~I Know What You Think~ A Sasuke Love Story [Chapter XXIII]

Sasuke’s P.O.V.

Several hours pass, each one dragging by and heightening the tension. Shikamaru and Naruto have alternated between sitting and pacing back and forth in front of the doors, looking for something to keep them occupied. However, not one of us has spoken. There’s nothing to say; this is our one shot at helping her. If this fails…Well, we haven’t heard her screaming yet, which means that either her grandfather is doing his job or the walls are extremely sound-proof. I’m hoping for the former of the two. At the end of the fourth hour, I’m finally at my wits’ end and am about to tell Naruto to sit down before I do a little amputation of my own, starting at his ankles, when the doors swing open. We all spring to our feet as a few medic nins file out and head right past us. A long moment of stillness follows, and I begin to suspect that it was a false alarm when Tami’s grandfather exits, along with the doctor. Hitoshi bows to Dr. Yakamura, thanking him for his hard work, then turns to me. He bows to me, as well, and as he straightens he says,

“Thank you, Lord Uchiha, for coming to me.” I nod, then bow in return. I suppose he can read my inner anxiety, my only thought being ‘Is Tami alright?’, for he doesn’t say anything more. Finally, all eyes go to Dr. Yakamura. The front of his clothes is covered in smears of red, which makes my stomach lurch, but he, thankfully, smiles.

“The operation was a success. Her ribs have been mended and though she’s still coping with the infection, her breathing has become much steadier and deeper. As long as she gets plenty of rest and is administered antibiotics regularly, she’ll be just fine.” The three of us release sighs of relief; Naruto even sinks to the ground. Dr. Yakamura looks equally relieved and rests a hand on my shoulder. “Thank you, Sasuke. Your idea was brilliant.” I merely nod; I don’t feel that I can take much credit for it. After all, Hitoshi had been the one who actually helped, and it was Kakashi who brought her family to mind. “She has to stay in the ICU for a day, just to be sure, but hopefully she’ll return to her room by tomorrow. Go home and get some rest, boys.” And with that, Dr. Yakamura walks away, followed by Hitoshi. We stand there for a minute more, then walk down the hall, away from the operating room, and finally out of the hospital.

“I guess…we should thank you, too, Sasuke,” Naruto says, looking up at me. “I mean, you saved Tami’s life. I never would have thought to get her grandfather.”

“You have nothing to thank me for,” I reply. “Kakashi was the one who put the idea into my head, and Hitoshi was the one who actually kept her asleep.”

“But the fact of the matter is that you knew what to do,” Shikamaru insists. “Had you not been there, she’d still be lying in bed with her ribs in pieces.”

“I was simply repaying my debt, that’s all,” I state emphatically. “It was more my responsibility to save her than anyone else’s, because she was wounded protecting me.”

“So…it was more a matter of…professional courtesy to you than anything?” Shikamaru asks, his small brown eyes locked on me. I arch an eyebrow at him, and I can feel Naruto staring at us.

“What do you mean by that?”

“You weren’t motivated by anything else but returning the favor?”

“She’s also my teammate. It’s my duty to watch over her as a member of my squad. I’d have done the same if Naruto had been severely wounded in the fight against Gaara, but he’s fine. And Sakura turned out alright, as well. We saw her at the funeral of the Hokage, and she was only a little sore.” The things I’m saying should be honest, but I can feel that it’s only a half-truth. Yes, had either of the others been seriously wounded, I would have tried to help them heal, but I know I wouldn’t have tried nearly as hard or worried half as much as I have been these past two weeks. “But Tami was gravely injured, and therefore needed our attention more than anything. Why, Shikamaru, aren’t you asking these questions of Naruto? He was around Tami just as much as we were.” He shrugs.

“I’m just curious. You used to not like anyone, but now…” I stare blankly at him for a few moments, then turn and keep walking.

“You’re looking for correlations in places where none exist. Tami and I are teammates, nothing more.”

“Fine, fine…” But I hear something in his voice I hadn’t a few minutes ago, and when I cast a glance at him I find a small smile playing across his lips. Why was he asking those questions? To determine my reasons for being so anxious to find a cure…or to make sure there’s nothing between Tami and myself? I’ve been questioning his motives for two weeks now, yet I still can’t figure out exactly what he wants. I envy Tami’s powers; she’d know what he wants, what he’s thinking. At last we go our separate ways and I get home without incident. My mind has gone back to worrying about Tami. The doctor told us the operation was a success, but I still can’t shake the anxiety. I have to see her well again before I’ll believe that everything went smoothly. Hopefully she’ll be well enough to be moved back to her room tomorrow, like the doctor said, because I hate not knowing. The uncertainty is almost as terrible as it was knowing that she was dying.

Fraught with worry and unable to relax, I gather my practice weapons and head back out, going to Squad Seven’s training area. It’s vacant, thankfully, so I get started. I start with simple target practice, but the monotony of it quickly bores me and I instead set my sights on the large boulder not too far away, just outside the usual boundaries of our training space. It’d be good to practice Chidori on…I start walking in its direction, and already I can feel my chakra flowing eagerly in anticipation. My thoughts go back to Naruto and the strength he possessed while fighting Gaara…Naruto’s development over recent months has been abnormal, to say the least. When we were in school, he was considered a failure, unable to perform the most simple of jutsus, like the doppelganger jutsu, yet now he’s capable of things not even Jonin are. In the fight against Gaara, I’d been all but useless. Once the curse mark had taken hold, I hadn’t been able to do anything; I hadn’t even had the strength to stand for the first thirty or so minutes. It had been my own weakness that had enabled Gaara to set his hands on Tami and injure her the way he had – not only her, but Sakura as well.

Tami…My weakness had nearly cost me the person I hold most dear. I have to improve, get stronger…I’d thought that Kakashi’s training had been enough, that I was ready to take on Gaara and prove to Tami that I didn’t need her to worry about me, but that plan had fallen through…horribly. I can’t take that risk again, not with the consequences that notion had cost me, and others as well. I finally reach the boulder and look up at it. Thick, sturdy…it won’t shatter if I hit it with Chidori, which is good. I take a deep breath and fold my hands together, making the handseals I could do in my sleep. The bright, blue crackling erupts in my palm and I take a running start for the boulder. Closer…closer…I press my palm to the boulder’s surface and I feel the power discharge from my palm into the object, watching the stone shatter from the blow. Bits of the rock drop to the ground as I drive my hand further and further beneath the surface. At last the charge dies away and I look into the deep crater that I left. Not good enough. I take a step back, remaking the hand seals as I go, and set my eyes on another section.

I keep on this way for a while. Two’s no longer my limit; well, not exactly, anyway. I’m able to create smaller, less destructive charges after two full ones, and though I wish I could do more, at least it’s a sign of improvement. Glad to see something good came out of me pushing myself beyond my prior limitations. At last I sink to the ground, my breath coming in huffs and my hands twitching, pain erupting with the onset of each tremor. Naruto’s progress is still gnawing at me. How does he just keep getting stronger, bypassing all expectations, when my development is so sluggish? My achievements in the academy far surpassed his, but now… I frown, frustrated. It simply doesn’t add up. The power he possessed during the fight against Gaara was…inhuman. I’ve never seen such strength…and this isn’t the only time his potential has astounded me. All throughout the Chunin exams, even when he appeared to be on his last limb, he still had the energy to fight back, even incapacitate opponents. How? How does he do it?

The sun has started its descent toward the horizon, making the time around five or six in the evening. I sigh, getting to my feet and heading for home. I don’t like having nothing to occupy my mind, because it leaves spaces for other things to fill my thoughts, but my chakra’s expended and my aim is as impeccable as usual, so there’s nothing more I can really do. I don’t want to push myself much farther, anyway, for it could make me unable to get up tomorrow, and I have to make sure Tami’s alright. I don’t want to hear about it second-hand; it’s something I have to see to believe. I make it home safely, going about my nightly routine before finally sinking into bed and falling asleep.

Tami’s P.O.V.

Through the blanket of my unconsciousness, I start feeling the stirrings of mental signatures all around me, and had I been more awake I would have breathed a sigh of relief. I’m alive. I hadn’t even needed to hear the doctor’s diagnosis of me; I could feel it as the days had passed. My body had been growing steadily weaker; it had been harder and harder to draw breath as each day had gone by…I hadn’t even had the strength to fully wake back up after that first incident. Whenever I’d been able to wake, I’d been in such pain that the whole thing was a blur (not helped by the fact that I was constantly under the clouding influence of morphine and who knows what else…). But of one thing I was sure: there had been at least one person next to me at all times. Even unconscious, I still had the feeling that someone was with me, even if I couldn’t tell who they were.

Focusing, I manage to summon enough strength to turn my head slightly. Eh, not bad, but I need to do more. I want to finally wake up, see people, and damn it, I want to be myself again. Bedridden and weak does NOT suit me very well. I shift again, hoping to rouse myself into wakefulness. A voice rises out of the darkness, sounding far away even though I know he’s probably right next to me.

“H-hey! She’s moving!” The mental signatures move closer to me, reawakening my powers and bringing me that much closer to consciousness. I turn my attention instead to lifting my eyelids, which each feel like they have weights lying on top of them. Damn it, come on…I manage a slight flutter, but this alone nearly exhausts me. Fucking really? A flutter? That’s all I’m capable of? The hell it is! Wake up!! I manage another flutter, this time enough for light to trickle through, and this is a slight encouragement. Ugh, that’s the last time I nearly die in battle, because this BLOWS. Had I known it would take me this long to simply wake my ass up, I’d have rejected taking morphine and simply dug my bits of rib out myself. Stop, I tell myself. Relax. Center your focus. Breathe…in… I do so, allowing the training my grandfather had put me through to take dominance. Now out. I exhale. Again. In. I take a deep breath, feeling prickles of pain along my right side. My muscles must still be sore. Now out. Another exhale and I can feel myself waking up. I still feel like I’m being held under a pillow, but now the pillow’s not as heavy as it was. Once more…in… Inhale through the nose, concentrating. And out.

Upon exhaling, I slowly slide my eyelids up, and for the first time in…shit, way too long, sunlight fills my vision. Not only does light reach my eyes, though, but so do the figures of my nearest and dearest, all standing around my bed. The first person I notice is Sasuke. His dark figure is looming over me, standing at my left side and staring down at me with hopeful, earnest onyx eyes. When he notices that my eyes are open, I see the shadow of a smile cross his lips. I return it, as much as I’m able to, and my eyes go on to the next person: Naruto. His face is absolutely aglow with relief, his wide blue eyes dancing and his mouth stretched into his signature grin. Shikamaru’s next to him, looking almost as relieved as the blonde. At the foot of my bed stands Kakashi, looking pleased, and at his side, Sakura. Well, that’s a surprise. The even greater surprise is that next to her stands my grandfather. I open my mouth slightly, but no sound arises so I shut it, swallowing before trying again.

“You know, you all look like fucking stalkers, watching me sleep like that.” As if they rehearsed it, they release a collective sigh of relief.

“Oh Tami, we’re so glad you’re okay!” Sakura says, giving me a bright smile. Uh huh, suuure she is. I can feel the hollow, half-truth in her words. True, she hadn’t really wanted me to die, but she certainly would have enjoyed having more time alone with Sasuke.

“We thought you were gonna die,” Naruto says, his voice trembling a bit near the end. He reaches forward and rests a hand on mine. “You were looking so…so awful, those last few days.” I roll my eyes, which is a feat on its own.

“Me, die? Nice try, but it’s not so easy to get rid of me. You’re going to have to try harder than that.” He grins at my teasing, giving my hand a gentle squeeze before letting go.

“How’re you feeling?” Kakashi asks. I groan.

“So quick to point out my weakness, Sensei? I’m not in too much pain, which is good. My side’s a little sore, probably from the surgery and ripped stitches and whatnot, but it’s not nearly as bad as before.” I have to stop to take a deep breath, just that answer having worn me out. “But I’m tired. You saw how long it took me to actually open my eyes, and it’s an ongoing effort to keep them open.”

“But you’re alive,” Shikamaru says, beaming at me. I look at him and return the smile.

“Yep, one hundred percent. I’d say ‘alive and kicking’, but I couldn’t move my legs if I wanted to.”

“It’s just as well,” Grandfather says and I turn my eyes to meet his blue ones. “You need your rest, Tami. You’re still fighting an infection, though your recovery should be much faster now that your bones have been mended.”

“Awake already?” We all turn toward the door and a tall doctor walks in. His brunette hair is thinly streaked with gray, and the dark circles beneath his eyes make him look older than he probably is, but seeing me awake seems to be putting a little more life into his stride. “My, that was much faster than I anticipated.”

“Quick healer,” I comment, smirking, “Which might explain why I’m not dead.” He chuckles.

“Perhaps so. Any pain?”

“Not much, but I’m a little sore,” I reply.

“Well, the pain should ebb in a week or two. Any difficulty breathing? Nothing out of the ordinary?”

“Nope,” I reply. “Except for the fact that I’m too weak to really move, I’m just peachy.”

“Glad to hear it. These three were worried sick about you, you know,” he says, gesturing to Sasuke, Naruto, and Shikamaru. I snort.

“That’s because they’re pansies who like to underestimate me. They should’ve known I wouldn’t die; would’ve saved themselves the worry.” But I’m touched. So they’re the ones I felt near me all the time, keeping a watchful eye on me.

“Well, even if you didn’t need anyone to worry about you, you will need to stay for at least three more days. Your bones are still fragile and could break again if you put too much strain on them. Not only will that, but the muscles in your side need time to strengthen. I’d like to keep you under supervision during that time.” I nod, though that sucks. Three more days? At least? Shit, I’ve been here long enough already. My eyes slowly move up to meet Sasuke’s again, and I can hear the thoughts running through his head.

‘Thank Gods, she’s alright. She looks exhausted, but at least she’s alive. And the doctor was surprised to see her awake, which is probably a good sign. I wish the others weren’t around…she wouldn’t have to act so strong if it was just us.’ I arch an eyebrow at him, which causes the most delicate of blushes to cross his pale cheeks, but I don’t push it farther than that.

“Well, Tami, I suppose we should let you rest,” Kakashi says. “Come on, you four. There’s still daylight left, so we may as well get in a little-”

“Training?!” Naruto bursts excitedly. Kakashi chuckles.

“Sure, training.” I snort.

“You could’ve been training for two weeks, moron.” He turns back to me, giving me a soft smile.

“You needed us more, though.” I return the smile, shaking my head gently.

“Sure Naruto, whatever you say. Go, get some training done. Might as well get a little stronger while I’m recovering, because I’m going to need someone to spar with when I get the hell out of this place.” He grins.

“You can count on me, Tami!” With that, he follows Kakashi and Sakura out of the room. Behind them is Shikamaru, Sasuke bringing up the rear. He throws a final glance at me as he rounds the corner, then he’s gone. Silence falls for a moment, then my grandfather stands.

“Well, I must get back to the compound, Tami. I wanted to come by and make sure that your recovery was progressing as the doctor had hoped. Glad to see you’re actually ahead of schedule.”

“You and me both,” I say softly, sinking against my pillows a little more. My body’s fatigue is starting to pull me under and my eyes are having trouble staying open. He chuckles.

“Go to sleep. I shall return tomorrow.” I nod, and if he says anything else I miss it because I sink into sleep.

When I open my eyes again, night’s fallen and the sky is a deep, inky black. Like the color of Sasuke’s eyes – Honestly?! That’s what I think about? Not ‘Yay, it’s getting easier to wake up’, but the sky is the color of Sasuke’s eyes?! Pathetic! Absolutely fucking pathe – My attention is suddenly drawn to the presence I sense nearby. Kicking my mind into work, I search for the person’s location. The mental signature is familiar to me, and I realize who it is. Calming down, I smile a little.

‘I can feel you watching me.’ Startled, he replies,

‘I’m making sure you’re alright.’ I chuckle and say,

‘You’d get a better reading on my health if you came here, instead of watching me from afar like a creeper.’ For a moment, I don’t get a reply, then bam! He’s standing at the foot of my bed.

“Happy?” he asks and I smirk.

“Are you? See, I’m better. Kind of.” He walks around to my side and says,

“I want you better than ‘kind of’, though.” I sigh.

“Give it time, Sasuke. I’m healing.”

“I know,” he murmurs, his dark eyes troubled. “It just…I hate seeing you like this. Bedridden. It doesn’t suit you.” I snort.

“I agree wholeheartedly. However, that doesn’t change matters. I don’t even know how much it’ll hurt to stand yet.” This seems to sink his mood, so I look up at him. “What?”

“…It’s my fault.”

“What is?”

“THIS,” he says, gesturing to me, then around the room. “It’s my fault you were injured.”

“No it isn’t,” I refute, staring up at him. He’s blaming himself?

“How is it not my fault? Tami, you jumped in between me and Gaara. You took the blow that was meant for me. How does that not make it my fault?” he demands, looking at me desperately. I can feel how fatigued his body is; delving into his memory, I see that he’s barely gotten any sleep in two weeks. The strain of me being in the hospital has been chipping away at his health, so it’s no surprise that he’s a little…crazy right now. I sigh.

“Sasuke, you need to go home and get some sleep. It’s far too late at night, and Kakashi’s probably going to resume training tomorrow. You’ll need the rest.”

“I’m fine,” he argues, still staring at me with an intense gaze. “But you haven’t answered me. How is it not my fault you’re injured?” I sigh again and meet his gaze sternly.

“Because I chose to, as you put it, jump in between you and Gaara. I could have stood to the side, allowed Sakura to take the hit instead, but I knew she couldn’t protect you like I could. So I got in the way. My actions were of my own decision, Sasuke. You didn’t throw me in the way; therefore it wasn’t your fault, so quit beating yourself up over it. If I’m not, you shouldn’t be.” He stands there for a minute in dazed silence, then he murmurs,

“You don’t blame me? At all?” I chuckle softly, relaxing against my pillows.

“Well, maybe a little, simply because you pushed too far and got yourself into a situation that required you to be protected in the first place, but when it comes to my actual injury, no, I don’t blame you in the slightest.” I gesture to the chair next to him. “You want to sit, or do you prefer looming over me?” He sinks obediently into the chair, still shocked.

“I just…I don’t understand.” I chuckle.

“You’re still trying to figure out why I do the things I do? Figured you’d have given up by this point.”

“You almost died saving my life,” he says, leaning closer to me and resting a hand on mine, as if I hadn’t grasped that concept.

“I’m well aware,” I say calmly. “After spending all this time in the hospital, if I didn’t realize I’d nearly died I’d be pretty stu-”

“This isn’t a joke, Tami!” he whispers heatedly.

“I know, Sasuke,” I retort in a cool voice.

“Then why aren’t you taking this seriously?” he asks. I huff exasperatedly and give him the firmest glare I can muster in my current state.

“I am taking this seriously. I’m just not taking this hard. I’m not dead, or crippled – well, at least not permanently so – and above all things, I’m not reacting the way you are because this is something I would willingly do again.” His eyes widen in shock as he processes what I’d said.

“What?”

“I would take the blow for you again, if it came down to it.”

“Why?” he asks, confounded.

“Because we’re friends, Sasuke,” I reply, smiling slightly. He’s kind of cute when he’s completely perplexed. He’s trying so hard to understand, but it’s all going right over his head. He’s so hung up over the fact that I would risk my life to save his again, and deal with all this pain. “That’s just the kind of thing a friend would do for another.” I arch an eyebrow at him and ask, “Is this your way of telling me that you wouldn’t have done the same had you been in my place?”

“No, of course I would have,” he answers with not a second’s hesitation.

“See? Same thing,” I say. “It just seems more shocking since I actually acted upon my words. It’s easy to say something, but doing it is another matter entirely.” He exhales slowly, slumping forward so he’s lying against my bedside, and I realize with not a little surprise that he’s still holding my hand. Wow, talk about getting comfortable with affection…

“You exhaust me,” he mutters, still resting against the bed. I snort.

“Well gee, Sasuke, I hate to wear you out so much. You know, no one said this friendship is binding. You’re free to go at any time.” For a moment, there’s a silence, then he chuckles and lifts his head so he can meet my gaze. He’s got that smirk on his face; the one that used to piss me off and now just sends shivers up my arms. He hesitates for a moment, then says,

“No, I’m not.” I’m thankful for the darkness enshrouding the room, because he definitely would have mocked me for the blush that I know has started heating my cheeks. He gives my hand a gentle squeeze, then stands. “Go back to sleep; you need the rest. We’ll come and visit tomorrow, I’m sure.”

“And if there isn’t a ‘we’ involved?” I ask, my heart thrumming in anticipation. He smirks again.

“Hn. Can’t get enough of me, can you?” I arch an eyebrow at him and say,

“Maybe I should’ve let Gaara off you. It would’ve given me less sass to have to put up with.” He snorts.

“Sass? Me? You hypocrite.” I laugh, but this brings about a round of painful throbs from my still-healing wounds, and as I wince, Sasuke notices. He bends down over me, his eyes clouded with concern again.

“I’m fine,” I mutter, though the pain hasn’t ebbed.

“You don’t look it,” he retorts.

“Well, screw you too, Uchiha,” I growl, sinking against my pillows. He gives me a half-hearted glower.

“That’s not what I meant.”

“I know exactly what you meant,” I hiss back. “I just decided to make it sound worse than how you meant it.”

“Because you’re a brat,” he comments, looking less and less annoyed with me by the second. Wow, my comments aren’t getting under the skin of Uchiha Sasuke? I must be losing my touch. I used to be able to say one thing and it would be enough to set him off, but now…Ugh, he’s making me work for it. He puts his hands against my shoulders. “Lie back and relax. You’re tensing the muscles in your body by staying upright and it’s not helping your pain.” I nod and do as he says. “Go back to sleep. I’ll see you later.” I nod, my eyes already sliding shut. I just barely make out his form leaping out the window before I sink into complete oblivion.

My eyes flutter open to the feel of someone’s hand on mine. I turn and find Shikamaru in a chair next to my bed, his head tilted back. From the relaxed state of his body, he’s lightly asleep, just dozing. I gently slip my hand out from under his and murmur,

“Shikamaru?” He starts, his head jerking up and his eyes finding mine.

“T-Tami,” he stutters, rubbing his temple slightly with the heel of his other hand. “Sorry, didn’t mean to fall asleep like that.”

“It’s fine. You look exhausted,” I comment, looking him over. “When was the last time you did sleep?”

“Last night, but only for a few hours,” he replies.

“When was the last time you ate?” I ask, arching an eyebrow at him.

“Um…lunch yesterday, I think,” he answers. I look at the clock.

“That was nearly thirteen hours ago,” I scold. He snorts.

“Look who’s talking. I’m not the patient here, you are. Focus on getting yourself better.” He smiles at me and adds, “Glad to see you’re able to sit up a little.”

“Yeah, guess they propped me this way this morning,” I reply. “Now that the wound is closed, I’m allowed to do a little more moving than before.” He nods, though jealousy tugs at the back of his mind. From our previous contact, I’m nice and familiar with Shikamaru’s mind, so I break in and listen to his thoughts.

‘There goes Sasuke again, getting to be the hero…not that I can really be mad, because his quick thinking probably saved her life…But why does that guy have to be so perfect?’ Rooting through his memory, I find that Sasuke’s the reason my grandfather showed up and put me under long enough for my surgery to be performed. Like Shikamaru said, he…probably saved my life. I avert my gaze from Shikamaru’s face and find the vase sitting on my bedside table.

“Wow,” I breathe. “Who brought these?”

“I did,” he replies, then clears his throat. “Excuse me, Naruto and I brought them.” I arch my eyebrow at him again and he grins. “I brought them in this morning, and Naruto was already here. When he saw them, he felt bad that he hadn’t brought anything, so I told him that I’d make it a joint gift from both of us.” I chuckle, though the motion causes sharp jabs of pain from my freshly healed wounds. The flowers he’d brought were beautiful; white and sky blue calla lilies. I’m not much of a flower person, but I’ve always been rather fond of these, maybe because their shape is so different.

“Well, I appreciate the group effort,” I joke, reaching out and running my left index finger around the mouth of one of the white ones.

“Yeah, Ino thought I had a date,” he says, making a face. I smirk.

“Boy, bet she jumped all over that idea.”

“Yeah, no kidding,” he mutters. “She can be a real drag sometimes. I think she expects too much of me.”

“Or maybe you just don’t expect enough of yourself,” I argue, looking at him. “You’re always so willing to undersell yourself, but you’re every bit as talented and special as anyone we know. You just lack the effort, that’s all.” He stares at me for a moment, taken aback, then he snickers.

“Wow, that’s probably the nicest thing I’ve ever heard come out of your mouth.”

“Shut up,” I mutter. “I can go right back to being bitchy, if you’d prefer.”

“Kinda would, actually, because Nice Tami is scaring me,” he retorts. I swing my foot out from under the covers and kick him in the leg, but that causes a burn to sear through the tender muscles of my side and I immediately freeze. “Tami?” He hops out of his seat, his leg throbbing, and he gently puts his hands on my shoulders. “Lay back…easy, easy…” He gently guides me back against the pillows and I bite back whimpers of pain. Once I’m settled I mutter,

“That was a bad idea.” He snorts again, saying,

“You think?”

“Well if you weren’t such a provoking ass, maybe I wouldn’t have needed to kick you,” I retort. He chuckles softly. “Actually, Shikamaru, will you help me stand up?”

“Huh?” he asks. “If it hurts you just to kick me, what makes you think you need to stand up?”

“Just help me, would you?” I ask. He sighs and stands.

“Girls are such drags…”

“Then why are you still here?” I tease, earning me a small smile. I swing my legs over the side of the bed and reach my hand out, which he takes. He gently drapes my arm over his shoulder and, very slowly, starts to help me up. After being practically comatose for two weeks, my legs feel like jelly as I begin putting my weight on them, my knees buckling slightly under the pressure.

“See? You can barely even hold yourself up,” he comments.

“Shut up,” I mutter, slightly put-out. Using my other arm to brace myself against the bed, I slide my arm from around Shikamaru’s shoulder and force the muscles in my legs to work, finally rising to my full height. I give him a cocky smile, even though I can feel my knees trembling from the effort. “See? I don’t need your help after all.” He gives me a look that clear says, “Uh huh, suuure you don’t”, but he keeps quiet. My side is starting to sear, but I ignore the pain and start taking shaky steps toward the window sill. Shikamaru follows along, careful eyes on me the entire way. I have to hold onto the side of the bed, and every step I take I worry that my legs are going to give out on me. Boy, that would suck. Shikamaru’s already too eager to be my knight in shining armor; I don’t want to give him the satisfaction. I get all the way to the window and turn back to grin at him. “Ta da. All by myself.” I put my hand on the sill and suddenly my vision goes dark. What the f-?!?

“…Just as you told me to…I’ve resented and hated you…and lived solely…TO KILL YOU!!” Sasuke takes a running start at Itachi, Chidori crackling in his palm. Fury and adrenaline run through his veins like liquid fire, and the only thing he sees is Itachi…the murderer of his family…his fiercest enemy… But just as Sasuke gets close, Itachi grabs his wrist. Naruto folds his hands together and begins circulating his chakra, which attracts Itachi’s attention.

“You-!!” Sasuke starts, but Itachi cuts him off.

“You’re in the way.” With that, he puts pressure on Sasuke’s wrist, snapping it. Sasuke cries out in pain and crumples to the floor. Completely disinterested in his brother’s pain, Itachi turns his deep crimson eyes to Naruto instead.

I open my eyes to find myself on the floor, Shikamaru standing over me.

“Tami! Tami, what the-?! Are you alright?!”

“I dunno,” I breathe. My eyes are wide and my heart is racing. Itachi’s coming back. Soon. The vision shows the boys the same as they are now, so it must be soon. “Shikamaru, have you heard of anything happening recently? In town?” He stares at me blankly for a moment, then says,

“W-well, I heard your sensei was at home on bed rest after a fight with some guys. I only know this because Asuma-Sensei was there-”

“U-um, Shikamaru, could you help me back into bed?” I ask. “I’m not feeling too good.” This is true, but not because of my injury. Sasuke’s in danger.

“Y-yeah, of course.” He slides his hands beneath me and lifts me up, holding me bridal style as he carries me back to bed. Once I’m lying against the pillows I look up at him with my most innocent expression and say,

“Shikamaru, would you mind giving me some time alone? I won’t be able to fall asleep if you’re in here. Your mind will keep me awake.”

“Yeah, absolutely,” he agrees, immediately backing up. “I’ll come and check on you soon, alright?” I nod politely and he leaves. I feel his mind getting farther away, and I finally scramble out of bed, going back to the window sill to watch him. Shikamaru leaves the hospital and only when I can’t see him anymore do I turn. My clothes must be in here somewhere… I walk as quickly as my weak body will allow to the small cabinet in the room and throw the doors open. Bingo. Lying inside are my clothes and weapons. I quickly undress, putting on my own clothes (and I can’t describe how great it feels to be back in my usual outfit) before staggering to the window. I slide it back quietly then jump out, sticking to the wall of the hospital using my chakra and running down. Ugh, I’m so weak that just this is an effort, and when I’m finally on solid ground I dart into the trees before sinking to the ground. My head is spinning and my legs feel like lead. Damn it, those two weeks nearly killed my mobility. I can’t even run for an entire minute before succumbing to exhaustion. How the hell am I supposed to find Sasuke if I collapse every two seconds?! After sitting there for nearly five minutes, I manage to get back on my feet. I have to find Sasuke. I can’t afford to sit here. Though my body resists, I hurry as quickly as I can through town. If I remember right, Sasuke lives…

I skid to a halt in front of Sasuke’s place and hurry inside, not even bothering to knock.

“Sasuke?! Sasuke, are you home?!” I yell, but as I scan the house for active minds, I find that I’m coming up empty. No one’s here. Shit! I hurry back out, my breathing already labored even though on a normal day this would be a breeze. Naruto – I have to find Naruto! I take off, skipping trying to find his house and instead heading straight for Ichiraku. He’s more likely to be there than anywhere else. I come to a stop in front of it and pull the curtain back. “E-excuse me.” He looks up and a stunned expression crosses his face. I must look as bad as I feel. Gods, my side hurts so badly…

“Uhh, what can I do for you?”

“Has Naruto been here lately?” I ask, gasping for air.

“Uh, no, he left with Lord Jiraiya earlier today. Funny, a dark haired boy came in here asking the same thing just an hour ago.”

“Spikey hair, like a cockatoo?” I ask.

“Yeah, that’s the one. Good-looking boy. He came asking where Naruto went, and I told him that he left with Lord Jiraiya to a nearby town with a pleasure district.” There’s only one town relatively close that fits that description, thank goodness. I watch his thoughts as they replay when Sasuke stopped by, and how Sasuke simply ran out after getting the information he needed. That ass. I force a smile and say,

“I don’t have enough time to repay you for t-telling me what you know, but I’ll make it up to you when I get-” I stop, my side giving a throb so vicious that I’m brought to my knees by it.

“H-hey!” He hurries around the counter and kneels next to me. Damn it, damn it, damn it! I won’t make it in time if I’m a fucking cripple!! “Jeez, are you alright? You were already looking a little worse for the wear; should I take you to the hospital?”

“No time,” I manage to reply. I force myself to rise, gripping my side as more pain scorches through my muscles. “I have to go. Thank you again, and I promise to make it up to you. All three of us will.” I turn and hurry back out. The closest town with a pleasure district is, at the least, three hours away, and in my condition it’ll probably take me twice that long. I head for the main gates, my adrenaline already coursing through my veins. Sasuke already has an hour’s lead on me…I reach the gates and simply run up its side.

“H-hey, you’re not supposed to do that!” one of the guards at the top says.

“Sorry, I’m in too great a hurry to wait for you to let me out,” I reply curtly, pushing off the top and diving into the lush forest beyond. I leap clumsily from one tree to another, pausing every few minutes to regain my bearings. My condition seems to be worsening with every step I take, and I start to worry about what will happen if I black out before I can stop them. After an hour of broken progress, I finally sink down. My legs are trembling with exhaustion and sweat is running down my back in sheets. I can’t keep this up…I can’t remember the last time I was…this exhausted…

I look up at the sky. Middle of the afternoon. I have to press on. The boys need me. Naruto has no idea how strong Itachi truly is, and Sasuke…he’ll rush in, head first, no second thoughts whatsoever. I saw this from my vision; he’ll attack. He thinks he’s strong enough, but he’s not. Not even close. But Itachi and I were…close. He trusted me. Perhaps some remnants of that trust remain, and I can talk him out of whatever it is that he plans to do. So, after nearly ten minutes of rest, I slowly and inelegantly get back on my feet and keep on. I’m so tired that it’s hard to manipulate my chakra the way I want it, and several times I nearly don’t make it to the next branch. But I refuse to let my own weakness keep me from helping them, not when they need me this badly. In comparison to the other threats we’ve faced…this is so much worse. I’d rather face Gaara again than have to go head-to-head with Uchiha Itachi. He was incredible before he left; who knows what three years have done to change him. I can only imagine the power he now possesses. And he incapacitated Kakashi-Sensei, who I know isn’t a pushover.

I keep on this way for nearly three more hours, and by the time I touch down I can barely keep standing. My vision is starting to blur, which doesn't help at all, but I made it. I’m immediately hit with countless minds, all muddling together in a haze of mental activity. Shutting my eyes, I reign in every ounce of energy I have left and search for Sasuke’s mind. Come on, Sasuke, where are you? The haze slowly clears and there are fewer and fewer minds leaking through my concentration as I narrow down his location. I jump down from my place amongst the trees and hit the street, darting off in his direction. The closer I get, the more easily I can feel him. For a moment, I don’t feel his emotions too strongly, then I sense the anger that’s welling up in his chest. Oh shit…he found them. I zone in on where he is and finally find him. He’s in the inn right ahead of me, and I can feel two other familiar presences, whom I can only assume are Naruto and…

I dart inside, startling the innkeeper. I vaguely hear him shout up at me, but I ignore him completely, for my mind’s only focused on one thing – stopping the mayhem that’s going on a few floors above me. I hurry up the stairs, though my body’s now in so much pain that just blinking seems to hurt. I skid to a stop on their floor, hiding behind the corner and peeking around it.

“…Just as you told me to…I’ve resented and hated you…and lived solely…TO KILL YOU!!” Chidori lights up in the palm of Sasuke’s hand and my breath catches in my throat. I dart around the corner, running past the stunned Naruto. Everything feels like it’s going in slow-motion. My eyes are solely focused on Sasuke’s form, his chakra crackling in his hand and bloodlust raging in his crimson eyes. Itachi will beat him senseless unless I stop him…stop him…!! Seeing no other option, I throw myself between the brothers. I shut my eyes, waiting for the pain of a blow from Chidori to hit me, but it doesn’t come so I slowly reopen my eyes. I have a hand resting on the chests of both men, who look equally stunned to see me.

“Tami,” Sasuke breathes, his eyes wide.

“H-hi,” I whisper in reply.

“You…you IDIOT!” I jump at his sudden outburst and his eyes sharpen into a fierce glower. I know how pathetic I must look; sweat is pouring down my neck, my face is pale, and a moron could see the intense pain I’m feeling. But I glare at him.

“Yeah, n-nice to…see you t-t-too…ass,” I spit, drawing in ragged inhales. “I just spent…four hours…trying to keep you from-”

“That’s my point – why aren’t you in the hospital?!” he demands, and it’s like nothing else exists. He’s more concerned for my health than the revenge standing three feet away.

“Y-you act like…it’s h-hard to escape,” I say casually.

“B-but Tami! The doctors said you’re in no condition to move!” Naruto pipes up from behind me.

“Yeah, w-well…you two…won’t give me t-time…to rest, will you? Always…putting yourselves…in situations…y-you can’t…escape from…” A soft chuckle erupts from my other side and I feel the vibrations against my hand. It sends chills up my spine.

“Sounds like things haven’t changed.” Just when I thought I couldn’t be more breathless… I slowly turn to look up at him, my hazel eyes meeting his crimson gaze. I can’t see any lower than the bridge of his nose, but I can hear the smile in his voice as he says, “Hello Tami.” I swallow.

“Hello Itachi.”