Naruto Shippuden Fan Fiction ❯ Healing a pained heart ❯ Death is close ( Chapter 20 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

On the next day in the morning, Sakura woke up because of a headache. The babbler flew above her head before letting a fig drop on Sakura’s head. The girl frowned in her sleep, but the bird came back to drop another fig for a bump. That’s how Sakura woke up unhappy while she grumbled. She looked around and noticed the figs around her on the bed. Bad bird. She grabbed a fig to throw it playfully towards the babbler, but not to hit her, of course. The bird sang happily because she thought it’s just a game. Then, Sakura heard squeaks which made her look at her legs.

“You’re laughing instead of being pleased, huh?” Sakura asked with a grin.

Sakura bent to tickle the little boy with her hands under his armpits. She laughed when she heard him yell, trying to keep his hands glued to his sides. Sakura bit his toe lightly and Shinki directed his palm to her face, trying to defend himself. What he didn’t realize was that his sand reacted to his open palm as if it thought the boy is attacked. Shinki had his eyes closed tightly in laughter before he was knocked out of his reverie by Sakura’s screams. She was in pain. She took her hands off of him immediately and cradled her right hand with her left one. Shinki’s heart shrunk to the size of a flea and got on his knees next to her feet, hands on his knees, clutching the fabric tightly between his small fingers. Sakura lifted her knees to the chest in a defending position. Right when the boy was about to cry, Sakura forced a smile and healed herself at the same time.

“Don’t worry. It’s nothing.” She said.

The boy bit his bottom lip to force tears back. He wasn’t allowed to cry because Sakura was injured, not him. He crawled to her until he was right next to her side. He held his breath when he stretched out his hand to caress her wound. Sakura watched him with tenderness.

“I am sorry.”

“Don’t worry. I know it wasn’t on purpose.”

Shinki felt bad for hurting a person who behaved nice with him, that was why he promised himself he will never attack her with his sand again. There was no time to dwell in the endless pit of dark thoughts because Sakura took him into her arms to get off the bed together and head towards the bathroom. She waited for him to brush his teeth, then shower and finally put on some nice clean clothes for school.

“I hope you noticed I didn’t leave anywhere yesterday. I want you to let me have a bath.”

She felt the child starting to stir, but he didn’t dare say anything especially after he injured her, so Sakura kept going:

“You wait for me by the door and we can talk until I get out, ok?”

Shinki nodded. Sakura exhaled relieved. She took everything she needed and entered the bathroom, closing the door behind her. Shinki stared at the door without moving a muscle. He couldn’t see anything through the door, but he wanted to be as close to her as possible.

Sakura gave him a piggyback ride to school. She wore a long beige robe that covered her head, arms and legs because she promised Shinki she will watch him from the schoolyard throughout the classes, meaning she will be out in the sun for hours. To pass the time, Sakura checked the boy’s knowledge:

“How much is 6 times 3?”

“That’s easy. 18” Shinki squeaked from where he was, on her back with his hands on her shoulders. He looked happy.

“Who are the neighbors of Suna?”

“Konoha....”

“And? Who else?”

“The Land of the Camels.”

Sakura laughed at his joke.

“I am the only camel here. Can’t you see the hump on my back?” She jumped to shake him.

“Why don’t you know the neighboring countries? I taught you this during our last lesson.”

“I sleep like a pig and I forget everything when I wake up in the morning.”

“You’re like a fish. You only remember the last 10 seconds before you forget everything. I bet you forgot even your name.”

Shinki frowned resentfully.

“No, I didn’t. My name is Shinki.”

“Oh, I am surprised you remembered. Did you read it from the inside of your sleeve?”

“No.”

Sakura laughed, but Shinki didn’t think it was funny at all.

“Sakura, I saw something weird. A girl slapped a boy, but he didn’t slap her back. I wonder why.”

“Don’t worry, he will get married to her and he will take revenge then.”

Of course it was a joke and that was why Sakura laughed, but Shinki didn’t understand so he frowned trying to grasp the meaning behind her words.

Shinki sat on the chair behind his desk, on the seat next to the window and checked on Sakura from time to time to make sure she didn’t disappear. The girl sat under a thin tree  which didn’t have many leaves and the ones it had were too small and scattered to shield her from the scorching sun. She rested her back against the trunk, but she had to look down at the sand because the sun burned her face. After an hour in agony, Sakura suddenly felt a shadow that cooled her off a bit. She looked up and saw that Shinki made some sort of cloud made of iron sand above her head. Sakura met Shinki’s look and they both smiled at each other. It is so nice to have someone thinking about you.

Sakura could barely drag her feet when Shinki’s classes were over. She wasn’t used to stay in the heat like a potato in the oven. She was sweaty and she felt like she lost 3 kg even though she drank plenty of water to stay hydrated. Shinki held onto her robe with his small hand and looked into her eyes with worry.

“I am sorry you feel bad because of me.” His eyes turned again to look at his feet.

“You can make it up to me by flirting a fan to me when we get home.”

Her joyful voice cheered him up.

“Sure, count on me.”

At home, Noriko was about to take down the curtains to wash them. Waves of light and heat flooded the room and Sakura shielded her eyes with the back of her hand.

“It’s not necessary to do this now.”

“Yes, it is. I talked to Kazekage-sama before he left.”

“You can wash them later. I was out in the sun all day. I want some shadow to cool off.”

“Listen here! I don’t take orders from you. I hand washed your underwear and now you give me this attitude. I’d keep my mouth shut if I were you.”

Noriko raised her voice at Sakura when she talked and it made Sakura want to make a hole in her head with her fist, but Shinki’s small hand clutching the fabric of her dress made her stop. The boy hid behind her because he wasn’t used to hearing Noriko scream like this. Sakura replied in a somewhat calm voice:

“I didn’t ask you to do that. I told you I will wash my clothes by myself.”

Noriko resorted to snorting before turning her back on Sakura, who already was a pack of nerves. Noriko did whatever she wanted and it made Sakura want to cry because she had no authority in this house. For the sake of the little boy, she bit her lip and forced her tears back.

*In the Land of Cloud*

“Kazekage”

“I am pleased to see you are well, Raikage.”

“What did you want to tell me that was so urgent?”

“Bro, be a little more discrete and polite. The Kazekage has just arrived. How is Naruto?” Killer Bee asked with his usual grin.

“You complain about me, but look at you.” The Raikage told his brother.

Both Kankurou and Gaara laughed quietly.

“Huh?” Killer Bee asked.

“Better shut up.” The Raikage admonished his brother. “Follow me, Kazekage.”

Gaara and his suite followed him to their rooms. They had a shower and ate a good meal after the long trip. The Raikage invited the Kazekage to join him for dinner later that day, so they could talk in private.

The Raikage was always a hurried and straightforward man. He didn’t like beating around the bush. He first talked and later thought. He and Naruto had this in common. This was why the Kazekage liked talking to them. He knew the words they said couldn’t possibly be lies. The Raikage could hardly keep himself from asking question before the appetizers arrived.

“Tell me why you are here.”

Gaara had his elbow on the table, his hands clasped, fingers interlaced in front of his mouth. It was his thinking position. Gaara always measure his words, which pissed the Raikage off. He could have beat around the bush, but then the Raikage would lose the little self-control he had.

“How much do you like Suna?”

“What? Are you mocking me?”

“How would you like it if you were to rule Suna?”

“Kazekage, what’s with these questions?”

Silence.

“Suna is too inhospitable. People there live like snakes. They’re the type who hide under rocks until the scorching heat passes and live their lives during the night, in the shadows. They don’t give up fighting till the last one dies. You like saying sweet words, but who knows what lies behind them? In Kumogakure, everyone is straightforward, nobody hides. We live our life in the sunlight, like birds.”

Gaara smiled.

“We received evidence that Kumogakure finances an air attack on these snakes you talk about.”

“Kazekage, be serious! Had I wanted to invade your country, I would have swamped it with soldiers in one attack on land. If I want something, I take it with my hands. Plus, you don’t have anything I need. An attack on Suna would cost me more than I’d gain. Not to mention a war with Suna would make me look repugnant in the eyes of my people. I really have nothing to gain.”

Gaara smiled again. He was relieved because any trace of doubt was erased. The Raikage wasn’t guilty. That’s a relief! They kept eating and drinking in peace. The Raikage was a man who liked speaking loudly when he bragged about his accomplishments. The Kazekage liked being discrete and listen rather than talk. The more words one spills, the more they lose their value. The chances of saying something wrong increase with the flow of the words. For this reason, Gaara was happy somebody else was doing the talking in his stead.

At the end of the dinner, Gaara asked the Raikage to let him send a message to Suna using one of his messenger birds.

To my smiling moon

My love has made me selfish. I can’t exist without you. I am forgetful of everything, but seeing you again. You have absorbed me. I would be martyred for my religion. Love is my religion. I could die for that. I could die for you.

Ever thine, Gaara

When she heard Noriko cursing from the kitchen, Sakura lost her mind. She stormed into the kitchen and yelled from the bottom of her lungs. Shinki hid under the kitchen table.

“Get out! I never want to see you here again!” And Sakura showed the woman her fist.

Noriko felt frightened and tried to calm Sakura with a soothing voice, but Sakura grabbed her by the elbow and threw her out the front door.

“You are lucky you are older than me, otherwise I would have beaten you like an apple. Don’t ever stand before my eyes again!”

The woman who had her knees on the ground spat venom through her eyes, but Sakura shut the door in her face. The pink haired girl breathed in and out a few times in an attempt to regain control so she could go back to Shinki. She found him perched on a chair in front of the table with his mouth full. As she got closer, she noticed he was holding a small opened bottle in his small hand.

“What do you have there?”

“Sauce for the steak. It’s very good.” Shinki answered with his mouth full.

Sakura took the bottle in her hand to smell it. Why would there be steak sauce in a small bottle? It crossed her mind to get a taste with the tip of her tongue to figure out what was inside. Shinki was sloppy when he poured sauce from the bottle onto the meat and he got the bottle dirty on the outside, too. A drop fell onto one of Sakura’s nails from the hand that rested on the table. Sakura was shocked to see her nail turn to black instantly. She panicked and slapped Shinki’s hand right away.

“Spit everything you have in your mouth! Now!”

Shinki spit everything in the open palm that Sakura held under his chin. Sakura put the bottle in her pocket and threw the food in the sink. She quickly gathered the boy in her arms and took him to the bathroom.

“I need you to shove 2 fingers down your throat and vomit.”

“What? Why?”

“We don’t have time for questions. Do it!”

Right then Shinki started coughing and his face became all red. It’s too late for that. Sakura hurried to lift his shirt. She held him with her right hand on her back, her left hand turned on the water from the sink to make a bubble and get it closer to his chest. The boy was on his behind, sitting on the floor. Sakura was on her knees, right next to him.

“Shinki, it’s going to hurt. I need you to keep the sand away, ok? What you ate was poison.”

Shinki started trembling in fear. Nothing has ever hurt him physically before. Sakura held him close to her and tried to keep her emotions at bay.

“Ready? Be a strong boy for me. You have to see your father again.”

Shinki mustered the little courage he could and grit his teeth trying to listen to Sakura’s words. She kissed his forehead while the water bubble entered his chest little by little. He cried and yelled, coughed and felt like he was going to suffocate. Sakura knew she couldn’t stop. This was the only way to save him. Her tears fell in rivers down her cheeks and she pressed her forehead against his head because his sand was wrapped around her arm trying to get her away from him.

“Shinki, your sand.” Sakura said while grinding her teeth. She felt the bones in her arm shatter one by one.

Shinki tried to control his sand, but the sand acted whenever the kid felt like he was in danger. His fear was obvious and he couldn’t stop it. Sakura’s hand finally took out the bubble that was filled his purple stains of poison from his chest and the boy’s breathing started to even. His face was wet with sweat and tears. His body was small, so Sakura didn’t need more than 1 water bubble to get most of the poison out of his system. Sakura’s hand was destroyed from elbow to the tips of her fingers. She didn’t have time to heal it because of the loud noises she heard coming from the entry. Her bird started screaming in despair, flying around the room to find Sakura. That was when the girl realized enemies broke into the house. She threw the boy over her shoulder with her good arm and ran through a window from the living room because the bathroom window was too small for the both of them.

“Don’t let her get away!”

“Catch her!”

Angry voices could be heard yelling while running after Sakura.

The bird followed Sakura’s lead, flying above her head. Kunai flew towards them, but none hit their target as Shinki’s sand formed a shield to protect them. It was almost night and cold started to settle in, but Sakura couldn’t feel anything, not even the pain in her left hand. The only thing she knew was she had to find Matsuri, wherever she was. Gaara said she can be trusted.