#asphodelius

@asphodelius

❝ You sound like you like him more than me... ❞ Cheeks were puffed up, and lips pouting. Both had been gone for months, and every 4th sentence started with Sasuke this, Sasuke that. ❝ I want to remind you, I shared a womb with you... that is even closer than just blood... ❞ Wrapped in a blanket like a jealous larva.

The boy had sneaked into her room to curl into her bed, as they had done so often as children. Always closer than anyone, even their parents sometimes joked that they could not impude on their bond. But now... different branches, different classes, teams and missions. Like the world wanted to pull them apart. But maybe he was the only one sad about it.

Sasuke came back to Konoha in a flurry. After the enemy he was tracking made a threat to him against Sakura's life, Sasuke had had enough. He killed the man. Thoroughly. And then headed back to the village, even using his Rinnegan just in case the threat was real.

Arriving in the village, he saw all the flowers for sale and couples hand-in-hand everywhere, and they were suspiciously... happy. Squinting a little, it took Sasuke only a few more moments to figure out what day it was.... Valentine's Day. So with a little huff of impatience (he didn't think Sakura was truly in danger, so this was fine, but still, he didn't want to put off checking just in case), he bought a bouquet of flowers and then went to look for his wife.

He found her in the hospital, saw her walking down the hallways. No threats. She was fine. He breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

Sasuke could leave now. Sakura was safe, and she hadn't seen him yet.

You're going to be alright. I promise you. / meme. / @asphodelius

yes   ,   she's   going   to   be   FINE.   that's   not   the   problem   here.   the   problem   is   how   long   this   is   going   to   take.   this   is   not   what   was   supposed   to   happen   here.   this   isn't   even   her   village   !

although   ,   if   she's   being   totally   honest   ,   she   is   getting   better   care   here   than   she   would   at   sooga.   the   doctor   back   home   is   lovely   ,   but   they're   an   elderly   person   taking   care   of   the   entire   village.   konoha   is   known   for   a   lot   of   things.   it's   medical   team   is   among   its   most   impressive   accolades.   she   was   hoping   to   have   experienced   the   hospital   from   the   other   side   of   this   paper   blanket   ;   the   ink   hasn't   even   dried   on   her   volunteer   paperwork.   and   here   she   is   ,   with   stupid   pneumonia   and   a   dumb   viral   lung   infection. 

at   the   same   time.

the   breath   she   takes   this   time   is   a   little   wheezy.   the   pretty   doctor   told   her   that   her   blood   oxygen   level   wasn't   GREAT. 

pucca   hears   one   of   the   many   monitors   bleep   pathetically   and   ,   suddenly   ,   she   wants   to   cry.   none   of   her   friends   are   here.   her   uncles   have   to   run   the   restaurant.   she's   going   to   sit   here   in   this   terrible   paper   gown   ,   plugged   into   so   many   machines   ,   missing   all   her   photoshoots   ,   and   she's   going   to   be   alone.   she   almost   sobs   ,   but   she   doesn't   have   the   air.   something   awful   and   wheezy   and   sad   comes   out   instead.   she   tries   to   sign   ,   but   the   iv   limits   her   movements.   when   she   opens   her   mouth   ,   she   can't   get   the   air   to   use   language.

oh   no.

it's   fat   ,   wobbling   tears   that   come   out   instead. 

"You're not the first one to make that joke, and you probably won't be the last." he grumbles. He doesn't take the cookie.

"Sorry, Sakura." He murmurs, glad that his mask is hiding the fact that he almost laughed. Not because he was mocking her, Sakura just looks adorable with a frown of concentration on her face.

He takes a deep breath and stills his arm completely. "You're doing great. It doesn't so much sting but rather... Feels itchy"

"Still so many injured...?"

It's posed more of a question in attempts to hide his shock. He didn't boast the same sense that Naruto could of being able to tell the chakra of everyone around. Not unless he planted himself firmly in one spot and let his chakra run wild over the surroundings, instead letting only a faint bit leak out to be able to use it to sense what was currently in front of him, atleast in a ten foot radius. After pushing that ability to the max during that last fight, he was still a bit tuckered out in that aspect, though not the yellow haired (so he'd been told) male who'd now was trying to just catch up on everything he had missed. A bead of sweat rolling down the side of his face as a faint almost nervous chuckle escapes him, doing his best to not bump into her seeing as he wasn't attempting to sense besides him or behind him, letting her do most of the leading by following via the noise around. "Actually, Naruto had to do something and suggested I head over here." If someone wandered into his line of 'sense' then he'd give a slight wave back, able to faintly smirk when he could hear audible confusion or shock. The rumors that he could actually see and was just using the blindfold to get away with things was an old rumor, still existed in some conversations here and there but he'd kept a tight lid on anyone seeing what was underneath. He only ever remembered what the medical ninja had said to him in the hospital when the wound had finally begun to mend as best it could. Only two people probably know what's underneath, or were respectful of his privacy and left it there, though given the attempt just to see what it looked like under a certain Jonin's mask? Maybe he was a bit too hopeful. Still, that did make him aware of what he'd wanted to ask her, should she have any time. Which he's not sure now and currently ready to backtrack on that thought, except...this is Sakura, the one who had insisted to him he could come to her for help. One time practically dragging him back to tend to him (and a hearty whack over the head for being self sacrificing at the time ).

"Of course I can do that. Well, if you were asking me to do anything else I'd remind you the only aid I know is the first aid you specifically engrained into my brain." A light tease, but he does move ever slightly as if to avoid an anticipated elbow, a hand raising ever slightly as if to scratch at the blindfold he constantly wore. Technically it was just a makeshift headband with the hidden leaf symbol, a dark blue as he's been told that matched nicely with his common darker colored outfits. Finally releasing a soft exhale he decides to ask the question, debating if he should long enough, given it had been agitating him since after the final battle. "Actually...I wanted to ask if you could do something for me, a favor. I know it might be silly to ask given I know you respected it a lot." A single finger gently taps against the metal part of the band, revealing exactly what it is he was asking. "If you don't have time it's fine but...recently it's been a bit aggravated I think that's the word for it? If it's okay with you I'd like any details to remain private for obvious reasons..." A faint shift of his body, a nervous tick. "I...trust you a lot more than I would going to any other person to see about it."