11Bienvenue! I don't write a lot or ever have inspiration, but I read a wonderful fanfiction called Marrow by DeGlace which is a Sakura x Kimimaro fanfiction. I know, I never thought about it being a thing either. But I still fell in love with it and the couple, and since there is like none on here besides like maybe five stories that I also consumed (which were unfinished, mind you), I wanted to add!
Somehow, I knew this fandom would always steal me back. I'm home. Don't read my other stories, I'm being serious they're so embarrassing. If I ever, EVER, decide to fix what pre-teen me wrote, I'll just rewrite them without even trying to reread them.
With that, I hope you all enjoy! This will be a Sakura x Kimimaro fanfiction, but there will definitely be spicy moments with multiple people because that just fills me with joy in my happy poly heart. Since this is also my first actual fanfiction I want to write since, like, my awkward phase, I'm going to actually complete it. But I do need your help for my motivation to post! So if you like it, since I'm gonna write it anyways, please review so I know you want more!
It's set in a slowly paced AU where certain things have happened at a much slower pace, Akatsuki and Orochimaru are alive, people who have died have died, this is after Sasori and before the Fourth War. Take that as you will.
Now onto the story!
Numb. That's the only thing that could describe the state of being she was in. This was not good, she needed to assess the situation as quickly as possible before she even tried to figure out if she could feel her legs. Eyelids heavy, she forced them open lest she black out and quickly regretted her decision once the light reached her pupils. Stifling a groan, she squinted painfully as her jade colored eyes tried to adjust her sight in the room before her.
The brightest light came from the torches lining the hard, rock walls before her.
"You're finally awake, Haruno-san." Her eyes dashed to the location of the voice and saw a shadowed figure sat down on a stone bench. As he stood and slowly began to approach her, Sakuras heart started to pound harder in her chest. The light began to illuminate his face, revealing the pale, gainsboro gray hair and black, round rimmed glasses. Anxiety, anger, and apprehension rattled her body.
"Yakushi-san." She stated, her body trembling beneath her. She realized she was sitting in a slouched, pretzel-like position, unable to feel her lower body. But she was alive, alive in front of a henchman of the lunatic who abducted Sasuke years prior. Why?
"It's been a long time coming, your arrival. Please, come and have a seat so we can chat properly." She stared at him, willing her arms move into a defiant position as she ran a quick diagnostic on her legs.
"Tsk, Haruno-san. Is that a way to treat your host?" Kabuto chided, staring down at the shaggy strawberry-blonde hair before him.
"I'm sedated, you asshole. And I'm pretty sure you did this." She growled low, her temper getting the better of her. Out of all people to be stuck with, and where, considering that the base must be the hideout in Otogakure, it had to be the one who would mutilate her body for science. She cursed her luck. He smirked, looking down at her half-limp form.
"Why must you assume it was me?" It was Sakuras time to suck her teeth.
"The fact that this sedative is made to only affect my arms, legs and feet, and the volume used must be made to be long-term, which shows quality and maliciousness I could only expect from someone like you." She spat, glaring at him from underneath her bangs. They were starting to grow again, she made a note to trim her hair when she got out. A delighted hum emitted from Kabuto as he lent down to bring her chin upwards with his forefinger and thumb.
"I guess your assumption was correct after all. I appreciate your sentiment, Haruno-san. While I would be delighted to continue these pleasantries, Lord Orochimaru is waiting." Her eyes widened, and her instinct was to scramble away from him. As soon as she made a move to get away however, her body collapsed once again, crumbling to the floor.
"Tsk tsk, Haruno-san. We don't want you to hurt yourself, we have a lot planned for you," Kabuto chided her a second time, grabbing her from underneath and slinging her arm around his neck, "though, the pain would prevent you from trying to escape." He was really getting on her nerves. As he dragged her along, her eyes turned to look over his face, studying his worry lines and early wrinkles developing on his face. Mouth creased into a displeased frown, and his eyes were staring forward, dark irises intensely boring into the hallway as though marching forward. Feeling her eyes on him, he flickered his eyes towards hers, the smirk returning to his face.
"Staring is considered to be rude, Haruno-san." Kabuto stated, watching as the pinkette's face flushed a light red. She huffed,
"It's the only thing to look at besides stone. And the excitement on that wore off a while ago." Humming his acknowledgement, they reached the greatroom where a large figure stood before them. Sakura's adrenaline began to kick in, and her fight or flight instincts were at a losing war with her sedated state.
"Good evening, Lord Orochimaru." Kabuto bowed his head, prompting Sakura to do the same, if not for the opportunity to look away from the sight.
"Hello, Kabuto." She felt his eyes flicker over to her, boring an intense heat through her and melting her. Oh, that was just Kabuto letting her fall to the ground. False alarm. She bit her tongue, instead of cursing him she settled at glaring at Kabuto's shoes near her leg. "Hello, Sakura-san." Orochimaru greeted casually, sending shivers down Sakura's spine. The way her name rolled off his tongue was uncomfortable. Too smooth, but like alcohol left a burning sensation. She looked up, his pale, piercing eyes staring into her jade. She felt faint.
"You must be wondering why you're here," Orochimaru began, walking into the light, the fire illuminating his silky, ebony hair, "student of Godaime Hokage Tsunade, Konoha's Slug-Princess, one third of the three legendary Sannin." He purred, emphasizing the medical nickname of her mentor. Scrunching her brow, while Orochimaru continued his speech of her medical authority, Sakura, beside herself, began to wonder if she was kidnapped to be of medical assistance. While fear pounded in her ears, she only tuned back to reality towards the end of his speech.
"This is why, Sakura-san, we request of your assistance for discovering the problem and executing the solution." Called it. Shaking slightly in her huddled form, she tried to think of the alternatives. Alternative one; she says no and she gets executed in her jellied form. Two; she says yes, tries to escape, gets executed by sound nins. Three; She says yes, then kills the patient, runs away, gets executed. Well yes that seemed to be quite right.
"This will be a tradeoff, you see. You are able to get one request in return." Sasuke. "However, it is not allowed to interfere with my plans." Okay no Sasuke. This gave a great opportunity for later, if necessary. But that's only if her safety is confirmed. Which in order to ensure, she had to play along.
"Sannin Orochimaru," she stumbled over her words slightly, but ventured forth her head lolling slightly, "if I take this offer, and complete the task required of me," she shook, her own body's weakness appearing more now than before, but her eyes still gleaned with fire, "am I to be disposed of?"
The silence was deafening for a moment, and Sakura was sure the answer was an absolute 'yes', until Orochimaru's smile stretched across his face humorously.
"Of course you will live, Sakura-san. A successful medi-nin would not be beneficial if they were dead. However, if you are unsuccessful…" He trailed off, his sickening sweet words stabbing Sakura's heart. She breathed out painfully, releasing the breath she was holding.
"My life is forfeit." Orochimaru's smile got even wider, a soft laugh emanating from his body. Out of the peripheral of her eye, Sakura saw Kabuto standing stoically, watching her to see if she'd try anything against his master, presumably. He probably wanted her to, but sadly she valued her life a bit more than that, especially if this meant she was closer to Sasuke than they've been in years. They will finally be closer to bringing him home, but the guilt of agreeing to help the enemy who wants to kill her best friend stung. So much could be done if she was stationed here though, and it wasn't as if she's doing it because she asked for it. And besides, she knew that Naruto will notice she's missing. A rescue squad will come, and hopefully find Sasuke on the way there, as they will be in the same location together. It also meant she would be able to break his walls, hopefully, and find the good-natured man beneath that she knew he was.
Still didn't diminish the guilt, though.
"You will keep your life if you succeed, and you are able to have one request in return. The offer is final." Forcing herself to sit up as straight as she could, holding her head high, she stared at Orochimaru, another wave of adrenaline hit her.
"I don't have any requests," Sakura braced herself, guilt washing over her as sweat dripped from her brow from pain or fear, she didn't know, "but I will accept under the condition that when the time comes, I can use it." Her eyes were locked with Orochimaru's, and she stared into his intense gaze, trying to hold her own. His smile faltered slightly, but amusement was still found in his eyes.
"If you succeed." She nodded.
"If I succeed." There was a battle of wills, one fighting more battles than the other at that moment, but resolution was strong with both. After a final nod, Orochimaru turned his head to Kabuto, finally acknowledging him since the beginning of the meeting.
"Take her to him."
And with that, she sold her soul.
Kabuto led her deeper into the base, locating her in what seemed to be a medical lab filled with test tubes and old hospital cots. It was then she was lowered to the ground and left, but before she could comment on his rudeness, Kabuto returned with a wheelchair for her to sit in.
"I'm not allowed to walk until I finish." Sakura stated angrily, as questioning would be fruitless when she knew the answer, as Kabuto picked her up from the floor and placed her in the chair, which wobbled slightly from the new weight placed into it.
"We specifically got this for you, as Lord Orochimaru would never allow his followers to be in a lame state," Kabuto smirked, pulling back and looking her in the eyes, "And hopefully it will prevent me from throwing my back out because of you." Feeling a vein tick in anger, she poked her only movable appendage out at Kabuto, which happened to be her tongue. Seeming proud of himself, Kabuto moved behind Sakura and began to wheel her toward the far side of the medical lab where the hospital cots were located, and the sound of rattling and a heart monitor began to get louder. Once they reached the table, Sakura gasped in shock at the sight in front of her.
A very, very pale man with a sunken in face. Sweat stuck his snow white hair to his face, and the rattling of his breath almost made it hard for Sakura to breath, herself.
"We don't know what's wrong with him. It's terminal, that we do know. He's been comatose for a few years since the last battle he had, where he collapsed." Kabuto explained, looking down at the corpse-like body in front of them. "His heart stopped then, but Lord Orochimaru suspended his end." Sakura stared at the chest, shuddering with each intake of air.
"Why did he keep him alive?" She couldn't believe the inhumanity before her, the force of life upon someone who shouldn't have to endure this type of pain he must be feeling. Though medically unconscious, she could sense that he still felt the pain.
"His kekkei genkai is extraordinary, the last of its kind." Kabuto stated, as though it explained everything, pulling a serum from his pocket. Sakura looked at him, seeing him with a needle filled with fluid.
"This will allow movement in your arms. You are not allowed contact with any sharp objects without my supervision. No questions about what he is to be used for or plans outside of what you need to know." Kabuto was in lecture mode, apparently, as he administered the serum. Sakura huffed, feeling like she was being treated as a child. She soon began to feel her arms again, and turned around to see Kabuto out of arms reach, for whatever reason.
"You are to begin now. Your new home will be this lab. A bathroom is through that door," he pointed to the left-most door, "and I will continually monitor your progress. We have no records on his clan, and his biology is different from ours. Any questions you may have, refer to my notes provided on the desk." And with that, he nodded, and left them alone. The man in the medically induced coma and the woman with medically induced paraplegia.
Fate had a twisted sense of humor.
Sakura sighed, and wheeled herself over to the notes that Kabuto left on the desk for her. Picking them up delicately, she flipped the page and saw the identification form, stating the patients name; Kimimaro Kaguya. The familiarity sprang up from her memory, where Rock Lee gushed about their journey and how they fought the 'monster of bones'. The story of what this man is capable of in a dramatically weakened state unsettled her, and skimmed the page of his weight, height, and muscle/fat ratio. The next page listed what was already known due to the kekkei genkai of what Kabuto has studied.
Sadly, it wasn't much. The Shikotsumyaku allowed Kimimaro to manipulate his osteoblast and osteoclast cells, so regenerating bone was no problem for him. He had insanely fast regeneration skills because of this, which allowed him to seal himself back up without any medical assistance. Another checkbox of don't mess with him was ticked in her brain. Finally, she found a very minor section detailing about the Earth Seal. Knowing that Kabuto would've removed this if unnecessary, she also couldn't help but wonder if he assumed she wouldn't base her research around it as well.
The Earth Seal increased Kimimaro's strength and regenerative abilities. Another horrifying discovery of hers today, she noted, and it's sister seal, the Heaven Seal, has similar properties. Sasuke.
Shaking her head, she had to ward off the excitement and fear of the prospect of seeing him again. Now that her home was a dungeon, there was more than likely going to never be a chance of her seeing him. But, doesn't mean he won't be close. Which was very good for Konoha, Naruto, and selfishly, yes, her. It's not like she could help it, she's loved him since they were children. While he broke her heart the night he knocked her out, she realized her original love was childish. She was infatuated with the idea of him, a dark, mysterious, calm boy but she didn't understand his frustration and anger underneath, even when he so blatantly stated it multiple times.
This time, she would do better. She would support him through his pain, and hopefully be able to bring him happiness.
For now though, she needed to focus on bringing this paper doll back to form. Which, honestly, was terrifying her. The state of him thus far basically showed that if he dies under her watch, which is much, much more possible than the prospect of saving him, she's dead before rescue. She wondered if Orochimaru set her up for failure for fun, considering how ruined the man in front of her was. Looking at the basic description of his illness; bloody cough, weight loss, coughing, chest pain, deterioration of the lung, fatigue, night sweats.
Grabbing some scrap paper and pen, she rolled herself over to Kimimaro and sighed. She was in it for the long haul, wasn't she? She placed her hands on his chest to run a diagnostic, but felt a budge hitting her chakra.
He was blocking her out.
Writing down this discovery, she thought back to what Tsunade taught her about relaxing the client for their chakra to relax, as well. If the unconscious body did not find her threatening, then the chakra shouldn't either.
Gently, she began the traditional bedside manner expected of her with an awake patient and began to coo softly to the body.
"Hello, I'm Sakura Haruno." She began, pausing to see if there would be any neural response. Nothing.
"I was brought in to help you with your, situation. I would like to try and help you, Kaguya-san, but first I need to run tests on you," she said gently, slowly rubbing his bone-thin arm softly in a comforting manner, "it won't hurt. I promise."
Feeling silly, she sat there in silence with the somehow-not-dead-body, still stroking his arm awkwardly as she tried to understand why she was so compliant with this whole ordeal. She was Sakura Haruno. The Sakura Haruno, student of the Fifth Hokage, a girl who took down Sasori of the Sand with Chiyo-baasama. She can shred the earth with her bare hands and knock down armies with a single punch.
But here she is. In a wheelchair. In front of an almost fully dead missing nin, threatened with her life if she doesn't cure him. Tears began to sting her eyes as she thought about how pathetic she had to be to get into this mess. She couldn't even remember how it happened.
They were on another mission due to an Akatsuki sighting by a civilian. They were immediately ambushed by two figures, but, before they could register in her vision, everything went black. Groaning she rubbed her hands at her eyes, trying to stop the tears in case Kabuto came in. She would show no weakness to him, or anyone. After wiping her hands on her clothes, she wrote down her soothing methods on Kimimaro in case they help him relax eventually, and if they don't help, then she has a record on what not to do. She then began a visual diagnostic first to try and get more acquainted with his disease.
She regretting pulling off the cover.
His whole body was white. Not just pale, haven't been in the sun white. Pure, no blood flow white on the front with bed sores and purple marks on the back of him. She would have to be gentle or she would risk hurting him more, apparently. Gently massaging his arms, then his legs, and his stomach, and his back, she worked the blood flow up and down to try and stimulate his circulation. Once she noticed some color returning, she began to gently apply antiseptic to his sores to try and lessen them before she began trying chakra treatments.
Hours passed as her topical treatments continued, and she was getting tired. Suddenly feeling a familiar chakra approaching, she turned her head to the door and rolled her wheels back.
"Hello, Yakushi-san." She greeted, piling her notes onto her lap. She noticed he brought a bowl of what seemed to be food and placed it on the desk. While fully sure it wasn't tampered with due to them needing her, she was still uncertain about eating it before testing it for poison. Motioning with a nod towards Kimimaro, Kabuto was silently requesting for updates.
"He has severe bedsores and blood flow blockages in his body, I've already began working on moving his circulation back into his hands and feet." Giving him a pointed look, Kabuto just smirked and nodded for her to continue.
"I also noticed he rejects my chakra." His smirk dropped, and he stared calculatingly at the body and dipped his head.
"It seems his resolve is strong. You'll have to break through." Rolling her eyes, she slowly began to move towards the desk and saw the simple warm udon waiting for her. The smirk returned, watching as she tried to situate herself comfortably in her seat.
"You seem to be doing well in your new wheels." Scrunching her nose in distaste, she picked up the chopsticks and inspected them lightly.
"I better not get muscle atrophy because of you." Amusement danced in his eyes. He was having way too much fun with this.
I hope you guys like this! That's it for chapter one. Please let me know if you'd like for me to continue, please review!
