Ways to Blame Yourself
Disclaimer: I, of course, do not own the Naruto franchise.
My Note: Here is the revised and rewritten (final of the three revised and rewritten chapters) for you guys. I hope you all enjoy it grandly.
I of course would once again like to thank my Beta Reader, Magneat-o.
Saturday, 17th November, 2012 – 10:15 am – Konoha Hospital, Reception Room
As Sasuke walked briskly through the front entrance of Konoha Hospital and into the reception room, he couldn't help but yawn tiredly and rub his eyes so that he could finally remove the trace amounts of sleep that had clung to his black lashes. Gingerly, he raised a hand to his face and touched the cheek where a tender bruise had formed due to a certain pink haired girl's sense of brutality. It was unusual for Sasuke to look so tired in the morning, as he always managed to get plenty of sleep and yet he had to admit last night he had become slightly restless.
The raven haired student shook his head vigorously in an attempt to rid himself of the last few remnants of tiredness that clouded his system. Scanning the room like a hawk, Sasuke spotted the reception desk and the young woman who sat there. She looked busy as she was currently talking on the phone whilst flicking through a number of papers of her desk. Sasuke, however, was hardly in the mood to wait around as he approached the reception desk, coughing loud enough to gain the woman's attention.
It was at times such as these that Sasuke was glad he was attractive as he was by no means above using his looks to gain what he wanted. He watched as the young woman hung up the phone and turned her full attention to the raven haired student. He didn't bother changing his expression from his usual cold and uncaring one as he hardly ever needed to; the woman stared at him with wide eyes before clearing her throat and adjusting herself.
"H-Hello and welcome to Konoha Hospital… How may I help you?" the young lady asked as she blushed slightly. Sasuke smiled as he realised this woman didn't realise how young he was or just didn't care.
"Yes, hello Miss…" Sasuke deliberately trailed off, allowing the woman to fill in the blanks.
"Shizun- I mean, Kato. Miss Kato," the woman answered, stopping herself as she finally managed to recall her sense of professionalism.
"Hello, Miss Kato. Would you be able to direct me to the room of a new arrival? He got here yesterday after an incident at Konoha High School?" Sasuke questioned and watched as the woman nodded in understanding.
"Ah. You must be a friend of Mr Uzumaki's."
"…Sure. I guess."
"If you just give me a moment," Miss Kato assured as she typed Naruto's name into the computer. "I'll have his room number for you… here we are… Mr Uzumaki's in Room 110, just on the next floor up."
"Thank you," Sasuke nodded to the woman and turned to leave.
"Also..." Miss Kato piped up, causing Sasuke to turn back with a slight glare. "He already has another two visitors up there with him, they must go to school with him."
"Thanks," Sasuke mock-thanked as he walked away from the desk and continued through to the hallway to find the stairs. He could feel his body seething with both annoyance and distaste as he had already deduced the two students who would most likely be by Naruto's side already.
He decided to take the stairs rather than the elevators as the tiny metal boxes had also annoyed him with how cramped they were. It also didn't help that they always reminded Sasuke of visiting his father's office building in the past. Step after step he rose to the second floor, reaching the door and exiting the stairwell.
Without so much as bothering to close the door behind him, Sasuke walked through the bright white hallway, counting off the numbers on each door as he passed them.
"100 and 101... 102 and 103... 104... 105... the Inuzuka dog is probably one of the one's already here... that moron... always getting in my way... 108... 109... and here is room 110…" Sasuke thought to himself and clicked his tongue in annoyance at the thought of the brown haired, meat headed moron cluttering up the room with his unnecessary presence. "Though Naruto should be glad I'm even bothering to check on him after that little event... I'd be finishing that book but Itachi insisted that I check on my... friend..."
The Uchiha stopped as he reached room 110, peering through the door's small window and to no great surprise he saw the slender figure of Sakura standing beside the much more muscular Kiba.
He could recognise Kiba's broad, muscular build underneath the white and red striped polo shirt paired with a set of dark blue denim jeans. Sakura on the other hand wore her hair in a slightly spikey bun. She wore a dark blue tank top and a short black skirt that clung to her figure comfortably.
Leaning back from the small window, he brought his hand to the door but hesitated the moment he went to slide it open. With an open sigh he took a moment to enjoy the lack of people around him in the hallway as it prevented any particular thoughts of drama and scandal happening around him though he soon refocused himself and looked back at the door.
"Why's it Naruto can cause me so much trouble even when he's comatose," Sasuke thought bitterly and slid the door open.
Kiba began to raise his hand to the blonde's face but was interrupted by the door sliding open behind him. He thought it was just some nurse but the way Sakura inhaled with so much… disgust… made the brunette think otherwise.
"You!" Sakura said the word like a curse as she looked at the intruder.
Sakura glared at the newcomer and Kiba turned quickly, growling aggressively in recognition. The intruder, their classmate Sasuke Uchiha, entered the room, not bothering to shut the door behind him. Neither Sakura nor Kiba said a word as Sasuke continued forward, walking past the two until he reached the bed. Kiba's stare turned to a glare as Sasuke stopped, and yet he couldn't help but smile at Sakura when he noticed the faint bruising on the Uchiha's cheek.
Sasuke wore his raven dark hair in the usual messy ducktail while his bangs hung around the fair skin of his face. He was wearing a dark red button up shirt that had been well tailored to compliment his figure along with a tight black vest that remained unbuttoned. Black trousers covered his legs, again being well-tailored and they were held in place by a smooth looking black leather belt.
"What the hell are you doing here?!" Kiba continued to growl at the Uchiha who simply rolled his eyes, adamantly refusing to look at the brunette.
"What do you want, Sasuke?" Sakura asked, her tone sounding worn out by the Uchiha's mere presence.
There was a moment of silence as Sasuke didn't reply, turning slowly to face the pair. Kiba's patience was already reaching its end but before he could open his mouth he was cut off by Sasuke holding a finger to his mouth. "Hush, Inuzuka… You two should both try to keep it down. This is a hospital after all, and patients aren't to be disturbed."
"Yeah… Yeah we know that," Kiba huffed grumpily as he clamped his fists in frustration. Sasuke had quite the habit of pushing all the wrong buttons on Kiba's mental state.
"Don't act like we're idiots, Sasuke," Sakura responded, annoyed as she repeatedly clenched and unclenched her fist. This act had become a habit of hers to stop the repetition of her tiny violent outbursts such as yesterday with Sasuke.
"Why are ya even here, Sasuke?" Kiba asked impatiently and was met with a raised eyebrow.
"I thought it was obvious, Kiba. Like the two of you, I'm here to visit our dear friend and classmate, Naruto Uzumaki," Sasuke explained simply as he patted Naruto's arm. Kiba's glare intensified at the sight of the disrespectful action but the Uchiha didn't seem to care.
Enough was enough as Kiba stepped forward and grabbed the front of Sasuke's shirt roughly. Kiba glared directly into Sasuke's eyes which soon turned into a mutual glare between classmates.
"There a problem, Inuzuka?" Sasuke questioned darkly but didn't attempt to break out of the strong grip.
"You are really pushing it, Uchiha," Kiba growled back. His anger just continued towards boiling point as Sasuke's glare turned to a look of amusement.
"Hmm… Maybe we should calm down. I hardly want to end up in a room here like Naruto," Sasuke smirked as Kiba dropped his grip on Sasuke. Sakura who had remained largely silent moved towards the pair but stopped as Sasuke continued to speak. "How is it that you're even here, Kiba? I thought that you would have felt a touch guiltier after yesterday's events."
"What? Why would I…? I didn't do anything, Sasuke!" Kiba shouted his lousy attempt at an explanation until Sakura placed a comforting hand on his broad shoulder.
"Something the matter, Inuzuka? Realise what you did?" Sasuke asked smugly but was largely ignored by the brunette.
"Kiba, relax. Sasuke, shut up," the pink haired student ordered the pair as she rubbed Kiba's back reassuringly. "I know, Sasuke… you too, Kiba… I know that we all want to visit Naruto but it may be best that we all come at different times… too prevent… this."
"So maybe you two should leave," Sasuke suggested callously.
"Or you could shove off," Kiba retorted.
"And why should I go but not the two of you?"
"Cause you're a di-"
"It would just be best, Sasuke," Sakura cut in, preventing Kiba from finishing his profanity and refusing to give Sasuke any solid reason.
"Yeah, just leave," Kiba muttered angrily as he waved the student away. "Don't you have better places to be?"
Sasuke stood silently and watched KIba for a few moments; he just stared as Kiba watched him warily. In a moment he had already deliberated whether or not he should take Sakura's advice. He could leave the room and be free from the intolerable presence of Kiba or he could stay just to spite the guy.
"Fine, whatever," Sasuke huffed in mock defeat. In truth he was feeling quite eager to get out of the cramped room and away from his 'friends' or whatever they were. "I'll come back when Kiba isn't here. I'll do the right thing and give you two your room to make it easier."
Turning on his heel, Sasuke met the doorway and stepped forward but found himself stopping as he dropped his eyes and met a small figure of a girl standing in the way. Though he could easily push past, he refrained from the act and instead stepped to the side if nothing for her family's standing in society.
"Well, isn't this just fantastic?" Sasuke sighed and rubbed his eyes due to the feeling of strain coming over him. "Two more and it'll be all accounted for."
"What're ya talking about, Sasuke?" Kiba groaned but smiled as he looked in the doorway.
The figure standing there was a small, petite female with long dark blue-purple hair that hung by her waist. She had round and soft lavender eyes as well as fair skin similar to Sasuke's own. She wore a modest, white sundress that stopped at her knees and held a large brimmed straw hat tightly against her stomach. A pale blue cardigan hugged her shoulders, covering the upper part of her bare arms.
"Hey there-" Kiba started to greet.
"Hinata!" Sakura cut in, rushing forward and covering the shy girl with a hug.
"Sakura… Hi," Hinata returned the girl's greeting into her shoulder. The two pulled out of the hug and Hinata looked up at Kiba's smiling face followed by Sasuke's rather apathetic look. "I didn't realise I wouldn't be the only one here today."
"Yes, well I'm leaving," Sasuke informed the meek girl and stepped out the door. However, as he passed the threshold, the Uchiha stopped and turned back to face the group with a slightly cruel smile on his face. "But would you have a look at us… Strange that the five of us have come together again-"
"There were seven of us, Sasuke," Sakura reminded the Uchiha who gave a small laugh.
"Ino and Sai… They haven't been in our group for as long as the five of us. We have the meat headed Karate Captain, Kiba Inuzuka-"
"Watch it, Sasuke…" Kiba growled but was ignored.
"-The largely popular tomboy gymnast and class president, Sakura Haruno-"
"Sasuke…" Sakura began to warn despite there being truth in his words.
"-This meek, timid, overly sensitive and shy heiress of the Hyuga fortune-"
"I-I'm sorry…" Hinata apologised quietly for a fate that was hardly her fault. There had always been tension between Sasuke and Hinata that was just as rough as the old relationship between Neji and Hinata. Hinata had a free ride to success and her family's fortune due to being the first born child of the main family. Sasuke on the other hand was the second son of his family and had to work so much harder just to be noticed for his achievements while his older brother, Itachi, was given opportunities in life with next to no effort.
"-And of course the number one hyperactive and knuckleheaded student, Naruto Uzumaki," Sasuke sighed as he finished the callous opinions of his 'friends'. "Such an unusual band of friends and yet I doubt any of us have talked to each other since yesterday… Am I incorrect? It's only that usually you all assault me with texts and IM's and phone calls but I received none…"
"Sasuke. That doesn't mean anything," Sakura claimed.
"I doubt that you and Kiba came here together today…" Sasuke continued. "Just like how Hinata wasn't expecting to meet us here today, I bet you and Kiba met here purely by chance."
Kiba took a step towards Sasuke with an angry huff but was surprised as Sakura cut across him and grabbed the raven haired student by the collar. "Sasuke, I don't like what you're implying. You're very lucky that we're standing in a hospital right now because with your attitude, I'm pretty sure you're going to need medical attention."
"I hardly think there's any need for talk like that," Sasuke reasoned smugly and held up his hands in mock-defence. "You know I didn't mean to upset any of you… Plus, the nurses here seem to love me."
"Y-Yes you did," Hinata piped up but shrunk back to Kiba's side when Sasuke glared at her.
"Look, Sasuke-" Kiba started in an attempt to shout at his 'friend' but was once again interrupted.
A heavy knock rattled the door frame loudly, disrupting the tension between the students as they each turned to see who had arrived. They had expected to see one of the final members of their small group, either Ino or Sai standing in the doorway as that seemed to be the pattern developing. Instead, Kiba sighed as he recognised the older student standing at the door with a confused look as he was being stared down.
He was about a year or two older than the others and wore a black hoody along with a deep purple pair of trousers. His hood was up and created shadows on his face, hiding the majority of his features though Kiba recognised the dark brown fringe, broad nose and strong jawline. Sakura and Hinata thought they were looking at Kiba for a moment as they registered the familiar broad and muscular frame along with the brown hair, but also noticed how the new male was at least half a head taller.
"What are you doing here, Kankuro?" Kiba asked wearily as he was confused by the older teen's presence. "You didn't really know Naruto."
"My… My brother did," Kankuro answered but then shook his head as if to clear it. "But that's not why I'm here… You didn't really return any of my texts so-"
"I've been kind of busy… left my phone at home…" Kiba interjected.
"-so I asked Hana where you were and she said you snuck off to see Naruto before the others got here," Kankuro summarised and stopped as he noticed Kiba glaring at the now smiling Sasuke.
"Yeah. Here I am…" Kiba replied quietly but didn't look away from the Uchiha. With a sigh, Kiba finally looked away and began to walk towards the doorway. As he reached Kankuro, Kiba grabbed the boy by his jumper and started to pull him down the hallway, calling out to the others as he disappeared. "We're going to go get some air. Take care of Naruto while I'm gone."
As Kiba left, Sasuke turned to face Sakura and Hinata and was amused by their confused expressions. He noticed a sudden shine in Sakura's eyes almost as if she had realised something.
"Notice something?" Sasuke asked with a curious tone and was met by the girl refusing to meet his gaze.
"Nothing, Sasuke," Sakura replied as she looked off to the wall. She felt a slight vibration in her pocket and pulled out her phone. "Ino just texted me… She's down at the car park… I'll go and meet her."
"I'll go with you," Hinata called quietly as Sakura tucked her phone away. The pair went to leave and for what seemed like the hundredth time that day, one of them hesitated as they reached the door.
"Looks like you're going to get some time with Naruto after all, Sasuke. Just what you wanted right?" Sakura turned back and smirked at the Uchiha.
"You have no idea what I want, Sakura," Sasuke scoffed as he watched Sakura pause slightly and leave without another word. Despite being surprised at the fact he had been left alone with Naruto, he was nonetheless happy for being left alone. In a sense.
"But… How am I supposed to take care of him, Kiba? You are both an idiot and a moron for this level of stupidity," Sasuke laughed darkly to himself as he walked to Naruto's bed. He stopped as he reached the side of the unconscious blonde student. "I wonder if you can hear me, Naruto… Maybe you know how I'm supposed to take care you, eh, Naruto? Am I supposed to warm your feet? Fluff your pillow? Or maybe you and Kiba both want me to attempt something else… something a touch more… merciful…"
With that last statement, Sasuke brought his hand down to meet the life support machine Naruto was hooked up to. Slowly and delicately he ran a finger over the largest button, the button he assumed was the power switch. He lingered for a moment too long and was greatly surprised when a voice spoke up from behind him.
"Sasuke…?" a girl's voice piped up from the doorway. It took a moment for the Uchiha to recognise the voice due to the extreme lack of the usual flare and peppiness that it usually held. "What are you doing?"
"Ino…" Sasuke stated bitterly, not needing to turn around. He smiled as he withdrew his finger and smiled down at the comatose Naruto. "What an interesting surprise."
"Well, shit," the Uchiha swore internally as he turned to face the girl's presence full on. His smile vanished as he turned and by the time he faced Ino, his face had settled into its usual apathetic expression.
My Other Note: So there it is… I kinda was afraid that the characters are all appearing at the same place at the same time but now with Kiba and Kankuro leaving… and as well as Sakura and Hinata disappearing to find Ino, it'll be a lot easier to manage for now. Only one member of the group to reappear and some other favourite characters of yours may make appearances.
Please Review if you can and Message me with any concerns or fic ideas and requests. Also there should be a poll on my page detailing my next work after I complete this one.