Teardrop of the Wolf

Chapter 41

Muffled voices entered Mori's mind as she slept. Her conscious fluttered a little at the voices, but settled back down when they disappeared. It seemed like years before Mori opened her eyes slowly, wincing against he bright sunlight that streamed through the window. Apparently she had slept throughout the entire night and late into the next day. She turned her head weakly to her left, and sighed when she saw an IV attached to her wrist.

So she was back in the hospital.

A rustle caught her attention, and her eyes moved to where it came from. Iruka was sitting in a chair beside her hospital bed with his arms crossed over his chest and chin resting on his chest. His eyes were closed as if he was asleep, and Mori felt her lips twitch in a small smile.

She summoned what little strength she had and eased herself into a sitting position. Her teeth clenched when the back of her head gave a painful twinge.

"Mori! You're awake" Iruka said when he heard movement from the hospital bed.

He got up and helped Mori sit up properly. She clasped her hand in his as she blinked away the rest of the sleep that clung to her eyes.

"It seems I'm always in the hospital...maybe I should move in permanently" Mori joked weakly.

Iruka sighed and shook his head at the woman.

"You looked lifeless in Inoichi's arms. I thought the worst" Iruka said quietly.

Mori looked up at him with confused eyes and Iruka released her hand before going over and pulling a chair over to her bedside. Iruka took ahold of Mori's hand and told her everything.

He was coming back from teaching at the academy before hearing that one of the Jonin had brought in the woman who killed his partner. He had felt his heart drop to the ground and ran to the interrogation building. He knew Mori wasn't up to strength to survive a full interrogation. Iruka had skidded to a stop when he saw Inoichi Yamanaka carrying the battered and bloody woman out.

His heart stopped, but Inoichi had stated there was nothing to worry about and was bringing Mori to get medical attention. After admitting the unconscious woman to the hospital, Inoichi was to report to the elders that Mori posed no threat to their village. The three entered the hospital swiftly and made sure the woman was admitted.

The nurses and medical nin hooked Mori to different machines and checked her vitals. Her chakra was low and the medical nin patched up the gash behind her head. They inserted a needle into Mori's vein that contained fluid necessary for her body to heal.

The nurses and medical nin left the hospital room and with a grim nod, the Jonin left the hospital to report his findings, leaving Iruka to care and watch the woman. He situated himself in a chair and crossed his arms across his chest. He would wait here until Mori woke.

Mori's eyes brimmed with tears as Iruka finished telling her. She bowed her head as tears slid down her cheeks. Iruka frowned and placed his arms around her quivering shoulders.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for causing you all this grief" Mori whispered as she pressed her face against his vest.

Iruka squeezed his arms tighter around her as tears continued streaming down her cheeks. Her mind spun as thoughts raced through her brain. She was responsible for the deaths of innocent people here, all because she was selfish and wanted to get her brother back.

"It's not your fault, Mori. You wanted to save your brother" Iruka said, feeling Mori shake her head against his vest.

"It is. I was the one who followed that man into his lair. I'm a danger to everyone" Mori said.

Iruka opened his mouth to argue, but Mori held up a hand to stop him.

"I have to leave here, Iruka. Who knows what will happen to me again. Maybe I'll end up destroying the entire village and killing everyone. I don't want to hurt you or even kill you" Mori said seriously.

"You'd never kill me" Iruka argued, and Mori sighed.

"I don't know that! That's why I have to leave here to keep everyone safe" she said.

Iruka was silent as he injested her words. There had to be something he could do to keep her here.

A knock on the door interrupted the two, and a nurse came in.

"Visitor hours are over. You can come back tomorrow" she said in a kind voice and Iruka nodded.

"I'll be back tomorrow" Iruka said and pressed a small kiss on the top of her head.

Mori nodded and watched with sad eyes as the Chunin got up and left the hospital room. She waited for a couple minutes before making up her mind. With a sigh, Mori slowly eased herself out of the hospital bed and with a grunt, swiftly took the needles out of her wrist. She placed a hand over the small bleeding opening and stood up on shaking legs. She knew she had to leave Konoha.

It was for the best.

She took a tentative step, and then another until she reached the door. With a shaky breath, she searched inside to her canine chakra. She let out a breath when she found it, as weak as it was. She coaxed it to fill her body, and she felt it envelop her body. Soon, a white wolf stood on shaking legs. She pushed her muzzle out the door and somehow made her way out of the hospital without anyone seeing her.

A cool wind blew as stars twinkled down from a black sky. The village was settling down to sleep, which was perfect for Mori. No one would see her leave.

She padded down the street and through the gate. An owl hooted from a nearby tree and crickets chirped as Mori weakly padded through the forest. She stopped and looked back, heart heavy as she laid eyes on the slumbering village.

She raised her muzzle and let out a mournful howl, her heart breaking into a million pieces.

Mori knew it was for the best, but why did it have to hurt so much?

She stopped the howl and continued padding through the forest. She needed to get far away before finding a place to sleep. Her mind urged her on, but after a couple minutes her limbs gave out and she fell to a ground in a heap. Mori struggled to her feet, but fell back down. Her eyes closed until sleep enveloped her mind and body.