Chapter Text
When love comes, then it will never leave. That is what my father always used to say to me in my teenage years. He never had any other woman after my mom passed away. All other men I know would have another wife after a few years, but my dad is different. He believes in the one true love, and so do I, but I never found the one. But I am glad that at least my two best friends found love, together.
Naruto Uzumaki and Hinata Hyuuga, now Uzumaki, and me, of course, have been friends ever since I could remember. The blonde little ball of sunshine I met was always the one to cheer me up, no matter what drama and problems I faced. Just imagining a world without him and his bright smile, his determination; I would have been nowhere near, where I am now. He is one of the reasons why I continued with my path and live a life to my fullest.
And that shy girl who was always sitting in the back; she is by far the nicest person I ever met. Her heart is pure and fragile. She was incessantly for me and Naruto like a little sister, a child even; somebody we wanted to protect, forever and always.
Hinata has had a crush on Naruto since elementary school. She told me that in our senior year, but I knew it; technically everybody knew it, everybody except for Mr. Uzumaki himself. The Hyuuga heiress was always blushing like crazy whenever the name Naruto Uzumaki fell. She was so adorable!
But nevermind, even when Naruto was in love with another girl, Haruno Sakura, and the fact that he was oblivious to Hinata's feelings; somehow they came together after high school. Or more specific on prom. And that may be the only thing I enjoyed on the evening…
We write the year 2015, seven years after our graduation; I am an adult and have finished university. My working place - no-other than the Konoha Hospital. I have always dreamed to be a doctor, to be able to help people and save human life. Tsunade is a really good teacher, she is one of the best doctors in Japan, and to top it off, she is also related to Naruto.
"[Name], can you help me over here?" A female voice calls and, turning around, I find the emerald eyes of Sakura Uchiha.
"Sure!" And with that I walk over to her. As I take a closer look on her face I notice dark circles under her eyes. Somebody, must keep her awake the night - and no - I do not mean her husband, but more likely her two-years-old daughter. Sarada is her name, I think.
Sakura and I get along pretty well, but I am not much informed about her private life. I hear the most things from Naruto or Hinata. These two stayed pretty much in contact with Konoha High's "it-couple"; more likely drama-couple, but well, they seem to be happy now. Sasuke and Sakura matured and even married; now they also have a child. I never imagined that that would ever happen between these two.
"Didn't get much sleep?" I ask her as we walk towards a hospital room. She shakes her head and chuckles a little.
"Not really, Sarada is constantly crying. Sasuke and I have some baby-shifts. And apparently I have to stay awake from 4 am to 6 am." the pinkette explained and I just nod.
"Being a mother must be a really hard job-"
"It is. I never imagined it like this, but I guess it's worth it. Sarada is such a beautiful child. And even if Sasuke won't admit it, he loves her…" she trails off; a giggle escapes me. I must say, they are adorable.
"I cannot imagine Mr. Grumpypants to play with a baby." I comment and Sakura turns to me. She looks to her left and her right, then leans to me.
"Don't tell him, but I filmed him when he once played dolls with Sarada. I can show you in our break." A grin makes its way on my face and I nod.
"I can't wait to see that!" I exclaim, but try to keep a quieter tone.
"It is totally worth it, [name]-san."
The two of us snicker and continue our way to the room. It is just a usual hospital room, white walls, white bed - well, kinda everything is white in here. No wonder why so many people think they are dead when they wake up!
Our patient is an older man, forty-three years old and alcoholic. We see him often here. That guy actually drank himself to death for a long period of time.
Alcoholic fatty liver disease.
If Mr. Kaiza continues with this excess drinking he might prone for hepatic cancer. He has a stepson, I really pray that he will stop for him.
"Mr. Kaiza-" Sakura begins as we enter the room together, I walk over to get a stool and sit down on it, next to the bed. Grabbing the clip-board I look at his stats.
Elevated blood pressure 140/90 mmHg
Blood sugar level 180 mg/dl
"...you are not in a good shape. How often have I told you to stop with alcohol?" Sakura continues as I go on with my observation. That man sure is reckless with his health, maybe we should put him under surveillance 24/7?
"I know, Mrs. Uchiha, but . . . it is so hard."
"I am aware of this, I have suggested your wife to attend a therapy with you, so you have a pillar to lean on, while going through it."
When did she arrange this? I am speechless, Sakura sure takes care of her patients. No wonder why Tsunade values her so much that she put her into the administration. The man mutters a "thank you", then I take his right arm and wrap the cloth around it.
"I will now take your blood pressure." I explain to him. "Systolic is 135, diastolic is 85." I say out loud and write it down on the board. "You are getting better, the blood pressure is lower than last time, though not optimal ...yet." He smiles to me.
"I hope I can finally keep that promise to Inari," Mr. Kaiza mumbles softly, he probably can only talk with this level of dezibel for now.
Keep a promise . . . Did his step-son asked him to? No,I won't question his words. I am here to do a check-up, not small talk with the patients.
"Haruno-san," I call out to her. "Should we also do an examination in a matter of urine samples?" She turns to me and moves her lower lip, biting it, probably, from the inside. "We can, but not now -- I will tell Shizune to stop by here, later, so she can do that." I nod and gaze at the patient again.
"Okay, Sir, could you please rest for a minute. Just calm and act like you'd be sleeping." He processes my instructions and, shrugging, he makes himself comfortable in his bed. I go forward, taking out the clock that normally hangs around my neck like a necklace and wait until the little arm is on top; a new minute starting. My eyes are focused on his chest and I watch closely as it moves up and down. From far away, due to the silence in the room, I can hear footsteps, heels clacking against the ground. Someone must be running around.
"One minute is up," Sakura states and I nod, agreeing as I look at the clock.
"Respiratory rate is 19 breaths per minute; a normal value." I write it down, smiling a little bit. So far everything I've checked is better than before.
"Now to measure your blood sugar level," I announce,as he gets up; I earn a groan of him to which I can only chuckle. "Don't worry, I am not Lady Tsunande. I try my best not to hurt you." I take the needle in my right hand and the glucometer in my left hand. He extends his hand, and I look at his fingers, deciding on using the index finger.
"Ready?" I ask him and he nods. "Three." He inhales. "Two." He bites his lip, eyes on the needle. "One." He shuts his eyes close and I prick the tool through his flesh. I press on his fingertip and wait for the blood to flow out, then I hold the glucometer against it and watch as it is calculating the value.
A beeping sound erupts from the tool and I read the numbers on its screen. I am about to smile, but suddenly I hear this running sound coming nearer until it stops, and my ears capture a sound of worn out breathing behind me.
"Sakura, [name]!" The voice says and I turn around seeing Ino Yamanaka, her blonde hair, in a ponytail, looking messy; sweat runs down her forehead and her scared, horrified expression worries me.
"It's an emergency, we need you to do the surgery," she explains and I get up, wondering what this is all about. Not hurrying much I attempt to still write down the values, but I drop the clap-board as I hear the next words.
"Who is the patient," Sakura inquires, normally Ino wouldn't react like this.
"It's . . . it's Neji." And I gasp, the color leaving my face. My feet acted on its own and I run out of the room, passing Ino and I know that Sakura, too, is following with maximum speed. The visitors in the floor look at me strangely, but I don't care; these tears have a meaning. My only thought.
Neji, be save! You have to survive.
My eyes are glued to the red blinking sign at the end of the floor, increase my pace and don't even bother to watch out for other people. I push open the door and on instinct put the mouthpiece over my nose and chin. What I see takes my breath away. So much blood, his brown hair, painted by blood and dirt. The color in his face is lighter than usual and his breathings are weak. A terrifying view.
The door opens again, Sakura and Ino have arrived. Other surgeons and doctors almost look relieved to see us. I move forward surgical table and see Neji's damaged body. Many wounds, he lost of blood.
"What happened?" I shout out my question, even sounding angry,but with whom?
"A car crash. His head hit the steering wheel frontal; the car was probably on a speed level of 100 mph, the other driver died immediately, it was a ghost driver from what the police stated." I clench my teeth, a ghost driver? I shake my head and try to keep a cool head. The life of him lies in our hands, we, and most importantly I, have to be professional. No matter how disturbed our feelings may be, we are doctors. I have done a surgery plenty of times. What is the difference now? C'mon, [surname], first check the vital functions. I just did that with Mr. Kaiza, it shouldn't be a problem.
"Have you checked for any vital signs?" Sakura asks, thank God, at least somebody who knows their job.
"Yes, his pulse is rapid, blood pressure low, his temperature grows colder and his breathings are weak. We placed him in an artificial coma," one of the surgeons said, not even taking a breath. She is pretty new here, I notice, well, they did the right thing. There are radiographs on the wall, I don't even dare counting the amount of broken ribs.
"Where is Lady Tsunade?" I ask, hoping she might arrive soon. They shake their heads. "She is currently doing another surgery . . . on the other occupant of the car." There was someone else with him in the car? Don't tell me-
"[Name], we have to do the surgery now," Ino whispers and I nod, suppressing my natural need to cry out. Neji is sound asleep, I grab a scalpel and look at the other surgeons. We need to perform a brain surgery; otherwise his central nervous system will fail him . . . and he will die by the cause of internal bleedings.
"Sakura," I mumble and she turns to me, she put her pink hair in a ponytail and nods. "I will work on his ribs," she says and cuts open his body. I hold my breath, his brain got a fatal hit, he was unconscious when he arrived, I presume. My concentration is on a high level as I try hard to stop the bleeding; everything seems to go good so far.
The blood he's lost is being renewed by a blood infusion. And, Sakura and the other operating doctors and surgeons are working on his torso, cleaning his wounds and closing them. I am almost certain that he will survive, until-
"What is happening!?" Ino shouts out as the beeping, alarming sound of the machine erupts. His temperature is rising immensely, his pulse, blood pressure; everything!
"He needs oxygen!" All these noises, the shouting, my frustration; what did we do wrong? Suddenly, I see that dull, white-lavender gaze; he opens his eyes and looks at me, in pain. My eyes widen- no. I am getting nervous and uncertain, my hands becoming shaky and then I am about to scream like I never did before. That never ending noise, the red line; he is dead . . .and it is my fault and mine only.
**************
Patient: Hyuuga Neji
Age: 26
ID-Number: 012587
Gender: male
Date of Birth: July 3th 1989
Time of death: 11:38; May 24 2015
Cause of death (protocol): Neji Hyuuga was brought to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. He suffered under internal bleedings in the area of his central nervous system. Neji Hyuuga received the injuries due to a car accident that has yet to be confirmed by the police. He woke up in the middle of the surgery; his temperature rose and also his blood pressure. The operating doctors gave him oxygen.
He died in the surgery. The real cause of death has yet to be analyzed.
Operating doctors: Haruno Sakura, Yamanaka Ino, [surname] [name], Inoue Takashi, Ayame Nakamura
Doctor in charge: [surname] [name]; Yamanaka Ino
Konohagakure; May 24; [signature]
I stare at the protocol I have written and press the green button on my cell phone. With shaky hands, fast beating heart and fear I hold the device against my ear, listening to the beeping tone, and waiting for the person I am calling to pick up.
"Uzumaki," the person speaks up, I clutch the paper in my hand to my chest.
"Hey, Hinata," I croak out. "There is something I have to tell you. . . I- I am sorry, but-" I break down, the tears spilling out of my eyes, I saw it all, his lifeless eyes, his injuries, his last breaths, words.
". . . N-neji's . . . dead."
The only thing I hear after are cries and screams with only one word: No. Believe me, Hinata, I can't believe it either; no, it's different, I don't want to believe it.
I take another breath, gazing around, I am still in the hospital, just finished with my protocol. The light from the surgery room is now green and the door opens, revealing Lady Tsunade. At least she was - more or less - successful.
There is a shifting sound from the speaker of Hinata's cell, it sounds like it is being picked up.
"Hinata, what happened?"
Naruto-
"Hello?" he questions and I gulp.
"Naruto-kun."
"[Name], is that you?" he asks, a wondering tone in his voice. Hinata's crying becomes louder, perhaps he is holding her in his arms, comforting her. Something I should do as a friend, but I am just on the damn phone and cry myself like the baby I am!
"Y-yeah," I stammer and curse myself for my behavior.
"What is with Hinata? Why is she crying?"
I bite my lip, trying hard to overcome my own grief.
"Listen, Naruto, I'll come over to you soon. It's about - something . . . Neji died." There, I said it . . . again! ". . .And Hiashi, he is still alive, but he is possibly paraplegic and currently in a coma."
The line goes dead after I hear Naruto saying "I understand", but honestly, I know he doesn't. And I don't know what to do now. I am sure of it that I killed him because of my incompetence in being a doctor. I am to blame. No, it's that ghostdriver who did it!
I chuckle sarcastically. "Look at yourself, [surname], you are trying to seek the guilt in an already dead man's heart. . . how pathetic."