My Sunshine

Waking Up - Iruka

Iruka awoke while it was still dark out and still leaning against Mizuka. The chakra bubble was gone and she was asleep. Sliding out from under her, he picked her up and put her on the couch gently, covering her with the blanket he pulled from the back of the couch. He left quietly, shutting the door silently behind him.

As he walked out into the street, he began to head home before stopping and sticking his hands in his pockets. His eyelids felt puffed from the crying, but he felt better mentally. And even physically. Mizuka's healing chakra was unlike anything he had ever experienced, and it appeared to work well. He turned and started to head the other way, toward the hospital. There was nothing that he needed to do today, maybe he would sit with the red haired woman this morning; after all, she could wake up.

He trudged quietly as the sun began to rise, nodding to the shinobi who were finishing their night patrol. They nodded kindly to him as he passed. A few minutes later, he was entering the double doors of the hospital. Sakura was sitting at the desk still, yawning.

"Hey Sakura."

"Good morning, Sensei. You're here early."

"Yeah, I was already out, so I decided to come and check on her."

He didn't need to specify who 'her' was. Sakura already knew.

"Well, she's been stable throughout the night. Maybe she'll wake up today."

She gave him an encouraging smile as he continued to the woman's room.  He found her just as he left her, still unconscious, laying in the bed.  He spoke to her gently.

"Hey, good morning.  I hope you wake up today.  I'd like to meet you."

Giving her one last smile, he headed to the chair in the corner of the room and sat down.  He watched as the woman in the bed lay motionless; the only sound in the room was the beeping of various machines.  He sat and let his mind wander for... he didn't know how long.  Mizuka had given him a lot last night: kind words, healing, touch, comfort.  He could go on listing all of the things she did for him.   He was glad to get some feedback on those two nights with her.  He didn't want to sound too desperate, but those really were the best two night he had ever had sexually.  It meant a lot to hear her say such kind things about him.  And her touch was warming and calm.  It was nice to reconnect with her-

The woman in the bed began to stir.  Iruka scrambled to her bedside, pushing the nurses bell.  A few seconds later, Mizuka was in the doorway.  He must've been in the chair for a while if Mizuka was already here.

"What's wrong?"

"I think she's waking up."

Mizuka stood next to the bed, watching the woman.  And then... the woman opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling. Her eyes looked almost hollow, like a dead person's.

"Hey, can you hear me?"

The dead violet eyes moved slowly to Mizuka's face; she remained expressionless. Iruka looked up at Mizuka.

"Is she okay?"

She pulled out a small flashlight and shone it in both of her eyes, leaning over and staring into them. The woman didn't even blink.

"Well, she can hear me, that's for sure. I don't know if she's blind or drugged: her pupils are enormous.

"My name is Mizuka, and I'm your healer. Do you remember what happened to you?"

The woman blinked slowly, but did not respond. Mizuka turned and left the room without a word. Iruka gazed down at her; she turned her head slowly and gazed back. She reminded him of a broken doll. He gave her a small smile.