Heal
She might not see the scars of his heart, but she might as well give it her best to heal his visible wounds.
Overwhelmed was the only word that describes her true feelings up until this very moment. Things seemed to come into a twist of events that even her alert mind had lost track of, causing the girl to be dumbfounded by everything that surrounds her right now.
Words echoed in an order in her head as she rides the carriage towards someplace new to her. Not that she could cover the military bases in this kingdom within the few months she struggled to live normally here. The guards had ordered her to follow without sparing a second word nor thought. Joining a troupe of armies was never within her comfort zone, but returning to a group of hateful medics following an accusation of mixing poisons for consumption, that was out of the question either. She was not sure whether to feel safe or to fear a possible danger up ahead over her current forced choice. The surprise element never ceased to leave her despite living in a place where everything was just as new to Sakura. The definition of 'getting used to' was still invisible somehow.
Next to her lies the injured man, still looking as miserable but better. Sakura's hand went up tentatively to his forehead to check for the temperature. True to her thought, the man was indeed better than when she first discovered him. The large gash across his torso had stopped bleeding while temporarily bandaged with the supply of laundry she brought with her earlier, make do of anything that would help.
Through the small opening, Sakura notes that the castle was located opposite to the route they were travelling and there was a slight relief in her upon knowing that. Her next predication to where they were heading would be another camp, of military of medical, she too could not tell.
The horses galloped into a quick halt, causing inertia to take over the occupants of the carriage. Men of similar uniform emerged from the front and examined the group as well as the carriage. After brief moment of inspecting, they exchanged approval nods and they proceeded into what looked a lot like a military camp. Sakura stood still along the ride afterwards as her heartbeat races wildly. Reaching up to her heart, a habit she had developed, she exhaled to calm her nerves.
Whatever that awaits in here, she can only dare to hope for the better.
No one had questioned Sakura despite the contrast of her blood-stained light attire, and not to mention her bright locks, over the dark uniformed soldiers. She was appointed to a room to care for the pale man earlier with two new appointed guards. Judging by the slight difference of their uniforms, it was easy to indicate that these two were of higher rank unlike the ones that brought her here.
Sakura busies herself by tending the wound with a given set of clean cloth, bandages and medical supplies while observing the provided necessities. It was a far cry compared to the camp she was located before and for that, the medic in her was glad.
"So," one of the guards speak to the other by the door, loud enough for her to hear thanks to the echoes of the confined room, "it's a miracle how she had managed to survive this long without getting into trouble."
Her eyes wander over them and identifies the owner of the voice, the shorter men with grey hair. His partner only gazed afar in stoic. Further observation had Sakura recalling a distant memory of waking up in the Uchiha castle, surrounded by the prince, a red-haired medic and two soldiers. The crease on her brows were gone the moment she matched their faces with the men that guarded the room. Two of the few faces that she came to know on her first day in this land.
'Suigetsu and Jugo.' She continued to recall their names.
The dark night consumes the sky by the time Sakura had keep track of the time. Her focus was channelled completely towards healing the injuries of the man from the forest, battling poisons with antidotes. The past challenges Sakura faced back in Senju worked well as an experience when it comes to dealing with poisons.
It was during a clash between Senju and another joined force against the invaders that she earned a lethal experience when it comes to dealing with an enemy that wields poison. Sakura, alongside her comrades, played a big role of overcoming the poison attack directed towards them, threatening to kill the soldiers that stood to defend their rightful ground. With a tinge of luck and sheer determination, she was able to turn the poisons into reliable antidotes in record time while racing against time to get her own life along with those affected into safety. Hence she earned an acknowledgement over her medical abilities from their ally; the land of the Sand.
With the current situation in hand, Sakura was once again set to race against the time. She may not discover the identity of the man just yet, but it might not be any normal civilian especially with the two troupe commanders guarding the door for his safety. Though what made Sakura think would be the fact that they had somehow show enough faith to leave the healing done by her despite knowing her roots.
She heaved a long breath once she was all done. Sweat dripped across her forehead from all the hardwork she poured into sealing the gash. Another life she had successfully dragged away from death's jaws. A small triumph rise in her heart just like any other time she had managed to save someone. Sakura reached for a clean cloth to wipe her sweat and settled on a chair set by the bedside to rest, eyes still watching over to double check on the man's injury.
Unbeknownst to her, the two commanders had been watching her moves since the start. Silently noting her swift actions as a medic rivalling that of Karin's. There were a few times when Suigetsu had hesitated into giving Sakura a hand but thought that his lack of experience might cause trouble instead of helping out. To have a severely injured man as a patient, it took no professional to know that it requires a team of medics to tend the injuries inflicted on the man's physique. The two had silently exhaled in relief when Sakura settled down, having a part of them worried as well. A tough exterior is what they had long trained for but deep down lies a heart that refused to harden over burden.
Their silent uneasiness was cut short by a sudden greeting outside the room, tugging Sakura's attention along with it.
"Sir, the prince has returned." The shorter man reported.
Sakura felt herself perked up at the mention of him. He was near, after all.
The taller one, Jugo, turned attentive over the grim expression. "Is he alright?"
"I'm afraid not, sir. The prince might need medical treatment but refused to receive one from our ready medics."
By his voice, Sakura could tell that he was both anxious by talking to his upper ranks as well as the prince's unlikely personality. She could not tell which is more annoying though.
The two commanders pondered a bit before replying orders. "Send a few medics to care for the general. We will rush to the prince right away."
Jugo's eyes set upon Sakura as he speaks.
Glass shattered across their path right before they reach the room. Sakura's eyes widen by surprise whereas Jugo and Suigetsu exchanged wary glances.
"We apologise for our mistake, your highness. I beg for your mercy." Called out a retreating medic followed by a younger girl, though both looked familiar yet peculiar to Sakura.
Only then her mind clicked, it was one of the seniors and the protesting girl back from the camp.
'Strange', she thought.
Judging by their careless skills, she was not weirded out if they had made a fatal mistake. But when it comes to treating the Uchiha prince wrongly and to have provoked him to such an extent, it simply spells 'death'.
"Wait here for a moment." Jugo noted, earning a nod from Sakura.
Both commanders then went up the door in a haste, eyes trailed over the fumbling figures before walking in with a quick official nod.
"Sakura." Suigetsu, perked out of the room and waved for Sakura to enter. She was unsure for a moment before braving herself for whatever she might face next. "You should help him out." He continued as the two walked into a similar dull room, only more spacious.
She cast a glance towards Jugo before focusing on the prince whom was sitting on the bed with a scowl. Both eyes dripping with blood and shut tight in pain.
Sakura blinked thrice; first to register everything she sees, second to get rid of her overflowing thoughts and unnecessary concern, whereas the third was to focus on the damage in hand. She set the medical kit on the bedside table, reaching for a cloth to wipe the blood on his eyes only to stop mid-air when he reached to catch her action on the wrist.
"Who are you?" his words shot like a dagger penetrating the silence that none had the guts to interfere.
Though Sakura quickly recovered. "If you'd just let go, I'll be the one fixing your," She paused to search for the right words despite saying eyes, "the damage."
Hearing her voice causes his iron grip to loosen abruptly, a few crests formed on his forehead. Sakura ignored the small actions and continued to wipe the eyes clean. In practiced grace, she mixed a few ointments into another bottle, shake it a little and observed the colour of the product. Once satisfied, she then applied it to another clean cloth before dabbing it on the prince's eyes.
Sasuke on the other hand tried to force his eyes open only to be warned sternly by Sakura, in which he uncharacteristically obeyed without a word, an opposite to the raging personality he showed earlier. Suigetsu and Jugo were both petrified by their interactions. It was unlikely for Sasuke to have let down his guard towards strangers, while it was the first time Sakura had acted so casually around anyone here. Of course the two men had things to ask regarding that but chose to keep it to themselves for the moment being.
"Rest for awhile, I'll continue right after." The medic helped the prince to lay down to keep the blood circulation flow correctly, especially the eyes knowing how precious they were to anyone that relates to the Uchiha bloodline.
She turned to the other two whom still stood loyally by the door and went up to them. Jugo then excused himself for patrolling duties, stating that Suigetsu was all hers for disposal if in need. The latter sneered and glared, arousing a small smirk from Sakura in which caused the two to stare weirdly at her again.
She cleared her throat to shift from the awkward moment. "I need you to help me to get rid of this."
Puzzled, the grey-haired man followed Sakura. Once she handled a pot of yellowish flowers, he wondered, "Why throw these away?"
"It opposes the effectiveness of the medicine." Her features showed discomfort.
"To the extent of poisoning?" he tried to speak out her thoughts and was quickly matched with her raised brows. Her nod confirms his suspicion. "Strange how those two women were the ones whom brought it in every morning. Claiming fresh flowers are better for healing."
Sakura halted on her steps. "Those two just now?"
She bit her lips in deep thought. Then that must relate to the prince's irritation towards their very presence. But the question remains that, what are they up to? Shaking her head, she focused on eliminating any possible poisoning attempt in the room.
There is still too much things hidden in this kingdom but the piece of truth she received today connected some of her thoughts as well as the past incidents. There is an attempt of bringing the prince down and as much as she could not put a finger on who it might be, she can't help but remembered the men that hunted her down to the cliff. Disguising themselves as Uchiha's men, concealing the intent of kill behind those masks. If it was not for his quick actions, her life must have faded through the thin air. Gratitude was what she felt towards him since that day. When it comes to their second encounter, things were a little less chaotic but disastrous just the same. The injuries Sasuke received from the other day was no match to the ones he have now.
Given the current situation, Sakura can't help but to think a little harder on the pieces that has yet to make sense. The prince has always been their target where she was just a trespasser the first time around. Up until now, their intention remained the same and she doubts that they will ever stop until he was dead.
'A cruel fate indeed.' Her mind whispered.
Eyes glanced over the resting man, she notes that his rigid position was reduced into a more calming one. For some reason she could almost feel his pain every time she sees him in one. Sakura was no one but a stranger that knew nothing about the prince, only had acquainted to him in the past. Though the need to know and care for him speaks otherwise and that simply causes herself to be engaged in a rather unfamiliar sensation. Pushing all that aside, her attention went back to him.
She might not see the scars of his heart, but she might as well give it her best to heal his visible wounds. Because that was the most she could offer to help him overcome the fatal deals he faced.
A small smile tugged her lips as she settled on the make-shift furniture in an attempt of dismissing the exhaustion that slowly consumes her. If there was one thing that she was sure of today, it would be the gratefulness of seeing him alive.
A/N : Another update before continuing my busy routine soon. Comments are always welcomed and thanks again for stopping by. ;)
-Callester-