Not Much Longer, Now

How Much More Pain?

I hadn't intended to black out while Kakashi dragged me to the hospital wing.

I'm not quite sure why he brought me there if all places. The only injury I had suffered was a gut-wrenching stab to the heart.

Ok and a few bruises from trying to get Kakashi to let go of me.

But I wouldn't be cleared from that hospital for two days. Naruto never came to see me. Good, I thought. I don't want to see him. Sakura brought me flowers, as usual. Kakashi stayed there most of the time, acting like a parent refusing to leave his sick child's hospital room.

But within hours of when I was to be cleared to leave, the nurse came in and informed me that I had a visitor.

In came red hair and mint-green eyes.

"Hello, Uchiha." Gaara smiled softly, though we had once been rivals.

"Come to pity me? Go ahead." I turned my head towards the window, though I smiled at the sight of him.

"No. I came to see how you were doing. For someone to reject their soulmate like that... Even my soulmate is more accepting than Naruto was to you." Gaara strides to the chair next to my bed, Kakashi having gone to go get us both food.

"So you can see them? You wouldn't know who items otherwise." This made me turn my head back to the sand ninja, looking at him for the first time in the encounter.

"Of course I can." He leaned in and his voice dulled to a whisper. "Again, even Lee was more accepting of me."

I wasn't surprised the two were soulmates. It seemed opposites attracted in these parts of town.

"Ah. I think you two make a good couple. It's adorable to think about." Now I was smiling. I wasn't a girly-girl but... damn I had a soft spot for this stuff.

Gaara smiled as well, laughing softly. "Ah, so we have a matchmaker, do we? I like that." The redhead's soft voice made everything that had happened to me recently so much better. "I have to go now. Temari will be wondering where I am."

"You brought Temari with you to the hospital?"

"No, I brought her from the sand village. I'm not allowed to leave without an escort." Gaara smiled again.

I was shocked to say the least. The one who had hated me forever had come all the way from the sand village to see if I was alright because of a small heartbreak.
"Y-Ya, alright. Seeya later, Gaara." I smiled at him one more time before he stood up and strode to the other side of the room once more.

"And Sasuke?" He paused. "If you ever need someone you can send me a letter. I'll come see you."

I nodded, watching Gaara walk out of the room.

~~~

Kakashi came in a little while later, bringing plain Ramen for me and grabbed himself a carrot ramen.

"Stress can make your stomach uneasy. Best not to put too much strain on it." Lame excuse, but I took the food gratefully.

"Has Naruto said anything about it?" I may not have wanted to him, but I wanted to know the blond's opinion on it. "Just curious."

"No. He actually has seemed happier the past few days. Do you want me to talk to him about it?" The silverette looked at me softly, though I hated the pitying look in his eyes, I didn't say anything about it.

"Yes please. But don't bring him here. I just won't to know his opinion, not to suffer more insults."

He nodded.

"I'll talk to him once I go to lessons. I know you get discharged in a little so d-"

The door opened, the nice nurse coming in and informing me I had another visitor.

I had expected Sakura or another fan girl. So I had never expected a ninja with blond hair and a bright orange outfit to walk in.

"Hey..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dun Dun DUUUUUNNN

Fairly amateur writing I know but this chapter is shorter than the other one. I legit just wrote this on my way too and from school.

So ya hope you like the second chapter!