Sasuke had never really been a nostalgic person. Completely the opposite.

Usually.

Up until now.

But there was something about hospitals. Sitting there, knowing that there are operations, transplants, surgery.. Dying going on around you.

Then there are the children.

Children with cancers of various types.

Abused children.

Handicapped children.

Children in wheel chairs.

Then there were girls.

Eating disorders.

Bones jutting out from their sides, thin, gaunt faces, hair which fell from their heads, lashes that came out so easily, brittle bones, no chest to speak of, sick.

Bulimics.

Bags of vomit being carried from rooms.

Red raw knuckles.

Decaying teeth.

Oesophagus torn.

Pneumonia.

Sasuke shifted.

Then there were the accidents.

Broken backs.

Broken necks.

Sasuke was thankful, Neji had not been so badly hurt.

"You can see him now."

Sakura stood in front of Sasuke, hands clasped around a clipboard, her hair coming out of some sort of bun. Her eyes looked tired.

Sasuke stood.

"Sasuke."

"Yeah?" He turned to look back at her.

"Have you thought about flowers?"

Sasuke suddenly felt guilty. Shikamaru had been bringing Neji anything, books, Neji's art folders, flowers, food Neji was partial to, Neji's shampoo, his razor, his clothes...

"Turn down that corridor, to your left."

Sakura smiled brightly, a smile which did not meet her eyes.

"I don't want you to end up completely unhappy."

And then she was gone, he shoes, tocking along the tiles.

Sasuke released a breath he did not know he had been holding. His chest relaxed, his hair fluttered briefly in front of his eyes, only to relax against his temples again.

The shop was weird. There was a tension in the air, as people sought to find suitable gifts. All of them had harassed looks on their faces. Their eyes were circled with dark rings. Sasuke wondered interestedly, if he looked something like this. Worry lines forming on his brow, lips drawn downwards by some pull stronger than gravity. Dark, dark circles under the eyes, making them look like some epitome of the term 'worried utterly sick'.

Yes, Sasuke was worried. About something other than himself.

A lilac colour snagged his eye. It stood out rather than faded away. The lilac was delicate and looked like Neji's eyes. The petals peeked timidly outwards, while the bottom petal curled back in to itself, as though shy. It was just like Neji. Subtle. But...

"May I help you?"

A cheerful saleswoman bustled up to Sasuke.

His throat felt like sandpaper.

Neji...

"I..."

Neji...

He gestured helplessly towards the lilac petals.

"Oh, I see, I'll get them for you shall I?"

Sasuke nodded weakly.

Neji...

"It was you. You. And you never even noticed him! How could you? And now, when he's lying sleeping, near death on a hospital bed, now, you notice him?! What does it take to get your attention?! A near-fatal accident. You are bad for people."

Sasuke felt his throat narrow uncomfortably.

His eyes were watering somewhat.

it was just the pollen.

...

The door in front of Sasuke was wooden. Not anything great. Not special. But... Suddenly it felt like this door led to something Sasuke would love to see, but at the same time, would rather rip his guts out than have to see again. Burying his head in the sand. Turning the other way. Looking away. When all Neji needed was some sort of support. And here Sasuke was, too scared to turn the handle to that world. That world of pain, of twisted emotions, of jealousy, and heartbreak. Of ignorance. And all because of him.

Sasuke's hand had a life os its own.

The door opened.

Sasuke was waiting for something dramatic to happen. A ray of light to come pouring from the room.

Nothing.

Just the expected beeping of the machines. And the grated breathing.

Accompanied by the dripping of the IV.

A melancholic, depressing symphony.

Cautiously Sasuke walked in to the room. Expecting Shikamaru to jump out at him and shout at him again.

Nothing.

Neji was the same. A doll.

It was strange. Neji looked smaller than Sasuke remembered. His frame had shrunk even more. Sasuke moved until his thigh brushed the bed. He looked dead. The only real indication he was alive was the constant beeping, the grated breath, the slow, erratic movements of Neji's chest. His face. His face was so white.

Silence.

It shouldn't be that loud.

Neji's lashes were fluttering.

REM.

Rapid Eye Movement.

What people did when the dreamed.

At least... Sasuke hoped, it might be a good dream.

Unlike the last one.

...

From a bird's eye view, we see the boy with raven locks move closer. Unlike before he makes no attempt to try anything.

Instead he watches.

Maybe he waits.

Outside the evening bird calls, they begin. The silence is filled.

Until the sun sets, that is.

...

"Neh, Sasuke, it seems to me that all you seem to do it stay here... But why is it you only come when Neji sleeps?"

Sleeps.

"Neh, Sasuke?"

Sasuke walks.

"Hey, what's with the attitude?! Hey, Sasuke-moron, DON'T ignore me!!! SASUKE!!!"

...

"Sasuke-kun, Neji-kun, he's not asleep."

Sasuke nods.

"Is the Nara with him?"

Sakura avoids his eyes. Instead she takes a sudden interest in her finger nails.

"Then.. He is."

And Sasuke walks away, shoving the bouquet at Sakura, who once again, leaves them for Neji, in a vase.

...

"Shit."

Neji was stirring.

A groan.

"... H-head..." He raised a frail arm to clutch at it.

Sasuke quickly moved to fetch a damp cloth.

He pressed it urgently to Neji's forehead.

"Is that better?"

Neji knew that voice.

He stared up at dark eyes.

"S-Sasuke..."

Sasuke nodded.

"That's me."

"Shika.. Maru... He... Said."

Sasuke stiffened.

"I'm sorry." He offered it stupidly. What else was he meant to say?

"Don't be."

And even though Neji's voice was hoarse, it did not falter.

"Thanks."

A silence stretched between them, as Sasuke dabbed gently, tenderly at Neji's forehead.

"Sasuke."

"Hnn..."

Sasuke was concentrating on not looking at Neji.

"Look at me."

How could he resist?

Their eyes locked.

Mauve. Obsidian.

So different.

But the connected. Like the rain, and the sun. And even though they are opposite, when they are put together...

"Kiss me."

Sasuke obliged.

They create a rainbow.

Kissing Neji. It was lovely.

It felt strange sometimes. After all kissing your friends... Wasn't that one of things not ever to do in life?

But it was zingy. Electric. Tangy. His toest tingled, and the tingles travelled up through his body, up his spine, all the way to tickle the back of his ears.

But it was natural.

Despite being odd.

As natural as presents every Christmas, as beautiful as July rain, as beautiful as the sea during a storm or..

Sasuke didn't really give a damn.

Who cared?

Kissing Neji...

It was stunning.

And sometimes.

If Sasuke wasn't careful, his heart would leap in to the air.

Leaving Sasuke completely dizzy.