Empty Eyes: Book 1

Chapter 21

Death feels like a very hot and deep body of water, swirling dangerously in a mess of emotions. Bubbles danced around my body as I fought to come back to life, disgust at Gaara's betrayal making my lungs feel heavy.

If I was dead, how come I kept trying to swim to the surface? Shouldn't I just give up and accept my terrible fate? Sasuke's face had been the last one I saw, so at least I hadn't died alone.

The memory of the Suna king's attack played on repeat, the image distorting in the water as I struggled. I'd thought he could potentially be someone trustworthy who'd put in the effort to understand humans for my sake, but I'd been terribly wrong. That mistake cost me my life. His bloodlust overpowered all other emotions he may have held for me.

The water rumbled around my aching body, like someone was trying to speak to me from the surface, but it was unintelligible. I stopped flailing in an attempt to hear better only to start floating upwards. An abrupt pain shot through my chest and suddenly I was awake and struggling to intake a breath for my burning lungs.

"Oh, thank God!"

Ino's familiar voice met my ears as clearly as could be. My eyes shakily danced over to see her crying into Sai's chest as he held his arms around her shaking form. "I-I'm alive? What..." I tried to sit up, but a hand gently lay on my shoulder and stopped my efforts. My gaze fell heavily on Hinata's concerned features.

"Hinata? What're you doing here? What's going on?" A raw pain raked through my throat with each word.

Her soft voice replied hesitantly, "You've been in a coma for six days. Please don't move."

A jolt of surprise shot through my limbs and I tried to sit up once more, only for her to push me back down, "What! Six days?"

She nodded, "You lost a lot of b-blood. I was asked to keep an eye on you while Sasuke's away."

My heartbeat was beating in my ears like it had in that room with Gaara, making me squeeze my eyes shut in fear of the memory, "Where is he? Is he okay?"

Hinata hesitated, but eventually responded, "Lord Fugaku sent him away to calm down while he, Lady Mikoto, and Lord Madara try to mend things with S-Sunagakure."

Ino spoke in a shrill voice suddenly, "Sasuke and Gaara almost killed each other!"

My eyes shot open in shock and I pushed past Hinata's hand to sit up, "They what!" My vision darkened and a sharp pain zapped through my body. A small cry of pain cut past my grit teeth.

Soothing hands helped me relax back against the pillows and I felt a cold cloth be placed against my forehead. Ino sounded guilty as she elaborated, "I'm sorry! Hinata said not to stress you out, but I thought you'd want to know."

My head was pounding so hard that I couldn't bear to open my eyes, but my mind reeled with worry. Is he okay? Was he hurt badly? When will he return? The Hyuga heiress placed a cold hand against my warm cheek, "He'll be home in a few days. Please focus on your recovery in the meantime. You almost died so your body still needs time." She wasn't lying. My entire body was sore, like I'd been severely beaten. The headache I was struggling with hurt worst of all.

For the next few days, I was stuck in bed and barely able to move on my own as I tried to rest.

Naruto visited because Ino'd sent him a letter while I was still in a coma, telling him I'd been in some kind of accident to mask the fact that a vampire tried to kill me. He wasn't allowed to find out about the Uchiha secret, so we had to be careful in his presence.

My childhood friend was hellbent on breaking me out of the castle before "that damned Sasuke brat" could return. Luckily, Hinata convinced him to abandon that quest before he could cause too much trouble. He even spent the night on the couch under the guise he was worried about me, but I knew he just wanted to take advantage of this chance to spend time with Hinata. It didn't offend me and I was even happy that at least someone was benefiting from my misfortune.