Okay, I realize I am a bit late, but fanfiction was being gay...
And I've had an emotional last two days so...my apologies but...
Happy birthday to sasusaku779!
This chapter is for you, as promised!
Sorry, I'm a bit late. :)

Chapter Fifteen:
Plastic Glue

"When you look at me, tell me what do you see beyond these green eyes?"

He knocked on the door twice and then slowly pushed it open, letting himself in casually. It was dark inside the big empty room besides a small light emitting from the corner. A night light. He walked slowly and quietly to the bed, squatting down to be level with Kiako's dull, blue eyes.

"How are you feeling?" Taru asked calmly, watching a hint of fatigue flicker through the young girls' eyes. He felt a heavy feeling flood his chest and then quickly pushed it away. Now was no time to be feeling guilty.

"I'm...so tired." Kiako replied lazily. She was tucked under the covers of her big bed, layers of dark green and pink blankets over her small body. She yawned and then met Taru's eyes.

"You'll feel better in a little while. Where's Kakashi?"

Kiako paused for a bit and then replied, her tone even more raspy now. "With Shizune up at the town hall. He told me he had important business today and that I should lay in bed. He told me...you'd be coming to check on me..."

Taru nodded, taking in the once lively child and her condition. "Well, here I am." He carefully reached around the girls neck to unlatch the necklace hanging limply off her neck. The silver heart pendant. The item he needed. Kiako made no mood to stop him, nor any move to indicate she had even noticed him remove it.

"Here you are..." She whispered, mimicking his words and closing her eyes. The heavy feeling overcame Taru once more, but he put it past him again, allowing a stoic composition to take over his face. He ran his hand gently over Kiako's silky hair and then stood up, making his way to the door.

"You'll feel better soon. Get some rest, love." He called as he seized the door knob and pulled the door open.

As he made his way out, Kiako mustered the last bit of strength left in her and called out to him before she fell into a deep slumber.

"Bye...big...brother..."

Naruto sprawled out of his bed and fell heavily onto his floor, feeling chills sweep over his cold, sweaty body. A nightmare. A dark place...with lots of blood...and twisted laughter...

He stood up, rubbing his head furiously. He had a tendency to fly out of his bed. After sighing and regaining his composure, he shuffled out of his room, down his stairs, and into his kitchen to find something to eat for the morning. Opening his fridge, he pulled out a milk container and set it on the table, turning back to seek out a glass. He found a glass in one of his cabinets, but as he reached for it he suddenly noticed it crack. Instantly, he pulled his hand away from the glass.

What the?

Slowly, as if the glass could bite, he reached forward and without even grasping the glass tight enough to pick it up, it shattered into a million tiny pieces. Naruto pulled his hand away, emitting a swear word, and gazed at his bloody hand, embedded with tiny shards of what could only be the foreshadowing of a bad omen.

With a sick feeling in his stomach, he removed the glass and decided to make his way to where his heart was dreadfully leading him.

"What's one thing you missed about the village while you were gone?"

"The training field."

Sakura shot Sasuke a dirty look over his shoulder and he turned his head away to hide his smirk. He flung another shuriken toward the bulky tree trunk and hit dead center, next to the other nine he had previously thrown. Sakura stood off to the side, analyzing the way his muscles flexed, and taking in the motions he conducted. His form was flawless, his skill intriguing. And yet, despite the awe he was putting her in, she felt a heavy, sick feeling deep in the pit of her stomach. Something that made her want to crawl in bed and shut the world out today, because something was telling her, it was going to be a bad evening.

The sky was heavy with ashen, dark clouds. They blanketed the depressed sun, letting a silvery shadow light up the day. It was early evening and the training field was gloomy. Sakura couldn't get in the mood to train with Sauske. She could simply observe. Which was fine with her, at this moment. Sasuke was definitely a beauty to observe.

Sasuke grabbed the collar of his black, t-shirt and wiped his glossy face. Once he was done, he turned toward Sakura and perked an eyebrow at her.

"What are you staring at?"

Snapping back to reality, she brought her neck down and stared at Sauske, blinking rapidly and trying to refocus all her thoughts.

"Huh?" She muttered.

Sasuke's eyebrows leveled and he scratched his head. He glanced up at the sky, and then back down at Sakura.

"You were staring."

Sakura blinked a couple more times and cleared her throat. She hadn't meant to stare up at the clouds. It was just one sign of either her bubbly day dreaming-ness...or her unconscious worrying. Either way, she turned her slightly pink face away from Sasuke and started to walk away from him.

"Sorry. I think I'm tired."

Glancing over her shoulder, she noticed him walking just a foot or so behind her. Both their steps were slow and fluid.

"Did you sleep?" His low, harmonious voice reached her ears.

"Kind of. Not really."

"Nightmares?"

Sakura stopped slowly, noticing him stop behind her too. She took a deep breath and turned to face him with a blank look on her face. Sasuke always knew what was wrong. He could read her like a novel, memorizing the words for future readings. She had told him about her nightmares at one point, but she hadn't really given him credit to remember the things she said. Silly her.

"Yeah, something like that. This one wasn't so much a nightmare. It was just..." She tilted her head as her thoughtful eyes met Sasuke's mysterious ones. "It was weird."

Sasuke shrugged immediately, indicating he didn't really care to listen. With his luck, the nightmare would have been about him and just talking about it would have brought up needless drama and arguing. So he let it go.

But truthfully, her dream consisted of three people, standing on a cliff. In the background was a dark red sky, and a shrill, blood-curdling laugh filled the air. After that, Sakura woke up, feeling tingly and sore all over. Her upper right arm felt as if she had cut herself deep, and she still couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that dream had left her with.

"Lady Haruno!"

Sakura quickly spun around toward the unfamiliar voice, and Sasuke focused his eyes on the uninvited guest as well. An ANBU shinobi was atop a grassy hill maybe twenty feet behind Sakura. His voice was full of dire panic, and it immediately made Sakura's heart beat race.

"Yes." She answered back in a firm, professional manner. Next thing she knew, Sasuke was by her side, standing protectively close to her. He, too, felt uneasy by the dark sky and restless shinobi.

"Ma'am, come quick. You're needed at the hospital. It's urgent." The ANBU beckoned her forward with his hand and after a moment, disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Sakura shivered involuntarily and looked over at Sasuke with as calm a composure as she could keep.

"I should go. Thanks for letting me tag along." She had taken a step forward when Sasuke outstretched his hand and placed a firm grip on her forearm.

"I'm coming with you."

It was not a question, and after a moment, Sakura nodded, feeling a bit more comfortable with Sasuke by her side.

But that didn't cure the wretched notion that was plaguing not only hers, but Sasuke's thoughts as well.

The adrenaline rush carried her fast, and she was thankful to force herself to slow her pace once inside the hospital. It seemed rather empty though, increasing the sick feeling inside her. Her and Sasuke passed through the hallways in silence, taking in the white, numbing color. The nurse at the front desk was the last voice she had heard, and she had only spoken to tell Sakura where she needed to go. The nurse, too, seemed extremely dismayed. It was almost as if Sakura were on a slide leading down to nowhere except a muddy puddle. The outcome was inevitable, and unfortunate. Why, with every step she took, did it feel like she was sliding closer to a dark and murky situation?

"Walk faster." Sasuke ordered, keeping one step behind her, though he could have easily taken the lead. He obviously was sensing her rising hysteria. And trying to avoid his own as well.

She pushed her negatives thoughts behind her and focused on moving into a steady jog. Sasuke did the same.

Room 2247. Intensive care unit.

Was somebody dying? Was it somebody she knew? Was she the only one who could perform the medical procedures required, considering Lady Tsunade was out on a mission? Was it a friend?

They made it to the doors, coming to a halt when a shinobi outside the door frowned at Sakura. His worry lines were well defined.

"You're here." He said solemnly.

Sakura nodded. "What's the problem?"

A pause.

"Go on in." His reply.

Sasuke ushered her in by placing his hand on the small of her back. Without hesitation, Sakura placed both palms on the door and thrust it open, revealing the muddy puddle she had just sunk into.

It was the feeling that the ground you stood on was pulled out from underneath you and you no longer had that foundation to keep you steady. It was like a million spiders crawling under your skin. It was the type of situation that you believed could never happen to you...until it happened to you.

Her sight focused in on the body lying on the thin, now red-stained sheet. Then she took in the bright lights above and how they illuminated the scene. She noticed the three ANBU standing silently in the corners. The big room and it's dull white walls. The overwhelming, heat stopping, bone chilling sensation choking her moral reasoning.

Her stomach dropped, her breathing became still, and she stared in disbelief at Lady Tsunade, lying on her back on the table, her chest barely moving up and down. Her clothing was torn and bloody, her skin was pale and caked with mud. Her eyes were closed, until one opened slightly to spot Sakura, who appeared to be frozen to the floor. And frozen in time.

And Sasuke simply stood beside her, taking in the scene as well. He noticed Naruto standing by the wall behind Tsunade. His cheeks were red and tear-stained, and he was standing next to Shizune, who looked pretty much as rugged, and Kakashi, who refused to take his eyes off the floor. They must have been here much earlier. How long, exactly, had Tsunade been here...and what exactly was going on?

With a deep, and probably painful, breath, Tsunade spoke quietly to Sakura. She strained to sound as normal as possible so she wouldn't scare the pink haired girl. "If looks could kill."

Sakura flinched, regaining her sense of reality, and slowly took the few steps to stand by her mentors side.

"What...what happened?" Sakura choked, feeling a burning sensation at the back of her eyes.

Pull it together. You are not going to cry, got it? You're not!

"You tell me. You look like...somebody just died." Tsunade reached her scratched hand out a little ways and Sakura immediately met it, holding onto her cold hand as if it was her lifeline. It was then that she noticed the diamond shaped mark was missing from Tsunade's forhead. Swallowing hard, Sakura replied.

"Where's your...who did this? I can't..." But it was useless. With every second that passed, Sakura could feel the life slip from the flesh she was caressing in her hands. How much damage had Tsunade's body been inflicted with? What the hell happened these last few days?!

Sasuke took a step inside the room and placed himself on the wall beside the door. He couldn't quite register the sight of Sakura and Naruto falling apart in front of him, nor the Hokage lying in a hospital bed looking as if she only had moments to live.

This was a nightmare, wasn't it? Pinch him, he's dreaming.

-

"I never really understood." Tsunade muttered quietly, catching Sasuke off guard. He kept his eyes closed, but listened to her words. "I...I never understood how you could walk away from the village like you did. I was sure I was so resentful of you for that. But now...I understand."

He felt a heavy feeling fill his chest. Her voice was so sad now...

"I'm leaving on a mission after this and I'm going to do all I can to avenge Jiraiya's death."

-

He remembered her words the day she left. And now...he felt guilty. Was this his fault? Should he have stopped her? What more could be do? She was the Hokage. She knew his feelings. How did this happen to her?!

...could this have happened to him?

"Her chalkra's depleted, and so is the chalkra she saved up." Kakashi answered Sakura's unasked question about her missing mark. His voice was dull as well, just like the dead aura fitting the room.

A low, painful groan at Kakashi's words escaped Tsunade's throat, and Sakura squeezed her hand tighter.

"I'll get you all fixed up. I can do it. I prom-" But Tsunade cut off Sakura's desperate words.

"Sakura, it's okay." Was all she said.

For a moment, Sakura couldn't even register her teacher's words. Was Tsunade crazy? Was she going crazy?

How is this okay? How can you say that to me?

Sakura bit her lip, feeling her eyes well up. She could feel it. She could feel Tsunade's life slowly slipping from her. It was all around the room. Everybody could. Especially her and Naruto.

"It's going to be fine. Don't be afraid." Tsunade's weary eyes met Sakura's tear-filled ones, and in that moment, nothing else mattered to Sakura. Not Sasuke. Not her own life. Nothing. Just that moment kept her from falling into little pieces. "I ran into the Akatsuki, and the rest is a little blurry. I don't remember exactly what happened but...I went in too hastily, and I imagine I'd do it the same way again if I could, but you have to promise me you won't do that. You have...to promise me you won't let history repeat itself, Sakura."

Sakura's whole body started trembling. Sasuke simply watched, feeling her agony overwhelm him, too. Why did he suddenly feel so attached to Tsunade? It didn't make sense.

A long silence filled the room, besides Naruto's almost silent sobs and the tension around the room.

"I...I..." Sakura stuttered hopelessly.

"Promise me." Tsunade demanded, her voice becoming cold and shallow.

"I promise." Sakura answered immediately, not fully grasping the meaning of her promise.

"I know you're destined for great things, Sakura. I've taught you well." A small smile crossed her pale, cold lips. She turned her head slowly in the opposite direction, crumpling her face slightly in discomfort. "Naruto, get over here." And like a dog, he obeyed, reaching her side.

Everything felt like the clock was ticking down, and all the world was falling silent to this moment. It was then that Sakura realized that some of the elders were actually in the room, along with Kurenai and a few other shinobi. How could she be so unaware of that? No, how could she be so completely oblivious to what was going on?! This must have been the horrible feeling she felt all day. This was it.

"Sasuke." Tsunade called, startling him into motion. He was beside Sakura in an instant as well.

When his eyes met Tsunade's, a dark feeling cast over him. He felt as if he should say something, but he couldn't. Felt as if he knew...but he didn't. It was as if she was telling him to be careful, yet it was a secret. And Tsunande didn't even know it. At least...she didn't know she knew...

Where is she? Where is Kalei? What really happened, Tsunade?

"Lady Tsunade...please...you need rest." Sakura pleaded, earning a tired scowl from Tsunade.

"Sasuke. Sakura. Naruto. Listen to me. You've..." And her words started getting softer...and each heart cracked a little more. "You've all been chosen for something special. I know this. It was no coincidence that you all trained under the Sanin. You...you must save the village." Her eyes rested on Sakura, whose tears were now cascading down her cheek. "All of you...you must...take our p-place. You...must become..." Her eyelids fluttered, pushing Sakura into hysteria. She wasn't even listening to Tsunade's words anymore. She couldn't even remember to breathe.

"Tsunade! Tsunade, please! Don't leave me!" There was no longer time for "Lady" Tsunade. She broke into sobs, and Tsunade squeezed her hand one last time.

"Sakura, Naruto...even though tomorrow we won't be together....there is something you must...always remember. You are braver than you believe...s-stronger than you seem...and...and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is...even when we're apart...I'll always...be with...you." And the last words faded into a silence that ripped apart Sakura's sanity.

And that was it. Tsunade's hand slipped from Sakura's...and her chest stopped moving. Her eye lids closed. Her heart stopped. And here was Sakura...left alone...

How much more could be taken from her? How much more pain could she endure before she broke?

And what about the village...

What about...everything...

And the clock ticked...

Over and over again...

And after ten minutes of hard crying...

Of unbearable pain...

Of nothing Sakura had ever felt before...

...she swallowed down her tears. At least until she could get herself inside her own home. There she would drown herself in misery. Right now, everything else around her was fading. Unreal and blurry.

Sasuke stood by numbly, pain slowly creeping through him, and yet, he was unbelievably curious about Kalei.

Where is she...is she dead, too?

He closed his eyes and payed his respects to Tsunade, all the while listening to the muffled cries in the room. Machine's beeped. And Sauske could swear he could hear hearts breaking.

Naruto, too, had regained a bit of composure, standing next to Kakashi in the corner. Nurses flooded the room, covering the body...taking care of the things Sakura should have been taking care of. But she was unable to move. Her eyes were red. Her face was pale, and she did not speak until, when the door opened, she heard a familiar voice down the hall.

"But she'd heal faster if somebody tended to her. Then you could get all your answers."

It was Taru. His voice was surprisingly calm and controlled, interesting Sakura in a sick way. Taru was close to Tsunade. Did he not know she had just died? Maybe...she should go tell him...?

Willing herself into motion, rigid and weak, she turned her body and Sasuke was by her side in an instant.

"You should go home." He whispered to her, maybe out of pity...but mostly in a manner of not wanting to watch another person push herself to death. Even by a broken heart. After a moment, she just shook her head, taking a step into the hall. She noticed Taru at the end of the hall...covered in...blood?

What the hell was going on?! Why did Taru look bloody, too?

"Sakura." Sasuke's voice reached her again, and this time she was compelled to answer.

"Go take care of Naruto."

"You need me."

His firm answer caused her to look blankly at him for a moment. He looked a bit shaken as well, which, for some reason, pleased Sakura. She didn't want to be the only one shattered right now. Her stoic eyes turned in front of her again and they both made their way to where Taru and Anko were standing, in front of a room occupied by a patient. The door was open, and something inside Sakura pulled her towards it. No permission. No nothing. Just pure uncontrolled movement, until she took a few steps into the room and felt a splitting pain erupt from inside her. As if somebody had just knocked the wind out of her, she gasped for air and covered her mouth with her right hand, feeling as though she were seconds away from vomiting.

Kalei was laying in the bed, half naked. Her clothing was torn, her face was bruised and bloody, and her legs looked crumpled. It was clear they were both broken. Over her mouth was an oxygen mask, and numerous machines were connected to every pary of her body. They must not have even tried to save Tsunade, because they knew with her chalkra depletion, her chance of recovery was slim. Sakura wasn't quite sure what type of injuries Tsunade had sustained exactly, but she was sure she would find out in a couple days. And the aura around Tsunade made it clear...there was no saving her. It was obvious by the lack of medical attention and machines present in the room.

But this...Kalei...was hanging on by a thread. She had a chance. The scent of blood and medicine was all over the room and it caught Sakura's attention immediately. Normally Sakura could stomach it, but not this time. The blood was too...tainted. Kalei never looked so miserable and destroyed. Sakura felt a flash of pity, and then ultimately was pissed. Tsunade should have been the one to have a chance to survive. Not this selfish, evil-

"Can you heal her?"

Sakura gasped for air, realizing she was cutting off her own breathing. Taru stood beside her and placed his hand on her shaky shoulder, earning a distasteful stare from Sasuke, who was on the other side of Sakura. It was clear she wasn't stable. And Sasuke didn't like Taru pretending she was. Nor had the two of them really had any contact since their last uncomfortable encounter, so naturally, Sasuke still wasn't fond of him.

"W-what?" Sakura muttered, keeping her eyes on a mangled Kalei.

Taru took a deep breath. "I said...can you heal her?"

Sakura just blinked. Over and over and over again. Was that...worry in his voice? "T-Taru." She turned to him with a look of disbelief and misery on her face. "Tsunade's dead. She's...she's dead."

Taru stared into her jade eyes...feeling a tight hold squeeze his heart. He didn't want Sakura to hurt like this.

"I know." He replied quietly and hesitantly. He motioned to Kalei with his left hand and then focused back on Sakura. "That's why we need her healed. She's due for interrogation. We need her for answers."

Sakura digested his words and swallowed hard, feeling as though she had just swallowed needles. Where was Taru's sympathy?

She glanced at Kalei once more, and knew the right thing to do was heal her. It would help know exactly what had just happened with the Hokage. But for some reason...

"I can't do it." She mumbled under her breath, so quiet nobody heard her. Even Sasuke tightened his lip at her inaudible answer.

Taru inclined his head toward her and furrowed his brow. "Excuse me?"

Instantly, she shot her head up at Taru with a dirty look on her visage, and shouted at him. "I won't do it!"

Taru took a step back, eyes wide, ears ringing, while Sasuke stared at Sakura with utter amazement. Was she serious? Did she hate Kalei that much?

Sakura was fuming, and she turned on her heel. "You like her so much. You heal her." She started marching out the door when she quickly caught Sasuke's eye and yelled at him as well. "Don't follow me!" And in a few more steps, she was out of the room, stomping through the hospital to wherever she felt she needed to go.

Both Sasuke and Taru stood in the room in complete silence. After a minute, Taru sighed deeply and ran his hand through his hair in aggravation. Two ANBU shinobi and Anko gestured for him and Sasuke to leave the room and let Kalei get her rest. But before Sasuke completely left the room, he glanced over his shoulder at Kalei...who was bruised and broken...and several thoughts ran through his mind.

-

"Stop it! Stop it!" Kiako squealed, pushing her way in between their legs. "I'm sorry! I never meant to hurt her! I just thought it was for the best."

Sasuke clenched his fists at his sides. "What was for the best?"

Taru's hazel eyes locked on Sasuke's onyx ones, and he swept Kiako up into his arms.

"What are you hiding, Shokei?" Sasuke whispered loudly.

"Nothing you need to worry yourself with, Uchiha." Taru snapped, leaping out of sight.

-

How did things manage to get so complicated in so little time?

Next Chapter

The Face Inside