Frost Chapter 9, a naruto fanfic

Full Summary: The mission to Wave didn't only bring a Swordsman of the Mist and one Hunter Nin, but two Hunter Nin. One with brown hair and the other with pink…

Disclaimer: No own.

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All right. Let's just go ahead with the chapter. I don't have much to say, really.

Except I wanted more drama. Heheh.

Musical Inspiration: Super Mario Bros. Brawl (FTW) OST, and other random tracks

Warnings: Haku's Protective

Page Count: 9

Word Count: 3326

Frost

Chapter 9

A Demon's Instincts (A)

Sakura lay on her bed, face up. She stared at the startlingly white ceiling continuously, not moving a single muscle. The pink haired child had woken up a day ago to discover a disorienting acuteness of her every sense. Smells of the hospital attacked her nose, stinging it with a scent that was most likely sterilizing agents. Her eyes scoped in on random things when she had cringed under the horrible smell, only making her feel a horrible sense of vertigo. Her now sensitive ears could hear footsteps rushing to her room after she had tumbled into a stand of clinking objects from confusion.

"Sakura-san?!" She heard being called out. Shakily, she glanced towards the people, not expecting anything she was about to see.

Now, she knew the first person she saw was Lee. Sakura could see glimpses of an aura around the boy that danced erratically. The areas around his healing arm and leg were glowing in a dimmer shade than the rest of his aura. Different colors flooded into her line of sight, and accidentally she scoped in of the frantic movements of the five auras in the room. The bright and dulled colors contrasted with the insanely bright white of the hospital walls, and made Sakura recoil into the bedside. Her new headache coupled with her previous pains of the new senses was too much for her, causing the girl to faint in a cold sweat.

She woke up an hour or two later, and according to Miyuki's frantic explanation, her heart had apparently stopped for a minute before resuming beating.

At the moment, Sakura was trying to figure out the horribly crippling senses of hers. Tsuyuki wasn't speaking up (much to the pinkette's dismay), and she hadn't thought of trying Izayoi. The demoness stayed back in a content laze, finally free to wander around the head of her vessel. The wolf had at least subdued the new sensory abilities for a short while, allowing Sakura to think clearly.

'Ugh.' Tiredly, Sakura squirmed in discomfort. Staring at white was starting to hurt her vision.

Something wrong? Izayoi asked. Sakura glared at the demon.

'Yes. I would just covet the information of how I could control these horrible abilities of mine.' Izayoi's laugh ticked Sakura off. 'What's so funny?'

There's no controlling anything anymore, Hi-chan, Izayoi snickered. You made the pact when you released me. Your sacrifice was a sample of your mortality! You're reduced to animalistic senses and urges now!

'…I gave up my humanity?' Sakura wondered quietly.

Yes, but only a small amount of it. You're not going to think like an animal, and you're not going to look like one. Of course your senses are probably the most affected thing right now. Smirking, Izayoi added, but be aware that you now have an animalistic nature, so to some degree you will act like you did when it comes to your 'pack'.

'…Pack?' Sakura winced as the word triggered a sudden wanting to check up on Neji, Haku, and Kimimaro. 'What was that!?'

Just an example, Izayoi teased. Expect to be insanely protective of anyone close to you. Sakura mocked the wolf, trying to ignore the sensation in her chest. It worked for five minutes until the sensation turned into something painful.

'I can't take this anymore!' Sakura thought exasperatedly before tearing out of her room and running to where she felt Haku and Neji. She pushed the question of how she could feel them to the back of her mind as she rushed. The hospital staff only felt a gentle breeze as she ran past them.

The pink haired speed demon halted in front of the door that led into Neji and Haku's room. Her hand trembled as she reached to open the door. Her white dress hung loosely and shook along with her arm. Tsuyuki chose then to appear and wordlessly pushed Sakura into the room.

'Tsuyuki?!' Sakura yelled. The smaller girl only continued to push Sakura into the room before disappearing once more.

Sakura gasped as she tumbled through the door and grabbed the banister to steady. In result she swung towards the direction of both boys' beds. Something inside her stopped when she saw both of the brunettes out cold. Shakily, she stumbled towards the two males. Her pupils had shrunk to pinpricks when she first spotted them.

"N-Neji?" she asked to the motionless boy on her left. Sliding her eyes to the right, she whispered, "Haku-teishu?" Their auras—Neji's: milky silver chocolate, Haku's: pretty blue—were both dimmed and had a hurt look to them. Some scattered flares of pure white appeared now and then in Haku's icy aura.

That's your aura, from when you first healed him, Izayoi explained. It's being absorbed into his own aura so the next time an aura-exchange is necessary, it won't strain his body. Actually, Izayoi added with a small giggle, you've been unconsciously inserting your own aura into your companions! I wouldn't be surprised why Neji's aura looks milky… Sakura didn't mind the wolf's amused jabs as she looked at the two's handsome faces.

"Neji still looks so serious even in sleep," Sakura mumbled, not really there. She cautiously inched towards his bedside and reached out her hand to slide it across his cheek. She flinched when a sharp shock conducted between her finger and Neji's pale cheek. 'What…?'

That would be your aura contrasting with Neji's. If you keep in contact with these two, your aura will probably be able to heal them and speed up their recovery. Izayoi nodded wisely. Just don't think it'll be lightning fast results. You'll probably have to stay for a few days to completely brighten their auras.

'So… I can heal them?' Sakura said with a hint of happiness. Right now, with her in her dark trench of numbness, anything would make the pinkette hopeful.

Sanity had almost escaped her right now.

Eh, Izayoi grunted, to an extent. Immediately, Sakura pulled up a chair and parked herself into it. Purposely, she grabbed the boy's hands and tried not to mind the sudden jolt.

'Like I told you before…' Sakura quoted herself. 'I'll do anything for Haku-teishu! Little or big!'

Then what about the other boy? Izayoi asked slyly. Sakura took a sharp intake of breath once she started to think about it.

'…Neji's… different!' Sakura preached to the wolf. 'He's… my… my friend!'

Just a friend? Izayoi asked in her velvet voice. Or something more? You treat him just like your 'teishu' here… Sakura shook her head.

'No! I… I…' Sakura stumbled around her words, starting to feel confused and tired. Izayoi's sense sedater had worn off, and everything was beginning to change perspective. 'I…'

Shh, Izayoi interrupted. Go to sleep, Hi-chan. Sakura could feel her head bobbing and her eyes drooping. Before she knew it, Sakura had fallen into her dream world—and another vision.

"No!" Tsuyuki cried helplessly. The young girl leant over the body of a familiar red headed girl. "Hiki-nee-chan! Don't-don't die!" The child hugged the teenager, not paying attention to the growing puddle of blood or the many wounds decorating Hikigane's body.

"Tsuyuki," Hikigane tried saying through her bloodied mouth, not adding the usual -chan. "I need you to run, okay? Otou-san's coming. Once he finished with Okaa-san, he'll come after you."

"NO!" A wail broke through Tsuyuki's pale mouth. "Tsuyuki will not leave Hiki-nee-chan alone!"

"GO!" Hikigane yelled, glaring at Tsuyuki. "Leave! Don't look back! I want you to go and live! Run as far as you can!" Tsuyuki shook as tears cascade down her face like a never ending waterfall.

"Tsu-Tsuyuki loves you," the shaking girl whispered as she crouched to get up. Hikigane smiled as best as she could and put up two fingers in a peace sign.

"Go… go for it," the red head said with trouble. Hikigane's white eyes widened when she saw death hanging over Tsuyuki's head. "Tsuyuki!" Hikigane cried out as she pushed the smaller girl out of the sword's way. The pinkette could only watch as the wakizashi with a black handle swung down and into Hikigane's head, instantly killing her. Blood splashed onto her face, creating a sick line of red splotches. Horror and anger seeped into Tsuyuki's face as the blood rolled down her white face.

"Heh," the red haired man chuckled as he tore the wakizashi out of Hikigane's head. "I missed." Tsuyuki snarled like an angry animal when her eyes landed on her father's face.

"You killed Hiki-nee-chan!" Tsuyuki accused. "Your own DAUGHTER! Are you going to kill me now too!?" The man laughed in a mad manner.

"Of course!" the insane father bellowed. "Just like your mother and sister!" Genkou chortled darkly. Tsuyuki screamed, making the man look at his daughter. Tsuyuki's hands were twitching as her nails grew longer and her teeth sharpened.

"I'LL RIP THE LIFE OUT OF YOU!" Tsuyuki shrieked, pouncing on the deranged adult. Genkou's eyes widened and—

Sakura's eyes snapped open. A nurse was trying to separate her hands from the two boys, but stopped momentarily in shock. Sakura growled at the woman with sharpened teeth. The nurse stumbled back, alerting the other doctors in the room.

"Miss—" one of the doctors tried to calm Sakura down. It was unfortunate that her mind frame was being dominated by animalistic instincts that told her to protect her pack from anything.

"I'm not going anywhere," Sakura warned with her and Izayoi's double voice effect. The doctor stepped back in fear. "They are my pack, and are my responsibility!" Another doctor tried nearing Sakura, but she jumped back when the pinkette almost roared. "I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE!" The poor medic ran out of the room, terrified. A nurse, smarted than the others, spoke in a gentle voice.

"Okay, we won't force you to leave. Can we at least give them a check up to see their progress?" Sakura scoffed at the lady.

"Do it quickly," Sakura advised in a more calm voice. The civil nurse thanked Sakura and began to examine Neji while the male doctor nervously began on Haku. The nurse and doctor gasped when their chakra probed the boys'.

"They're almost completely healed—yesterday they weren't even close!" the nurse exclaimed, confused. The male medic glanced at Sakura.

"You're doing this, aren't you?" he asked. Sakura narrowed her eyes at him and nodded. "How…?"

"My pack is familiar to my aura," Sakura explained lowly. "My aura can heal my pack members better than any medic could." The male thought this over and walked away from Haku. He beckoned the nurse to follow him.

"We'll leave you alone then," he stated, walking out the door. "You seem to know what you're doing."

Sakura glared at him through the closed door. She calmed and her shoulders dropped. Glancing over to her boys, Sakura noticed their auras were much brighter than their usually dull color.

"That's good," Sakura whispered, fatigued already from the disturbing dream, the sudden wake, and all the commotion. Sleep once again gnawed at the edge of her senses, and Sakura willingly obliged.

By the time Neji awoke, Sakura had found their healing progress satisfactory and removed herself from their bedsides. Instead, she opted for a window seat. Blearily, the Hyuuga looked around, trying to gather himself as best as he could. Surprisingly, he didn't feel the pain or tire Neji had expected to—instead, the brunette swore he could fight off an entire army by himself. Gently, he pushed himself into a sitting position using his right hand (which, oddly, felt tingly and chilled). He was alerted immediately of the other presences in the room—he saw Haku lying in the adjacent bed, and Sakura, sitting with her head balancing on her fist at the window.

"S-Sakura?!" he mumbled lowly, minding Haku's sleep. When he received no response Neji began to worry. Taking a closer look, he found out why—Sakura had a distant haze in her eye and her body was slack. Even though she appeared to be staring out to peer at the life outside the hospital, rebuilding itself, her eyes were not seeing. Her breathing was even and nothing seemed to be troubling her.

Haku moaned quietly, and shifted slightly; Neji quickly focused on the other brunette. Haku's brown eyes gently opened to see the white ceiling of the hospital. The ex-Wave nin shakily held up his hands and experimented flexing his fingers. Neji thought the other male almost seemed to be amazed he could do something of that sort.

"I'm alive?" he questioned, audibly showing the distress in his voice. "It's… it's impossible!" Neji stared at the deranged lad for a moment before asking what he was babbling on about. Haku lightly felt his facial features, and then moved to feel where the Sound ninja's weapon should've impaled through. No wound in sight.

"Haku," Neji called, looking at him with expectant, luminous eyes. The brown eyed boy quickly darted his eyes toward the female in the room, shaking his head.

"I shouldn't be alive, Neji-san," Haku admitted, holding his forehead woefully. "During the mission to retrieve Sasuke, I…" Placing a hand over the invisible wound, "…I was stabbed right here by my enemy when Sakura arrived as backup. My stomach and a few other organs were punctured, including a few delicate places…" Neji nodded knowingly, aware of such a complication.

Haku breathed in deeply, "I… I think it was Sakura." Quietly, he turned to stare at his long time partner. She looked undeniably beautiful; like a statue. "She was screaming when I lost consciousness… And from what I know of her, Sakura screaming is never a good thing." He breathed out, clenching his fist whilst doing so. "I'm not stupid. This has happened once before—our first meeting with Team 7." Neji perked his ear, interested. Haku, seeing the change in Neji's bored posture to listening, sighed.

"I'm sure you're aware that we were previously nuke nin, bounty hunting for a man named Gato. Sakura should've told you this much," Haku began. Neji thought for a moment then nodded.

"She's shared such information—you were affiliated with Momochi Zabuza, before you met Naruto…"

Haku looked away. "Yes, I was. Sakura was more or less concerned with me. Well, during the climax of the last battle we all had… I took the killing blow for Zabuza-san: Kakashi-san's Chidori." Neji gasped slightly, now putting together the pieces of Haku's troubles together.

"So this should be the second time you should've died," Neji concluded, eyeing the brunette. Haku affirmed his thoughts.

"Yet here I am, alive. And again, I remember Sakura in hysterics before blacking out." Haku turned toward Sakura, who was still unresponsive. "I'm positive Sakura saved me somehow, then and there. In both occasions I could not be transported safely to a hospital, and I was pretty much a half dead corpse. Besides…" Haku glanced up at Neji, "can't you feel it?" Neji looked at him quizzically. "There's a stronger bond between us and Sakura… And I'm positive you also suffered terrible wounds, and yet you and I are completely healed and fine. How can that be?" Neji stilled, and contemplated this.

'He's right,' the Hyuuga realized. 'Sakura was the only constant in both situations… And even now, here she is.'

"She's amazing."

Neji swung his head towards Haku (who now stared endearingly at Sakura). Did he hear that right? Was he seeing right? Haku sighed and rested his head in his hand, mimicking Sakura's pose.

"I'm amazed every day, Neji-san. She keeps growing each time I look at her—soon she'll be a grown woman." Dejectedly, Haku fell back onto his bed. "Being with someone for so long makes you feel nostalgic, Neji-san. I remember every minute of our first times together, and the fierce dedication she had… and still has. But now, I'm noticing something."

"What?" Neji asked, somewhat irritable. For some odd reason or another, he felt protective of the pinkette—he did not like how Haku spoke of Sakura. It was different than usual. Haku glanced at him with a very deep stare.

"It's not just me anymore, Neji," Haku spoke, refraining from using his formalities. He continued on, not minding Neji's ghastly facial expression. "Sakura's accepting more and more people as she gets to know them better… I dare even say you and Hinata have wedged yourselves into her heart. She's protective of you, almost to the extent of her devotion to me." Haku grew quiet before sliding off his cot. Neji watched him with calculating eyes as he strode over to Sakura's side.

"What's wrong with that?" Neji dared to ask, still feeling edgy. Haku took a lock of Sakura's hair and twisted it gently.

The brunette stopped playing with Sakura's hair after a moment and grew solemn. "That's what I don't know. Part of me wants to say nothing is wrong, but…" The teishu dropped Sakura's hair and returned to his bed. His (now biting) coffee eyes turned to dive into Neji's.

"The other part of me wants to say everything's wrong with that."

Look at that… Part A. Well, I'm terribly sorry for the delay—I've had so much work I can't get personal things done.

I found this a good place to end it off… Anything after Haku's confession would ruin the drama. C:

So who else likes this development? I know I do. I've always wanted at some point for Haku to say outright he's noticing Sakura's changes… and half-not liking it, half-proud. Fitting irony.

Any Japanese in this should be understandable by now. And I'm too lazy to go and define anything.

PREVIEW

After awakening, Sakura finds that the cost to save Haku might've been too high for her to handle. And can Haku settle his disturbing confusion about Sakura? What is she to him: a precious friend, a doting sister, or… something else?

Sakura awakens from her open-eyed thoughts, only to find Haku and Neji nearly killing each other with scorning stares. Even in her state of mind, will she be able to mend them, when she needs to be mended herself? Or, will she be forced to choose between Haku, her master, and Neji… her… unknown?

Feel free to kick my ass for being lazy and late.