Chapter Thirteen: Home sweet Konoha!
If you haven't read the updated version of chapter 12 "Dreams of Snow", please read it before reading this.
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Enjoy?
Disclaimer: If I owned it then I wouldn't need to write fanfiction.
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Once team seven arrived back in Konoha Akina was immediately admitted into the hospital.
Sasuke refused to leave her side, which quickly annoyed the Mizuto girl.
"Seriously... I don't need a babysitter." She huffed, crossing her arms.
Sasuke ignored her pouting. "I'm the only family member here until Mai arrives."
"That is a lame excuse and we both know it." She glared.
The boy blushed slightly. "I can't leave you alone."
"I'm not going to die." She sighed. Sasuke flinched. "Uh... sorry..."
The two sat in silence for a long while.
"Mai's here..." Akina suddenly spoke.
"Wha-?" Sasuke wondered how she always did that.
"Oh, no! Oh, no! Oh, no!" They heard the woman's voice echoing down the hall along with her frantic footsteps.
Soon the door burst open and there stood the dark haired Kunoichi, rattled and crying the moment she laid eyes on the pair of cousins. "Akina!" without much warning she had the girl in a crushing embrace.
Sasuke slowly started to move away, but Mai quickly caught the boy by the shirt and pulled him in for a group hug.
"How did this happen?" Mai cried out, sniffling away tears. "I was worried sick when they told me you arrived home injured."
"I'm okay... mostly." Akina muttered.
"Not okay. You should have listened to me." Sasuke shot back.
Mai hugged them both close. "You have plenty of time to tell me the story. Right now I am just glad you are both alive. Your parents would never forgive me."
"It wouldn't have been your fault..." Both children spoke up, Mai burst out into tears once more.
After a few moments of hugging and sitting together there was a knock on the door. The doctor opened the door and walked in, glancing back and forth between the three of them. "You must be Akina's caregiver?"
Mai sniffled, wiping away her tears, and stood to greet the doctor. "I am Chiyoshi Mai, Akina's godmother."
"Well, then. About Akina's condition." The doctor spoke in a serious voice. "As you are both family members I can tell you that her condition is very serious and it will take some time for her to heal. She was lucky not to have been paralyzed from the nerve damage in her back."
Mai's lip quivered, but she kept herself from crying in front of the doctor. "How long?"
"At least a month. She may not fully heal for even longer than that. I would suggest no strenuous activity for at least two months. That means no taking on missions that require too much physical activity." The doctor gave Akina a pointed look. "And you will not move from that bed for at least three weeks."
Akina sighed. "I get it."
The doctor nodded and turned to Mai. "May I speak with you outside, Miss. Chiyoshi?"
"What? Y-yes, of course." Mai followed the doctor nervously, not wanting to hear more bad news.
"What's that about?" Akina grumbled.
Sasuke sighed and shrugged. "Maybe Mai will tell us when she comes back."
Akina scoffed. "Yeah right. She's good at keeping secrets. That's why she's a good councilor."
Sasuke couldn't help but snort at that.
When Mai did return to the room she appeared happier, but it was a fake sort of happy that people put on when they don't want other people to know they are worried. Akina knew better, but she didn't say anything.
"Well then... I'm guessing you two haven't eaten lunch, right? Should I go fetch us something?" Mai asked.
Akina perked up. "Can we have Ichiraku ramen? And I want grilled fish!"
Sasuke rolled his eyes, Mai giggled.
"Sure. Sure. What would you like, Sasuke?" The woman turned to the boy.
Sasuke shrugged. "Ramen is fine."
"Really?" Akina spoke doubtfully. "But I thought you didn't like ramen."
Sasuke turned away, his face coloring slightly. "I don't hate it."
Mai chuckled. "Ramen it is, then. I'll be back as soon as I can." With that she left the room.
There was silence for a short moment while the two listened to the woman's footsteps fade down the hall.
"So you don't hate it, huh? And here I thought you hated everything." Akina teased.
"I don't hate you." Sasuke replied without looking at the girl.
Akina didn't say a word after that.
The cousins were silent and refused to look at each other when Mai eventually returned with lunch. "Everything okay?" She asked hesitantly, knowing the two often got into fights. "You two look like you've been fighting. Have you been fighting?"
"No!" Both cousins answered at once, causing them both to blush.
Mai blinked, mildly surprised by their reactions. "Okay then... I have lunch." She held up the bag from Ichiraku and shook it gently.
"Yay! Ramen!" Akina happily pulled her bed tray over her lap and allowed Mai to serve her.
Sasuke rolled his eyes and accepted the take out bowl and chopsticks that were handed to him while he watched Akina dig right in. The boy sighed, but couldn't help a small smile from appearing on his lips.
"What?" Akina grumbled, mistaking the unusual smile for one of Sasuke's usual smirks.
"Nothing." The boy grumbled back, turning away with his food.
Not too long after lunch there was a knock at the door. Akina blinked in surprise and was about to speak when Mai opened the door, revealing Shikamaru and his mother. Yoshino walked in first, quickly embracing Akina with tears in her eyes. "Akina, Mai told me what happened and we rushed over as soon as Shikamaru was finished with today's mission."
Akina smiled, tears brimming at her own eyes. "Thank you." She glanced over Yoshino's shoulder and reached a hand out for Shikamaru, who was busy having a glaring contest with Sasuke.
The Nara boy noticed her, however, and quickly went to the girl's bedside, taking her hand. "Akina..." Shikamaru was for once at a loss for words. He never in his worst nightmares would have imagined seeing her in a hospital bed like this.
She smiled at him, her usual smile that said everything was going to be okay. Shikamaru nodded, letting a little sigh escape his lips. He held her hand and sat down on the bed, staring into Akina's eyes.
Meanwhile Sasuke rolled his eyes, grumbling something and shuffling over to the window.
Mai stood watch over them, tilting her head at Sasuke's reactions to Shikamaru. She had never seen the two boys in the same room before and it was clear that they did not get along.
"I'm afraid we won't be able to stay long." Yoshino suddenly spoke up. "Visiting hours are almost over."
"No fair! You just got here!" Akina whined.
"We will come visit again, I promise." Yoshino giggled, tucking a strand of hair behind Akina's ear in a motherly manner.
The violet haired girl turned towards her best friend. "You'll visit me, won't you, Shikamaru?" She gave the boy her best doe-eyed stare.
Shikamaru blushed and turned away. "Yeah, yeah... So troublesome."
Akina beamed at him.
Not too long after that they were saying their goodbyes. Akina didn't want to let go of Shikamaru's hand, but she did, slowly letting his fingers drift from her grasp.
"Next time I'll bring you some pickled plums." Yoshino promised before leaving Akina's side and heading for the door.
"See ya." Shikamaru waved over his shoulder, though he did turn back to look at her once before turning the corner around the door frame, following his mother out.
Sasuke sighed as though he had been holding his breath the entire time. The boy looked tired.
"Sasuke, you should go home and get some rest. I can't imagine you've had any after traveling back home." Mai spoke up, concerned for the boy's wellbeing.
"I'm fine." He muttered, turning away to glare out the window.
Akina huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. "He's refused to leave my side. I had to have him forcefully removed back in the land of waves."
Mai glanced between the two children. "Sasuke, do you need to talk about what happened? We can borrow one of the empty rooms-"
"I said I'm fine!" Sasuke snapped, turning to send a glare at the two females. "And I don't want to talk about it right now, okay?"
"Alright..." Mai raised a placating hand. She was used to Sasuke's temperament and it was always his choice whether or not to seek counseling. "I won't force you, Sasuke. Just know that I will always be here to listen when you are ready."
Akina huffed again. "This doesn't fix the problem."
Mai coughed. "Right... Sasuke, just as I cannot force you to talk about the situation, if Akina wants to be alone, you need to respect that. Do you understand?"
Sasuke sighed, moving away from the window. "Yeah, I get it." He passed Mai, sending Akina what could only be described as a longing look, before leaving the room.
Akina threw her head back against the pillows. "UGH! I will never understand him."
Mai smiled calmly. "He's trying."
"Trying my patience." Akina grumbled.
The woman giggled. "I believe he truly wants to make amends. You two are the only family each other has, after all."
"I have you... and I have Shika and Mrs. and Mr. Nara and Choji and Hinata. I have lots of family." Akina argued.
Mai smiled sadly, walking over and brushing a strand of hair from Akina's face. "Fine. But you are the only Family Sasuke has and he is trying to keep you safe in the only way he knows how."
Akina silently grumbled, not looking Mai in the eyes. She was right. Aunt Mai was always right in the end. "Sometimes it sucks having a councilor for an aunt."
"I'll take that as a compliment." Mai giggled before heading for the door. "You get some rest. I'll wake you for dinner."
Akina nodded and settled down into the bed, soon drifting off to sleep.
Akina dreamed of a much younger Sasuke. This Sasuke was shy and meek and followed Akina around like a puppy. She hadn't minded it back then, though she had teased him a couple times for being a cry baby. Once there were two older Uchiha boys who liked to pick on Sasuke. Big brother wasn't there, so Akina had taken it upon herself to defend her cousin. She was smaller, but certainly not meek. The two boys had beaten her up all the same. Sasuke had cried. Big brother had been so angry when he found out. Though they were never bothered by those two boys again after that.
"Akina?"
"Hmmm...?" Came the girl's distracted reply. She continued her drawing, scrawling notes here and there for later.
"You have visitors." Mai spoke again.
The girl looked up to see Shikamaru and Choji. "Hey, guys!" She waved them over happily.
"Hey." Shikamaru walked in, taking a seat in the chair near her bed.
"Hey, Akina." Choji followed Shikamaru somewhat nervously, glancing around the room. "So you really were hurt badly, huh?"
Akina shrugged. "I'm alive."
Mai huffed. "Alive with a gash in your left shoulder and multiple wounds in your back, but yes, you are alive."
Choji cringed. "Oh man, Akina."
Akina sent her aunt a mild glare before turning to smile at her friend. "Just look at it this way, Choji, I'll have lots of cool scars to show off!"
"Most girls wouldn't brag about that." Shikamaru pointed out.
"Well, I'm not most girls." Akina crossed her arms and huffed.
Choji smiled. "It's good to see you are still the same." He then lifted a bag he had been holding in his hands. "I brought some snacks!"
"Oooo! Yummy!" Akina reached her hands out, making a grabbing motion with her fingers.
The three genin laughed and shared the snacks. Mai excused herself from the room, allowing the children to have some time alone.
"So how have your missions been?" Akina asked before popping a chip into her mouth.
"Boring for the most part." Shikamaru answered.
"Certainly nothing like your last mission." Choji added.
Akina rolled her eyes. "I'll take a boring mission any day. Being stuck here in this bed is killing me. I already spent two weeks in a bed in the Land of Waves."
Choji paled at the idea.
"Just a couple more weeks and they let you out, right?" Shikamaru asked.
Akina nodded. "Yeah. They just want to make sure I'm healing properly before sending me home. The Land of Waves is a poor country, so the best they could do was patch me up."
"So... what did happen out there?" Shikamaru spoke hesitantly.
Akina sighed. "I got into a fight I probably should have stayed out of. He was stronger than me."
"You're not the type to stay out of a fight." Choji remarked, shoving a couple chips into his mouth.
"Yeah. It's a real pain, but Akina wouldn't be Akina if she stood back on the sidelines and just watched." Shikamaru added.
Akina smiled. "Thanks, guys."
The boys stayed a couple hours more and then Sasuke showed up, finished with his missions for the day.
He and Shikamaru shared a glare with each other before Sasuke took the seat near the window.
Choji glanced back and forth between the Uchiha and his other two friends. He of course knew of Akina and Sasuke's relation to each other, but he also knew the two did not get along. Or at least they hadn't gotten along before. Choji leaned over and whispered. "What's Sasuke doing here?"
Akina waved a hand in the air. "Just ignore him." She heard Sasuke huff from the window.
Shikamaru sighed, glancing at the clock on the wall. "Well, looks like visiting hours are nearly over anyway."
Choji also glanced at the clock. "Aww."
"Booo!" Akina puffed out her cheeks and crossed her arms.
Shikamaru snickered. "I'll come see you tomorrow.
"You better." Akina pouted.
Shikamaru couldn't help but smile. "So troublesome." He touched Akina's hand before standing up, motioning for Choji to follow.
"Keep the rest of the snacks." Choji stood and waved before following Shikamaru out the door.
A few moments after the two boys left Sasuke walked over and sat down on the bed near Akina's legs. He picked up one of the snack bags, eyeing it warily. "I can't believe you eat this crap."
"I can't believe you eat tomatos." Akina huffed, crossing her arms.
"Tomatos are good for you, unlike this junk." The boy argued.
"Tomatos are just red balls of acid." The girl shot back, crinkling her nose in disgust. "At least chips taste good."
Sasuke sighed, shaking his head and placing the bag of chips back down. "It's surprising you aren't fat with the way you eat."
Akina stuck her tongue out. "Maybe I will get fat. Who cares?"
Sasuke rolled his eyes.
The next day it was not Shikamaru and Choji who knocked on Akina's hospital room door, but Hinata and Kiba.
"Hi, Hinata! Hi, Kiba!" Akina waved from her bed.
"H-hi, Akina." Hinata replied meekly, glancing at Akina's crossed legs on the bed. "We... we came as soon as we heard."
"Wow! You really did go and have an amazing battle, didn't you, Akina?" Kiba rushed forward, wanting to hear the story.
"I wouldn't call it amazing..." The Mizuto girl glanced away from her friends.
"No way! Naruto said you were awesome!" Kiba gushed. A resounding yip came from his jacket.
Akina's eye's instantly lit up. "Akamaru!"
A fluffy head popped up from the front of Kiba's jacket and Akina grabbed for the pup. Kiba snickered and handed the dog over.
"I missed you, Akamaru!" Akina nuzzled and cuddled the puppy.
Kiba sighed. "What am I, chopped liver?"
"I-I'm sure she didn't mean it like that, K-Kiba." Hinata slowly scooted her way into the room.
Akina waved a hand. "Sure. Sure. I missed you, too, Kiba." She then went back to snuggling the little dog.
"W-we got you something, Akina." Hinata shyly revealed an Iris from behind her back, it was Akina's favorite, the flower her mother was named after.
"Aww! Thank you! You remembered my favorite flower." Akina motioned for Hinata to place the small vase on the table by the window.
"Ino sends her regards, by the way." Kiba spoke up, watching the shy girl carefully place the vase on the table as though she might break it.
Akina blinked. "Ino does? Really? And here I thought she didn't even remember my name."
"Of course she does." Hinata whispered, poking her fingers together. "I think Ino is more considerate than she seems."
Akina smiled at Hinata. She always thought the best of people. "Maybe you are right."
After that the three sat around and discussed their sensei. Akina thought that Kurenai must be a wonderful teacher with the way Hinata gushed about her. She rarely saw the other girl so spirited. Kiba himself boasted a little about their teacher and their team as a whole, but mostly he talked about Akamaru's progress in training. Akina continued to pet and cuddle the pup, she really had missed him.
It was a while later that Shikamaru walked in, knocking on the door while he opened it. "Hey! Sounds like you don't need me. You've practically got a party in here."
Akina snorted. "Come on! Get in here!"
Shikamaru smiled and sauntered in, hands in his pockets. He gave Hinata a polite nod and sent Kiba a warning look. The other boy slowly moved away from Akina, leaving room for Shikamaru to sit next to her on the bed.
Hinata giggled, blushing heavily. Kiba gave her a mildly annoyed glance.
"Hello, Shikamaru." Akina cooed, stroking Akamaru like an evil villain might do while facing their arch nemesis.
Shikamaru snickered and rolled his eyes. "I believe you're supposed to be holding a cat."
Akamaru growled lightly. Akina smiled, patting the pup's head. "Well I don't currently have access to a cat. And besides, little Akamaru is the cutest doggy!" She picked the puppy up and rubbed their noses together. Akamaru wagged his tail happily and licked Akina's nose.
They all laughed a little.
"My, my, there are some happy voices in here." Mai spoke while stepping through the door, she brought a large wrapped bento along with her. "But I'm afraid it's dinner time. Visiting hours are nearly over."
"I'm getting really sick of this visiting hours thing." Akina pouted.
Hinata took Akina's hand. "I-I'm sorry, Akina. You must be so lonely."
Akina blushed lightly. "N-not really. Aunt Mai is always here fussing over me."
Mai gave the girl a look, but otherwise ignored the comment. "And Sasuke..."
This time it was Akina's turn to glare.
"Sasuke?" Both Hinata and Kiba asked in confusion.
"Since when does Sasuke hang around you?" Kiba piped up.
"I t-thought you two were s-still fighting." Hinata spoke timidly.
Akina huffed. "I don't know what we are right now."
Suddenly the door opened. Everyone in the room looked to see Sasuke, who merely rolled his eyes and walked to the seat by the window.
"Shit. He just comes in like he owns the place." Kiba muttered, glaring at Sasuke, who glared right back, clearly hearing the Inuzuka boy.
"Oh no!" Hinata tugged at Kiba's jacket. "Kiba, we should really go. Mai said visiting hours are over."
The boy growled once then sighed, relenting. He turned to Akina and reached out for Akamaru. "See ya later, Akina."
The girl sighed dramatically and handed the puppy back to its owner. "Bye bye, Akamaru!"
Hinata giggled while Kiba pouted, sighing again. "Goodbye, Akina. We will visit again when we can." Hinata waved and pressed Kiba out the door.
"You too, Shikamaru. Sorry." Mai spoke while setting up Akina's dinner.
"Yeah." The boy replied, standing up from beside Akina on the bed. "See ya." He squeezed the girl's hand a moment before leaving the room.
Akina sighed.
"I'm sorry, dear." Mai spoke, setting the girl's dinner in front of her.
"Yeah, it's fine."
A few days later Akina awoke suddenly in the middle of the night. She had thought she was dreaming at first, but the lump beside her moved. She blinked in the darkness, unsure at first if she really believed what she thought she saw huddled beneath her blankets.
"Sasuke?" She whispered, blinking again.
The mop of black hair moved and a pair of dark eyes blinked back at her.
"What are you doing here?!" She spoke quietly, but harshly. "It's the middle of the night and you're in my bed and-"
"I had a nightmare..."
She stopped, blinking again. "What?"
Sasuke sighed, sitting up in the bed, he wiped a hand over his face. "I've been having nightmares... About that day on the bridge."
Akina sighed as well. "Sasuke... you need to talk to Aunt Mai."
"Yeah. I will. Just... just let me stay here tonight, okay?" Sasuke asked, his face red as a tomato.
Akina blushed as well. "No way! Get out of my bed!" She tried to push him out, but it was no use.
"What's the problem? We slept together all the time when we were little kids." Sasuke spoke in an annoyed tone.
"We're not little kids anymore. It's weird!" Akina argued, pushing him again.
Sasuke gave her a sour face. "You honestly think I would do anything to you of all people?"
Akina returned the look. "I'm going to ignore that on account that I physically can't kill you right now."
Sasuke smirked. "You also can't physically remove me from this bed."
"Maybe I can't, but the nurses can." Akina took a deep breath.
Sasuke quickly placed a hand over her mouth. "Shush! Stop!"
"Then leave!" She demanded from behind Sasuke's hand.
"Quiet!" Sasuke demanded back in a whisper. Both of them were silent for a moment, listening as a pair of nurses walked past Akina's door and down the hall.
"Get out!" She snapped once the two were gone.
Sasuke sighed, removing his hand from the girl's face. "Akina... I haven't slept since we got back."
"Don't try to guilt trip me."
"I could always sleep next to you when I had nightmares."
"Sasuke..."
"Don't make me beg."
"Have you met me? I would totally make you beg."
Sasuke stared into Akina's eyes, there was a true look of sadness and she could see the tired circles around his eyes. "Akina... pl-"
"Okay... Fine..." She crossed her arms and huffed. "Just for tonight, then tomorrow you start talking to Aunt Mai."
"Yeah." Sasuke yawned and rolled over, pulling the covers up to his chin.
Akina sighed. For the longest time she just lay there, listening to Sasuke's breathing. He really did just fall asleep like that? She rolled over to look at him, but could only see the back of his head. "Are you really asleep?"
Nothing.
She poked his head with a finger.
Sasuke made a noise and rolled over, but he was very clearly asleep.
Akina sighed again. "Well, now I can't sleep." And I can't leave the bed, either...
The next morning Akina awoke to Mai bustling around the room. She startled at first, feeling around next to her on the bed.
Mai turned around. "Oh! Akina, good morning. Hmm. Is something wrong, dear? Did you lose something?"
"N-no... I didn't." Akina glanced around. "Where is Sasuke?"
Mai tapped a finger to her chin curiously. "Sasuke? I haven't seen him yet this morning."
That's a relief... he managed to get out before anyone found him.
"Akina, what's going on?" Mai asked, looking worried.
The violet haired girl held her hands up in defense. "N-nothing. I just... had a nightmare..."
Mai dropped her hand, letting out a breathy sigh. "Do you need to talk? You know I'm always here if you need to talk."
"I think I'll be okay. Thanks, Aunt Mai." Akina smiled to show she was okay.
It wasn't long before Sasuke showed up. The two cousins didn't look at each other until Sakura came to fetch Sasuke for their mission.
Sasuke was heading out the door when he stopped suddenly. "One second, Sakura." He peeked back in the doorway, glancing at Akina before looking to Mai. "Mai... Um... Can we talk tonight?"
The woman smiled and nodded. "Of course, Sasuke."
The boy nodded and gave his cousin another glance before leaving.
Akina could have sworn she saw him smile, but surely she was hallucinating.
The following days went by much the same as previous ones. Akina stayed in her bed, moving only when necessary. Usually she would draw or write in her journal. Mai would bring her meals, luckily nothing home cooked unless it was from a neighbor or Mrs. Nara. Sometimes her friends would visit after their missions, Shikamaru more often than anyone else. Mrs. Nara would visit on occasion. She even brought Akina those pickled plums she promised. Sasuke kept his word and started talking to Mai after his missions and he finally left Akina alone.
But now, for the most part, Akina was just bored. Not moving around was the hardest thing she had ever done in her life. Back in the land of waves she had been asleep most of the time she was in their small hospital. At that time it was Sakura who had brought her meals and sat with her. And of course Sasuke was there. He wouldn't leave until Kakashi dragged him out after the first week. Akina had been in so much pain that first week, she was still in pain if she was honest. It hurt to draw and write sometimes, but she wouldn't show it. Her arm had healed as well as it could have considering the circumstances. Maybe Kakashi didn't tell her out of some worry for how she might react, but deep down Akina knew she had nearly lost her arm that day. She had nearly lost many things that day.
"Akina? Are you okay?" Sakura asked, waving a hand in front of the other girl's face.
The violet haired girl shook her head, clearing her mind. "Yes, Sakura. I'm fine. What were you saying?"
The pinkette sighed. "I said: It's a very lovely flower."
"Huh?" Akina blinked a few times before remembering the Iris Hinata and Kiba had brought for her. "Oh! Yes. It's my favorite."
"Ayame, isn't it?" Sakura asked, gazing at the purple flower.
Akina nodded. "Yes. It's the flower my mother was named after."
"Oh..." Sakura looked away from the flower to see Akina glazing at it sadly. "Your parents... what-"
"They were killed. Murdered in our home." Akina didn't look away from the flower. "I found them..."
Sakura covered her mouth with a hand. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have-"
"It was all red. The entire room. And I..." The Mizuto girl just stared at the flower as though she were in a trance, lost in a long forgotten memory.
Sakura reached out as though to touch the girl's arm, but held back. "Akina?"
Akina unfroze and turned to Sakura. "Then I went to live with Sasuke's family. Uncle Fugaku and Aunt Mikoto were nice to me and of course Sasuke clung to me like I would disappear even though big brot-" Suddenly the door opened, startling both girls.
Sasuke walked in, appearing angry. He sent Akina a glare.
"Oh! Sasuke, it's you! You startled me." Sakura giggled, her hand placed on her chest, over her heart.
Sasuke just then seemed to notice the pinkette. "Sakura, can you excuse me and my cousin for a minute?"
Ooo... Not good. He never refers to me as his cousin...
The girl blinked a few times before slowly standing up from the chair beside Akina's bed. "O-of course. I'll just be down the hall." She quickly left the room and silence hung in the air.
Akina smiled sheepishly. "Heeey, Sas-"
"You idiot!" He snapped. "What did you think you were doing just blabbing on to her like that?"
The girl glanced away. "I wasn't really-"
"You were going to talk about him in front of her!" Sasuke nearly shouted, stepping towards the bed.
Akina's left hand twitched. "Like you are one to talk! You did that twice already!"
Sasuke stopped mid step, his face twisted with forgotten memories and realization that Akina was indeed correct. "That... I just... It's just not any of your business to talk about it!"
She snapped at that, picking up her journal and tossing it in the direction of Sasuke's head. The boy easily dodged the book and was about to snap back at the girl when he looked up. "Are you craz-"
Akina was holding her left shoulder, tears brimming her eyes. She had used her left arm to throw the book.
"Hey... Are you okay?" Sasuke practically rushed to her side. "It hurts?"
She turned away. "I... I'm fine. Just leave me alone." She couldn't help the tears from falling, though. She felt the weight shift on the bed and then arms around her, gentle on her left side. And she felt his chin resting against her shoulder.
Neither one said anything for a long moment.
"I-I'm really fine, okay? You can let go." She wanted to shrug him off, but didn't want to risk hurting her shoulder.
"How bad does it hurt?" Sasuke asked quietly.
Akina sighed. "Not that much."
"You're crying. You never cry."
"I cry plenty... You just don't see it."
"You only cry about stupid things."
"Do not..."
"Akina... It's serious."
"Don't tell anyone... please."
During the second half of the month Akina started learning to walk again. And Sasuke was back to being her shadow when he wasn't out on missions.
"Seriously, Sasuke, I don't need you to hover over me. You are as bad as Aunt Mai."
Sasuke held his hands out while she took careful steps across the room with her crutches. "Yesterday you fell getting out of bed by yourself."
"And I didn't die." She snapped.
Sasuke flinched, his hands lowering a fraction.
Akina sighed. She knew it was a low blow to mention death. She knew how much it hurt him, but sometimes he just made her so frustrated. "Look, Sasuke, I'm sorr-"
There was a knock on the door and Shikamaru peeked his head inside. "Hey, how's our patient?"
Sasuke sent the Nara boy a glare. "She's fine."
Shikamaru glared right back. "I wasn't asking you."
"I'm alright, Shika. Just learning how to walk again is hard." The girl took wobbly steps towards Shikamaru. "I hate crutches."
Shikamaru held his hands out like Sasuke had once Akina was close, but this time the girl didn't complain. This, of course, made Sasuke angry. Shikamaru was only looking at Akina. He laughed. "Knowing you, you'll just use them as swords."
"No way! These would make terrible swords!" She lifted one of the crutches to wave it around, but wobbled and started to fall over.
Both boys moved to catch her, but since Shikamaru was closer he reached her first, catching the girl around the waist and pulling her against his chest.
"Hey. You okay?" He asked, glancing down at her.
Akina looked up, nodding, her cheeks slightly flushed. "Yeah. I'm okay."
Sasuke huffed, crossing his arms and glancing away from the too, looking angry. "I told you."
Akina sighed and corrected her balance on the crutches with Shikamaru's help. "Don't even start."
"You need to be careful." Sasuke snipped, sending her a glare.
"Sasuke." The girl sent her own warning glare back at him.
Shikamaru sighed. "Akina, for once Sasuke is right." This earned him a glare from both of the cousins. "You could hurt yourself if you push too much. Take it slow like the doctor's said."
The girl sighed in defeat. "You're right. Sorry. I'll be careful."
"Why do you only listen to him?" Sasuke grumbled.
"Maybe my advice is just better than yours." Shikamaru sniggered.
"I'm her cousin, I'm looking out for what's best for her." Sasuke stared Shikamaru down.
Shikamaru stared right back, matching the Uchiha's glare. "Yeah. You're her cousin, not her boyfriend."
Sasuke took a step forward with his fists clenched, but Akina gave him a warning glare. "Alright, you two! You're fighting over me and that's really weird. So just stop it. Seriously."
Both boys seemed to deflate, they each gave Akina a look. Shikamaru one of sheepish embarrassment and Sasuke... Sasuke had a look on his face Akina had never really seen before. He was embarrassed for certain, but he also seemed confused and uncertain about something.
After heaving a frustrated sigh Sasuke pressed past the other two genin and headed towards the door. "I'll wait for Mai in the hall."
"Sasuke?" Akina took a step forward, but wobbled on her crutches. She had been standing far too long. The raven haired boy left, closing the door behind him and Shikamaru helped Akina back to her bed.
"What's his deal?" Shikamaru grumbled.
Akina sighed.
As the days passed Sasuke spent less time with Akina. When he was in the room he often gave her that confused look, like he didn't know which end of a kunai you hold. It was strange and Akina didn't like it. The Sasuke she knew was always so sure of himself. She couldn't help but wonder if his mood swings were affecting missions.
One afternoon the boy showed up while Mai was helping Akina with her leg stretches and he immediately left the room, saying he would wait in the hall.
"He's being weirder than usual. What's wrong with him? Has he said anything to you?" Akina grilled her aunt for answers.
Mai sighed. "Akina, you know I can't tell you anything that Sasuke tells me during our sessions. If he wants you to know he will tell you himself."
Akina huffed, but gave up anyway. She felt like Mai didn't actually know anything.
Akina was sitting by the window when Sasuke arrived the next day.
"You're not in bed." The boy spoke.
She continued gazing out the window, watching the day go by. "I'm so sick of that bed."
Sasuke glanced at the bed and after a moment of though he scrunched his nose. "I don't blame you."
"I want to go outside." Akina all but whispered.
"I can get a wheelchair."
"I want to walk outside."
"Oh..." It was silent for a long moment. "Then walk."
"What?" Akina finally turned towards the boy.
Sasuke stood there, staring at Akina with some sort of resoluteness about him. "Walk."
Akina sighed. "What on earth are you going on about?"
"Walk over here to me." Sasuke clarified.
Akina blinked, then nodded, picking up her crutches. She stood from the chair and steadied herself before putting one foot in front of the other. She was a little wobbly, but managed to walk across the room without falling.
"There." Sasuke breathed out as though he had been holding it in.
Akina glanced up at him and smiled. "I think I'm getting the hang of it."
He smirked back down at her. "Yeah."
Soon it was time for Akina to leave the hospital. She had wanted to walk out, but Mai insisted that she wheel her out in a wheel chair. It was safer that way, she had said. Akina would have kicked and screamed if she had thought it would help her case. Her stamina may have been much lower than normal after healing, but she could at least manage to walk the halls a bit with her crutches now.
The nurses waved goodbye when they passed. Akina waved back at them, smiling and genuinely very happy to finally be leaving. Sasuke had been nowhere to be seen that day, which was odd. He usually came to check on her in the morning before his missions.
"Sasuke knows I'm leaving today, right?" She suddenly asked Mai, seeming to startle the woman somewhat.
"I believe so." Mai answered after a short moment of thought.
Akina nodded. "Okay."
"Is something wrong, dear?" Mai asked, peering down at the girl.
"It's nothing." Akina sighed. "Just don't let him come barging in my room at home, okay?"
Her aunt laughed. "I will do my best."
"I'm serious!"