Log; Complete

[medic-assistant.livejournal.com]

When; Friday, Feb. 16th, afternoon
Rating; G?
Characters; Shizune {medic_assistant} & Kabuto {red_eye_medic}
Summary; With Kabuto having returned to the City, he ever so graciously allows Shizune to try and prove that what happened between them last time he was here actually resulted in a child.
Log;

Shizune had insisted to her teacher she be allowed to do this alone. She knew Tsunade-sama wanted to accompany her, wanted to make sure she stayed safe, that her child stayed safe, but... at the same time, Shizune had to do this on her own. But her heart was heavy as she approached the City fountain, one hand tentatively laid across the bulge at her stomach, undeniably an unborn child, the weight almost cradled in the woman's thick obi.

And she caught sight of Kabuto, the man she had loved, had risked for, given herself to... and her heart sank, not bothering to hide her emotions as she approached, knowing this was the Kabuto who didn't remember her, the one who would always be able to see whatever front she put up.

He couldn't say that it was the warmest greeting he'd ever received. He'd been thrust into a world he didn't recognize (yet apparantly should have), told his master was in the city, and then told he'd sired a child with one of the enemy. He wasn't used to so many unknowns, but he'd be damned if he didn't try to grasp at what he could. And that's why he was waiting at the fountain. Waiting for the woman that he'd been told that not only he'd concieved with, but was in a real, honest-to-god relationship with. But he didn't remember. Time would tell, though, wouldn't it? Kabuto painted the facade of a smile across his face as he saw the woman in question approaching. "Ah, Shizune-san." A hand raised to shoulder level, Kabuto waved slowly, hoping to at least draw her attention.

Shizune did not smile, though, she wanted to. She did. She wanted to smile, to laugh, and see him smiling as well, see him mean it. ... But he didn't mean it now. She could tell, with him, when he had closed himself off and when he was open. When he had been alone with her and said he'd loved her, and when they'd had those days when he'd come back from Orochimaru's and say the same words, but he would not mean them that day. But she came closer, stopping two feet away from the man she had once shared a bed with, looking him in the eye steadily, serious. "Kabuto. ... Welcome back."

Kabuto nodded, the fake smile still plastered to his face, the pleasant eyes hiding behind his round-framed glasses. "Lead the way, Shizune-kun." Kabuto extended an arm out to his side, as if to allow her to walk ahead of himself.

Shizune paused, supressing what she would have done before, which would be to take his arm. ... He'd always made a bit of a show of playing the escort. But she stiffened, her shoulders firming, and she stifled the words she wanted to say, knowing they would do nothing. And she merely led the way...

******

He'd looked over the paper at least 20 times by now, scrutizing it up and down, hoping to find something, anything that could prove this wrong to him. But it just never came. The results were irrefutable. Kabuto sat slowly, and folded the paper, smiling ever the while. He turned to Shizune, eyes closed innocently as he parted his lips to speak through the smile. "It appears that you're right. I'm the father."

Shizune looked at the other medic evenly, unable to speak. ... She waited for his reaction with baited breath, knowing this was not his true face. No... she wouldn't be seeing that again. Not... at the very least, for a long while. ... She awaited further reaction, almost afraid to breathe, as if doing so may cause him to snap, to attack, to... do anything... It took the medic a moment to realize that emotion. ... Fear.

He'd seen that look on only a few faces before. One of absolutely, undeniable fear. And inside, it felt good to see that again... to feel that control slip back into his hand. Kabuto stood, and handed the papers down to Shizune, still smiling, not missing a beat. "I suppose that would mean that I'll be seeing you around, then? Regardless of what happened or how I felt, I assume this leaves me with a responsibility, hmm?" And with that, Kabuto turned to walk out, the smile finally dropping from his face. Where was he headed to? He certainly didn't know. But if now was anything like the times before, he'd certainly find somewhere to go.

She had taken the paper mechanically, not even thinking, almost unable to move until all she saw was his back. Her hands tightened, crumpling the paper in between her fingers. She didn’t need those papers to tell her what she knew, what had happened, who had happened. And she couldn’t just let him walk away like that, not knowing, not caring- “Kabuto, wait.” Shizune had to work to keep her voice level, keep it… remotely in control.

He knew it wouldn't be that easy to up and walk out, but he still had to try. But now that she'd spoken up, the very least he could do was humor her. Reclaiming his false smile, Kabuto looked over his shoulder, his eyes laying on Shizune. "Hmm?"

The medic's breath caught in her throat, her eyes meeting his tremulously before falling. ... He was the only one who made her so weak. Made her... so against her nature. Made her feel so... vulnerable, one hand coming up to cover her stomach almost on reflex. "... Check the networks, Kabuto." She finally said, her voice having fallen to a whisper. "... You were here before, and the records you kept should still be there."

Kabuto turned to face her head on, the weakness in her voice evident. "I don't doubt that I was here before, Shizune-kun. And I also have little doubt that I was in love with you. But thats the operative word. Was. Something happened, and I'm not any more. And there's very little I can do about that. I will help you raise the child, if you like. But asking me to love you again is... out of the question." Eyes closed, a hand raised to wave, Kabuto turned again, and walked towards the door.

Shizune for a long moment did not speak. Her gaze fell, and her eyes closed, hands finally releasing the papers in her hands as she turned her own back, still sitting on the examination table she had chosen for a seat. “… I never asked you to love me again…” She murmured, wanting to be able to reach out, to touch him, to call to him, but knowing any effort would only be in vain.

Kabuto stopped at the door, and turned around, again manipulating his expression to meet the mood at hand. "Hmm? Did you say something Shizune-kun?"

Her shoulders dropped and she drew in on herself, shaking her head, ashamed at how she was handling this. Shizune had gone over this in her mind hundreds of times, how to act, what to do, what to even think if he had returned. But she had never figured out... if she had even wanted him to come back. Half of her said she wanted to see him again, touch him again, love him again... and the other half wished he would never return, so she wouldn't be disappointed. ... And everything she had mulled over didn't even matter anymore. "... No. ... I didn't."

Kabuto nodded, and walked out the door and took a spot on a cold metal bench outside. What had he gotten himself into...