Howling Love::.
Chapter Fifteen xx Safe
The pinkette kunoichi felt a strange wetness seeping down the length of her cheek, and she reached up a tentative hand to wipe it away, only to find that she was crying. Her resolve buckled and she clamped down her upper jaw over her bottom lip, struggling to hold back the wave of sobs that threatened to crash through her feeble defenses. All at once she was sobbing terrible, heart-wrenching sobs. Her shoulders shook violently as she wept into her hands, which resulted in a harsh pain erupting from her within her chest, but she didn't pay any attention to it.
She curled into as tight a ball as her bandages and splints would allow her and pulled her thick blankets over her ears, trying desperately to hide her tears from the black-haired woman, wishing that she was strong.
For she wasn't crying for herself, or her village, or her sensei.
She was crying for her teammate, for the man who had sacrificed all he had ever worked for for her. The Uchiha prodigy had put everything on the line to protect her futile existence, and it was completely her fault that he was so badly hurt, her fault that all of the power and skill that he'd worked so hard to attain were now utterly worthless.
She bit back another swell of fresh tears, staring heavily at the wall in an attempt to cut them off.
How could she do this to him?! Sasuke without his ability to move.... It was like a hawk, torn of his precious wings, a fish of his fins. He'd be a broken shell of his former self, nothing more than an empty husk without any real purpose. The thought of seeing him in a wheelchair shattered her carefully-constructed wall, and fresh tears began to trickle forth from her glimmering jade hues.
"Shizune?" Her voice cracked and wavered, ringing clearly of the pain and sadness that was flooding through her veins.
"Yes?" the woman murmured in return. Her voice was soft and gentle, a voice that every inch of Sakura's being wished to run up to and hug and bury her face in and cry her heart out to. She refrained, however, battling to keep her own voice even.
"This is....all my fault. I did this to him, he can't.... he won't......" Tears splashed down her face once more and she was wracked by sobs again. She felt a cool hand brush her shoulder as Shizune carefully seated herself beside her, running her fingers along the pinkette's soft skin.
"Sakura, both of you fell from a great height, and while you broke your leg, he hurt something else—"
"My leg was already hurt, he was trying to get me here...." A cold feeling rippled down Sakura's back, and slowly she realized what must have happened. The only way she could have come out of that fall unscathed would be if he had used himself as a shield, landing purposefully on his back to keep all force of impact away from her.
"He was protecting me." She buried deeper into the sheets, unwilling to meet Shizune's gaze. The woman rubbed her shoulder again in an attempt to comfort her, but it failed miserably.
"It's not your fault, Sakura. He did it off his own free will; he chose to do it. You can't take the blame for that."
"If I hadn't gotten myself hurt he'd be safe and unharmed! How is this not my fault?! He can't walk!"
"Sakura, stop being a pessamist—"
"I'm being a fucking realist. It's my fault, I did this to him, and he—"
A loud beeping sound emanated from Shizune's hip and the pinkette kunoichi snapped her head around, glaring frostily at the walkie-talkie for interrupting her. The black-haired woman didn't make a move to answer it and only continued to gaze dotingly at the young Haruno.
"Aren't you going to answer it?" Sakura's voice came out as a harsh snap, venom seeping through each word. Shizune sighed and nodded before standing and bringing the device up to her ear.
"Hello—?"
Sakura strained to hear the faint murmurs of the opposite line, but was unable to pick out the words. Shizune's expression, however, said it all. Her skin paled and her mouth was held slightly agape, and her dark eyes were wide with a shell-shocked horror.
With a flurry the woman was rushing out the door, walkie-talkie still pressed to her ear.
"What happened?!" Sakura's infuriated yell carried pretty well, and the dark-haired woman stopped at the door and turned slowly to give her a single, fleeting glance before disappearing without a word. The pinkette slammed her fists into the mattress, yelling uselessly at the door, raw concern bubbling up into her throat as all of the worst possibilities began to storm through her conscious.
She couldn't bare to look at the facts. He had to be alright, he couldn't be dead.
....if he wakes up....
She shuddered, hugging the pillow beneath her to herself, silent sobs wracking her weak body.
She waited for an eternity, it seemed. Every time someone would pass her door she would sit bolt upright and stare uneasily at the closed door, only to listen as the footsteps came and passed, leaving her alone and terrified in the hollow hospital room.
A nurse came in at one point and adjusted her IVs, and asked her if she needed another dose of morphine. Sakura mutely refused, but after the nurse left she felt a bit hazy and knew that the nurse hadn't exactly listened to her request.
She remembered falling asleep shortly after, much to her disdain. She wanted to stay awake, just in case Shizune came back. She desperately wanted to know what was happening and hated being kept in the dark.
She slept fitfully, thanks to the drugs.
A low knock woke her from her slumber, and she groggily rose to a sitting position. Her face was red and her eyes slightly puffy, but she pretended not to notice when the door cautiously opened.
An ANBU member revealed himself, bowing lowly as he entered. He wore the usual ANBU get-up, complete with those usual, pale bracers, pads, and an animal mask. His mask was that of a lynx with long red lines representing his whiskers and mane, and small triangles jutting out for ears. The two circles that he had for eyes revealed a set of creamy, coffee-colored orbs that looked surprisingly sincere, which caught the kunoichi off-guard.
"Miss Haruno-san, I apologize for disturbing you." He bowed his head again and Sakura nodded carefully, waiting quietly for him to continue.
"Has anyone besides an authorized hospital personal entered this room within the last hour?" The man's voice was even, unemotional. Sakura raised an inquisitive brow.
"Shizune-sama came in some time ago, and nurse came in a little while ago. Why?" Sakura asked guardedly, her emerald hues scrutinizing the man before her darkly.
"I am not permitted to tell you, and again I apologize. Thank you for your time, and please return to your rest, Haruno-san." The man bowed again before flitting out the door, gone. Sakura bit her lip, anxiety running like hot lead through her being.
She sat alone in her bed for a good hour before she was disturbed again. This time, however, it was a concerned-looking male doctor who entered quietly and carefully, only going as far as to peek his head around the door, the rest of his body remaining hidden behind the door.
Upon seeing that she was quite awake and glaring lividly at him from her spot on her bed, he spoke in a somewhat nervous voice.
"Sakura-san, I'm so sorry for coming in like this, but I think this belongs to you."
The man pushed the door wider with his foot, revealing his arms and the small, little thing that he carried within them.
It was a jet-black bundle of fur and paws, curled into a tight ball within the doctor's gentle cradle. It lay on its back, its long face buried into the crook of the man's elbow and its large paws tucked right in comfortably. It's tail was curled protectively around its middle, laying unnaturally still beside its body. It's eyes were screwed shut in obvious discomfort.
Sakura felt her heart throb and instantly reached her arms out, tears brimming over the rims of her eyes as almost-incoherent words bubbled to her lips.
"Thank you." Her murmur fluttered out as she gazed at the creature in his arms.
The doctor carefully deposited the still wolf in her arms where she gathered him up quickly, cradling the limp body gently to herself. She buried her face in his thick fur and ran her fingers repeatedly through his dark pelt, silent tears leaking into his wild mane. She could feel so clearly his body shaking pitifully beneath her fingers, the uneven beats of his heart, and the tickle of his hot breath against her cheek.
He simply lay her arms without any sort of struggle, and she held him, pure relief and happiness serving as the only emotions swirling about in her being. She smiled into his fur, closing her eyes quietly.
"I found him hiding under a table in the lobby, and what with all the ruckus going on downstairs, I took him up here to find his owner, and sure enough the first door I come to and he started whining." The doctor smiled warmly, genuine pleasure spreading across his tanned face. "I think he might be hurt, so I'd take him to the vet whenever you get the chance."
"Thank you." Her voice was louder than before and full of a thick sincerity. The doctor nodded simply before turning towards the door.
"Wait." The doctor turned towards her again as she spoke, a questioning glint in his bright eyes.
"What's going on downstairs?" She tilted her head slightly as she continued to stroke the creature in her lap, her jade orbs never leaving the canine's face.
"There was a patient in the ICU that went missing about an hour ago. He baffled all of the nurses because he was supposedly unconscious with a several major injuries." He paused, fingering the end of his shirt thoughtfully.
"Needless to say, all of the Leaf Shinobi that arrived are frantic. They suspect he got kidnapped, or perhaps something worse. The doctors in the emergency room know more about it than I do though, I apologize. Please get some rest, Miss, and I'm glad you've got your dog back."
The man nodded kindly before exiting, clipboard in hand. The kunoichi nodded to herself as she returned her full attention to the sleeping creature before her.
Sakura rubbed the wolf's ears affectionately before moving her other hand along the ridge of his back. He whimpered quietly when she neared the middle section of his spine, and upon reaching it, he yelped loudly. She moved her hand back to his ears and continued petting him, pursing her lips.
She then slid her hand down to his hind leg, where she fingered one of his padded paws. He didn't seem to have noticed.
"Sasuke-kun?" The wolf didn't stir, but he rumbled a low grunt in response.
"If you can feel this, make a sound, okay?" He didn't move, but she knew that he was listening. So carefully she moved her hand along his back paw and prodded it sharply. She looked at his face expectantly, fear roiling about in her abdomen. Paralysis renders any nerves useless, so if he couldn't feel her prod, then that particular outcome was unavoidable. If he didn't feel it, he wouldn't be able to walk. Ever.
Slowly a low rippled past through the creature's lips, followed by a short movement from the paw she had touched. Instant relief flooded her as she buried her face and hands into his fur once more.
He was safe in her arms, and this time she would be the one to protect him.
I said I was going to update on Christmas, but I literally finished writing this within a few hours of my last update, and I figured it would be really mean to not post it. I'll whip up the next one for the special day, I promise. :]
*cough* guys are all dense, loveable POO-FACES. D: I said like ten chapters ago that I was going to make this a happy ending, must I repeat myself? HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY. xD
And yes, the romance will start kicking in pretty soon here. Don't you impatient peoples worry. :]
Please REVIEW and thanks for reading! :D
--xxIndigo