open her eyes, I leaned back down and she entered the room a minute later. As soon as she laid her eyes on me, relief flooded into her face and I was tempted to laugh aloud. She took a slow, tentative step towards me, our eyes locking and she calmly sat beside me, as she had done this morning.
"How was your day?" She asked gently and I shrugged.
"I'm glad you didn't try anything too stupid." Shizune admitted and I shrugged again.
"Too stupid? What is that supposed to mean?" I asked myself quietly, in slight annoyance.
Biting her lip nervously, she felt my forehead with a soft hand and murmured something under her breath.
"You seem to be okay. Well, for the most part, at least you don't have a fever. You just need to have many more days like this." She said, gesturing towards the bed I was in.
We sat in silence for almost ten minutes until I decided it was now or never to get on her good side.
"I'm sorry about earlier. I acted unnecessarily awful towards you and I just wanted to say I was sorry." I apologized with a smile and her shocked expression never left her face.
"Oh, it's fine. You had every…right to be awful towards…I mean, upset." She stammered and I bit my bottom lip, holding back a laugh.
"Are you asking to start over? Look I know, we aren't exactly…comrades, but I just hope you can…I don't know." She stammered, her dark eyes peering into mine, as if searching for some kind of catch.
"I understand, it's precisely what I was talking about." I said with another smile and this time, she returned mine with one of her own.
"Alright then." She agreed with a cheerful expression and we were quiet again.
There was nothing more for us to say at that point and I was surprised when I heard her voice.
"This morning, I was terrified you know." She admitted in a quiet voice and my eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"You didn't look it, you seemed calm." I pointed out but she shook her head.
"Not on the inside." Shizune laughed and her bright face lit up the room.
I was starting to realize I could get used to being in her prescience. Perhaps, I would even come to enjoy it and despite my better judgement, I found myself hoping she felt the same way about me.
--
Author's Note:
Okay, I just want to apologize for taking forever to post, and I mean forever. I do have an excuse though, my computer was acting up and I had to get it fixed and then, I ended up just getting a new one so...yeah. I really hope you like this chapter, it took a lot of creativity and chapter three is also finished. So, it should be posted soon, just have to type it all out. In case you were wondering, this fanfic isn't going to be a long one and it's starting to look like five chapters will be all of the chapters...but don't worry, much drama to come!! I post for reviews so, bad thoughts, good thoughts, I don't care, I just want to hear something!! Thank you!!