GIVE ME YOUR ANGST (FOR K)

[slugly]

[Tsunade had warned her that sometimes there was nothing you could do to save someone. Sakura had thought she had gotten a taste of it, back when she could do nothing to save Sasuke from leaving the village. But she had a feeling that's not what Tsunade was talking about.

Medical ninjutsu could heal almost any wound -- Sakura could mend bone, stop bleeding, reattach limbs with the ease only her master mirrored. She sent families home together and thanking her and Sakura could only smile that someone didn't have to lose someone important and feel the pain she thought she knew.

It was the first time the patient had gotten to her a bit too late. Later than even she was able to fix. She hated feeling useless but as she pumped chakra into the body and lit the room aglow so the sweat shone on her forehead, she could feel precious life slipping away. The hand clutching at her coat grew limp and lifeless. A life she couldn't save.

The first one.

And the words 'help me' echoed in her mind. Still, she took a deep breath and cleaned up, sent the body to the appropriate place to be examined and all secrets extracted, and cursed herself as the bearer. The look of a heart breaking made Sakura's 'I'm sorry' choked. It seemed hardly enough of a condolence.

It was that mantra of apology in her head that pushed each step as she left the hospital. She didn't want to see anybody, she didn't want to do anything. She might have been content to sit in that room and hold the hand of the patient she couldn't save until her own her own heart stopped.

Tsunade had warned her sometimes there was nothing you could do. She hadn't warned her about the crippling guilt that came with it. Only as fate would have it in her moment of weakness and when she wanted to be alone, she spotted the telltale platinum blonde hair of her best friend/rival ahead of her. She stopped but there was no point in hiding or running away. That wasn't her, anyway.

Out comes a strained;]

Ino...

Comments

[slugly]

[THEY'RE FINE! EVEN IF THEY'RE SMALL.

Okay, she did call her a pig she was sort of expecting it. Doesn't make her any less pissed off though. She slaps a hand to her forehead, covering the seal and glowering at Ino.

For as proud as she is that she has the seal, a part of her (the insecure part) still ached that it was there of all places. She knew what she was getting into and her forehead is a symbol of accomplishment and overcoming odds and matching the power of some of the strongest people she knew.

But it's on her forehead.]

They'll notice the seal first. [She tries to say it confidently because Ino doesn't have the seal, and only her and Tsunade do but

forehead.]

[blondambition]

[Ino knows she has taken it just a step too far; Sakura has always been sensitive about the size of her forehead. It doesn't matter how old they get, how powerful she has grown, old scars are hard to erase. But really, does anyone actually care about the size of Sakura's forehead except Sakura and a handful of mean little girls? Ino never thought so. She's still totally popular (if you counted guys like Lee and Naruto).

Laughing, Ino takes Sakura's hand away from the seal. She gives her friend's forehead an amicable little kiss before patting her cheek.]

Awww, don't be angry! You have a "wide, yet charming forehead", Sakura~

[Ino cannot help herself because younger!Sakura's idea of romance is just hilarious. Wide and charming forehead... oh younger!Sakura, you will forever be Ino's favorite person.]

[slugly]

[She tries to fight it but Ino wins out in the end with Sakura blushing bashfully but still frowning. Mostly because of the cheek pat.

God, no. Not the wide, charming forehead. She'd rather not talk about her forehead at ALL thanks.]

Just make me beautiful, will you?