Kiku yawned as she walked through the dark streets of Suna. It had been a tough day at work, much toughter than she'd the day had started off normal it had gotten busier and busier. Especially after a group of jounin had returned from their month long mission in pretty bad condition.
While Emiko and the other more advaced medics treated those with more severe injuries, Aya decided that this day would be the best to help Kiku learn some new skills...in this case how to treat a severe burn.
Their patient was a rather new jounin, the youngest of the group. Her right arm and shoulder were covered in 3rd degree burns and she cried out in pain as both medics set to work. Kiku winced at the sight of her. She had gotten used to viewing minor injuries and the blood ceased to bother her, but the sight of a person in such pain broke Kiku's heart to witness. She wondered if she would ever get used to such a thing.
"Kiku go grab a jar of water...hurry!" Aya ordered, turning her attention towards the patient on the table.
"Kiseki-san...look this way for a moment."
The patient turned her head towards Aya just as the blonde's eyes brightened just slightly. Eyes met and soon the patient was asleep. Aya's specialty, a genjutsu that worked almost like anesthesia...a trick passed on to her by Emiko. It was effective in battle but far more effective in the operating rooms.
Kiku ran to the closet and withdrew a small jar of water, carrying it over and setting it down to unscrew the top.
"Good! Now, burns were never my specialty...I can't use water like you can, but I do know how to do it. If you follow my instructions exactly we can have her back on her feet in no time, alright, Kiku?"
Kiku nodded "Of course...I'll do what I can."
Aya nodded, her face serious. "Now, place your fingertips in the water and infuse it with chakra."
Kiku did as she was told, closing her eyes to focus. When she felt it was enough she opened her eyes and looked back at her friend.
"Now see if you can get the water to rise from the jar with your chakra and encase her arm in it...you really have to focus on this one."
Kiku nodded. She'd done something quite similar the previous week...though on a much smaller scale. Healing a burned finger and healing an entire arm were really quite different. She was worried she'd be unable to do it and that the patient would remain in such pain, but she shook the thought away. Kiku wanted to help this girl and she would give it her all to accomplish that.
Focusing all her chakra on the water she slowly moved the chakra infused molecules towards the patients arm. She willed the water to form a wrap around the patient's arm and held it there.
"Now, start the healing process...it's important to heal it from the inside out...start deep and work your way to the surface."
Kiku took Aya's advice and took a deep breath clearing her mind of everything but the healing process. Bit by bit she sent small streams of her chakra into the suspended water which in turn sent chakra up and down the patient's arm. She did as Aya said...inside out...and 30 minutes later she relaxed, allowing the water to travel back into the jar. The patient's arm was red, but the burns were barely noticable aside from a few marks that would probably remain for life, to show the world of the wounds she'd recieved. Far from pretty, but she was out of the danger zone. Aya inspected the work and gave Kiku a pat on the back.
"You've gotten better. Nice control...you need to work on your speed, but that you'll learn over time." Aya said, before noticing the serious expression on Kiku's face as her eyes were transfixed on the small scars formed on the patient's arms.
"I ruined her..."Kiku whispered.
Aya sighed "medical ninjutsu isn't perfect. It's practical, not cosmetic. Marks and scars are normal for people who chose this life...so don't look so upset. You saved her from a lot of pain, and that's all that matters."
Kiku tried to understand and nodded, but she couldn't shake the thought. She felt guilty.
Even on the walk home hours later she couldn't shake the feeling. She slipped her headband into her pocket and made her way to her house. It was empty when she arrived, her mother and sister probably off on another day trip, and Kiku silently made her way to her bedroom. Slipping out of her clothes she brushed her fingetips over her own scar and frowned. Her mother's words of Kiku's uselesness to her months before still stung fresh in the young girl's mind...but scars were part of life for a ninja and Kiku tried to remember that. It meant she was a survivor...just like that woman was a survivor. It wasn't something to be ashamed of, but it was a feeling she just couldn't shake...her mother's influence still heavy in her mind. Kiku hated it. Everything her mother said or did impacted her...whether it be in the form of her feelings, such as now...or through events...like Kiku's loss of all the people she truly cared about.
Kiku threw on a long white night dress and walked to her window. She opened it and leaned her head out to feel the cool breeze blow against her face.. She tilted her head up to look at the night sky and her gaze drew instantly to the moon. She remembered her old thought of being connected with the ones she loved, and hoped they were watching the moon with her. In this moment she felt like she really needed them.
"If only we could all sit and watch it together..."
With a sigh she turned and crawled into her bed. She closed her eyes and imagined Gaara and Okarina...Aya...and herself. All of them happy as they sat on the sand and watched the stars and the moon. It was just a dream, but Kiku hoped that some day it could become a reality. She wouldn't let her mother's influence destroy that dream.
A/N: Sorry if this is a bit rambled and short. Next chapter is going to be a confrontation between Kiku and her mother...and just a few more chapters until Gaara's return.