Chronic Love(On Hold)

7

Sakura's POV

The game night was the most fun I had experienced in a while. Poor Naruto got pied ten times in a row. I was glad that earlier we could come to an agreement on the project. "Sakura your turn." We were playing darts now. "Hit the middle Sakura!" Ino screamed at me. It was boys against girls with Naruto as the referee. I was sure we were going to win this with my last throw. Key word: was. I couldn't see the bullseye and I froze. It was like my main point of focus just wouldn't focus. I could only see the outer rows. It's a good thing I know this board like the back of my hand. Assuming from Ino's cheers I hit it. The happiness was short lived when I realized my eyes wouldn't go back to normal. It's what I think it is, isn't it? I'd have to get it checked out tomorrow. "What's wrong Haruno?" I only noticed he was talking to me when I felt his hand rub my shoulder. "Oh, um, nothing. What are we playing next?" I could practically feel Ino's smirk even though she wasn't looking directly at me. "Truth or dare!" I groaned.

"You know we're in college right?" She just rolled her eyes at me as she took the last slice of cheese pizza. "Actually, we have classes tomorrow," Sasuke chirped in. Since I don't have any classes tomorrow I could drop them off and head straight to the hospital without anyone ever knowing. "Okay let's call it a night." I looked up at Shikamaru. "Thanks for having us over," I told him as I got on my tiptoes to give him a bear hug. When I turned to leave I heard Naruto call my name, well the nickname he had given me. "Hey trash!" For some odd reason I thought we had gotten past this today. Ha funny me. Before I could tell him off he pulled me by my arm towards the porch. The motion made me sick with nausea. "Listen here asshole, I thought we moved past this shit!" I tried to yank my arm from his grip and failed miserably. He let go after seeing the look on my face. "I just wanted to tell you that even though we did all of that today, I still don't like you and only see you as trash." With that he walked away. I refused to let the tears come down my eyes. It wasn't that what he said had hurt me but it was the area he grabbed onto that did it. It wasn't fully healed from being poked and prodded. I had very little time to gather myself before meeting Ino and Sasuke at the car.

"What took so long?" Ino asked when I unlocked the car doors. I just shrugged and slumped into the driver's seat. It was then that I remembered my eyesight was crappy tonight. "Sasuke trade places with me." He looked at me from the passenger seat with worry in his eyes. If I were to tell them right now this is how they would always look at me. I quickly added, "I'm just tired," so he would stop staring at me. After a minute he gave me a small smile and got up to trade places with me. When we arrived home I instantly crashed on the couch.

"Sakura are you okay?" I awoke with Sasuke shaking me and Ino being hysterical. "W-what's going on? Why is she screaming?" They both gave me a look that looked as if I had woken from the dead. Why won't my arms move? My eyes widened when the realization came to me. My eyes didn't return to normal either. Although they were better from last night they were still blurry. Finally with a jolt my arms decided to move. "Oh no are you late?" I grabbed my phone off the coffee table. "Crap! We'll barely make it. Let's go." I ignored Ino's questions and Sasuke's hovering. "Guys I'm okay now leave me alone!" The outburst got them to back off. When I dropped them off they both stayed in the car before I practically dragged them out. "Haruno!" Shit. I needed to go to the hospital pronto. "Haruno are you okay?" My breathing started to become ragged and I felt queasy. "Whoa!" I felt Shikamaru jerk me in his arms before I hit the ground. No this can't be happening. "Is Naruto with you?" I mustered enough breath to ask him. I don't know why but Naruto finding out made my blood boil. Shikamaru on the other hand seems like the type of person to listen to my wishes and not expose it to anyone or hover. "N-no he's not." The last breath I released was a breath of relief before I mumbled out," Hospital." And as cliché as it sounds, everything went dark.

"Welcome back Haruno." My eyes fluttered open feeling the bright light on my eyelids. "S-Shikamaru?" I cringed at how pitiful I sounded. Before I could talk with him, my favorite doctor appeared. "Ah my favorite patient is awake!" I saw Shikamaru raise an eyebrow at the phrase 'favorite patient.' "Your good friend here tells me you passed out," I could already hear the frown in her voice. "I thought we agreed you come immediately when you notice or feel something weird happening." I sighed. Tsunade handed me a cup of water. The liquid felt soothing as it ran down my throat. Another sigh. "I was coming to the hospital this morning after I dropped off Sasuke and Ino." She didn't respond. "Well give me the rundown." I looked over at Shikamaru. How much could I let him know? Well I'd have to tell him since it appears he's the one who brought me here. "I could go. I just wanted to make sure you were okay," he offered a smile. I told him to stay and proceeded telling Tsunade what my symptoms were. "Last night while we were playing darts my vision got worse, I couldn't see the bullseye only the outer rings. Then this morning Ino and Sakura couldn't wake me up and when I finally did wake up I couldn't move my arms for a while. As for earlier I don't really know what happened." I fiddled with my fingers to avoid her gaze.

"When I saw her she looked pale and was short of breath and you know the rest." Shikamaru offered a small smile like he didn't mean to intrude in this matter. Once Tsunade finished scribbling away in my chart she let out a big sigh. "Sakura.....this doesn't look good. I know you said to let you live out your college life but if this continues..... I'll have to put you on bedrest." I stopped fiddling with my hands. "But Tsunade-," she cut me off. "This isn't up for discussion!" I wasn't going to let her have her way today. "You already know I'm going to die! There isn't a cure. By putting me on bedrest you'll just be delaying my death and putting me in more pain. I will see through my college freshman term. Without or without your approval." I didn't blink until she looked away. Another sigh. Something I didn't make her do often. "We'll revisit this conversation at a later date. Today you're staying over night. That is my final say." She didn't give me the playfulness she usually does before she leaves the room. Instead she just closed the door and left without saying a word. "You're dying?" I forgot he was still here. I looked at him and regretted it immediately. "Oh Shikamaru."

Word count: 1,284