Chapter 8

                                    

                                          
It's been a week since Sasuke moved into the hospital faculty under Tsunade's provision and Sakura's care. His health improved profoundly under Sakura's strict diet which meant never skipping a meal because he didn't feel like eating. At first, Sasuke's appetite was barely there, he quickly used to get filled while eating which worried Sakura, as for an average teenage boy that amount of food is never enough, it's nothing to nourish the body but given the fact he hasn't eaten any physical food since war or maybe even before that who knows, his hunger had dissipated over time, forgotten how to digest food.
He did get hungry but not enough, it's better now. He ate more, much to Sakura's worried glances which didn't go unnoticed by Sasuke who was deliberately punishing his body by denying its required amount of food. However, that retribution was over the minute he saw her worried glances and disapproving looks when he turned half-eaten launches.
In punishing his body he never meant to trouble or hurt her but to him, whatever he may seem to do, it sends in hurting her.
With a sigh, Sasuke skims over the garden from the corridor where other patients were lounging around. It took a while before Sasuke was allowed amongst them, again Sakura's courtesy. She thought it's helpful for his mental health to be around recuperating people as well.
It was visiting hours, so kids of patients or guardians were playing on the ground where a certain female was again reminding them not to unsettle the patients. Beaming she knelt to pass the ball to the kids, as they blushed around her. Half intimated and half whooed by her unspoken charm.
All while unaware of how Sasuke couldn't stop looking at her, every day, at the same hour he comes outside just to see her amongst others who make her smile genuinely. He wants to be the witness to her happiness even if he's not the one responsible for them, primarily if it isn't him.
Yet today something felt off about the way she smiled, it held happiness true, however, she looked.... fatigued?
She must have been overworked, he smiled but it slipped the moment she swayed on her feet and barely steadied herself. In a moment, Sasuke crossed the distance between them appearing between her, startling her for a second. Only a second– sixty microseconds for her to know who it is.
“Sasuke-Kun”. Her voice broke in the end when his hand came behind her midsection to support her weight.
“What's wrong?". Distress laced his furrowed eyebrows as he monitored her.
She thought of waving the matter off but knowing Sasuke and knowing how well he knows her, it won't work.
She opened her mouth to speak but a sudden urge to vomit crossed her queasy stomach before a cramp hit her lower region and she fell into his arms leaving him baffled with worry that his body turned rigorous.
Breaking it off he picked her up quickly, her pale features giving him a sick reminder of how he missed Itachi's chronic illness symptoms so visible yet so hidden just like his nature. Maybe mine too.
He placed her on his bed gently, covering her body with a warm blanket and getting some water and solid food for her.
“Sakura?”. He called, rubbing her already warm hands. Apprehension lined the room as Sasuke tried to wake her up, opening the cap of the water bottle. He pushed Sakura's body upwards, keeping her head on his chest as he tipped her head back and positioned the bottle on her lips.