Chapter 22: Red Dawn
Silence. The only thing he could hear was his own heavy breathing.
*Did I...die? He killed me...*
Opening his eyes, the sun that the light of the new day burned fiercely, and he quickly shut them again. After a few moments, he opened his eyes again to find that something was coming towards him. After a few moments, the figure was standing above him clutching his side. Sasuke cocked his head upwards so that he could better identify the figure.
"Hey..."
Kabuto said as he looked down at the weakened genin.
"I remembered when I told Itachi to kill you, that they put two Kokudo inside of you. Sakon told me that one of them would prevent you from dying, so that if they needed too they could use you as their weapon. They didn't expect us to attack you though, so they didn't think about the possibility of you being unable to continue fighting." After his explanation, Kabuto added, "How're you feeling?"
"As good as I can when I had a sword ran through me." Sasuke replied. Kabuto chuckled nervously and scratched his head.
"Anyways, just remember it was Itachi who did that, not me. Anyways, you'll be fine. Once we get back to the village I can heal you, and then we can take both of the Kokudo out of you. You'll be fine." Kabuto finished before turning to Itachi, who was still looking at the sky.
"Well we've gained but we've lost in the process. A red dawn if you know what I mean." Kabuto said to himself.
"Oy! Itachi!" He then yelled. Itachi whipped around to face the source of the voice, quite surprised. His eyes were greeted by Kabuto waving to him and Sasuke, who by now had managed to get into a sitting position. But only one of the two people truly surprised him.
"Sa...Sasuke?" Itachi stammered in pure confusion. It was impossible, he had killed him. He felt the blade pierce through his heart, and saw it rip out of his back.
"Hi." Sasuke said as he looked upwards to see his older brother. After a prolonged silence he added. "Are you...you know...ok?"
"Fine." Itachi said smiling. Everything was going to be all right.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Sakura stuffed her items into her suitcase. Kakashi had gone back to the hospital and had been told that Tenten would be fine, and was well enough to go back to Konoha on the plane. So naturally they were leaving.
*Sasuke-kun...everyone thinks you and the others are dead...I know it's extremely likely, but still...I still want to hold on. I still want to hope.*
Zipping up her suitcase, she checked around the room to make sure she had gotten all of her belongings. Assured that she had everything, she headed out into the hallway, only too be greeted by Hinata who rushed up to her.
"Hinata! What is it?" Sakura questioned.
"Sakura!" Hinata panted as she caught her breath. "Sasuke...he's ok."
--------
Itachi, Sasuke, and Kabuto had gotten back to the hotel around noon. After explaining everything to Kakashi, the Jounin took the three to the hospital. Itachi and Kabuto's wounds wouldn't take much time to heal, but Sasuke's more severe wound could take awhile. After having Hinata pack up Sasuke's possessions (which wasn't much), everyone left for the airport. Tenten, Sasuke, Itachi, and Kabuto were already inside the plane in the hospital section when they arrived. Sakura must've asked Kakashi a trillion times to go see Sasuke, and each time he would had to remind her that she couldn't.
The flight back was a quiet one. No one spoke with the exception of Naruto, badgering everyone for ramen. When they reached Konoha, everyone let out a sigh of relief. They were finally home.
"Sasuke, Tenten, and the others will be taken to the hospital immediately. Visitors will not be allowed." Kakashi explained. He could almost feel Sakura's depression among the group of students. Gaara didn't look too happy about the notion either. Kakashi let out a sigh as he led the group of shinobi out of the building after they had gotten their luggage. Couldn't these people ever appreciate what they had? As they stepped out into the fresh afternoon air, Kakashi took in a deep breath, and then let it go.
"Well, I need to go return Tsunade-sama's credit card before she decides to cancel the bookstore's supply of Make out Paradise."
Everyone sweat dropped. After everything, he was still the same old Kakashi...
"So," Kakashi added. "Have a good vacation?"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
