The Crazy Art Called Love

39 | Bleeding and Drowning

~~Lloyd's POV~~

My arm was losing more and more blood by the second. Ultra Violet's knife really cut deep through my skin before I could barely comprehend what was happening. But it wasn't just physical pain she inflicted. She spoke nothing but the truth. I failed as the Green Ninja every time I tried to save the city.

There were more people I couldn't save than the ones I could save. Ultra Violet was the only one brave enough to go out for revenge, but knowing the people, there may be more. Her words stuck in my mind. Replaying themselves over and over again to serve as a reminder of how much I have failed the city.

"Lloyd? Hey, hey, it's okay." I could hear Harumi's cries as she crouched down beside me and when I turned my head to see her, her beautiful face had been beaten up.

There was a black circle around her left eye and her cheeks were swelling with bruises. Not to mention the small mark the blade of Ultra Violet's trident left on her neck. I immediately forgot my pain and went to reach my good hand on her face.

"Doesn't look very princess-like to me." I whispered and traced the bruise on her cheeks.

"Now's not the time for jokes, Greenie. We need to get you out of here." She grabbed my hand and immediately brought it back down to my stomach.

I was not used to being weak. I'm the leader of the ninja team and I've endured a lot more than anyone could ever have in their lifetime. I was not going to show weakness now.

But when I watched as Harumi took off her jacket, leaving her with just a white shirt, and tie it around my arm to stop the blood from flowing out, my guard immediately went down. I didn't have to hide anything from her.

"Rumi, I'm getting dizzy." I admitted. The temple started spinning a few minutes ago and it's getting faster and faster by the minute.

"Okay, just hold on, Greenie. I'm sure Nya or Pixal can patch you up, we just need to get you out of—" She stopped talking and looked out towards the entrance of cave. "Here."

I could hear flowing. I opened my eyes and found water entering the cave. Could this get any worse? Harumi started running around the place to try and find an exit but we were cornered with absolutely no escape.

If we were going to die, I might as well ask. 

"Rumi, do you think I failed as the Green Ninja?"

Everything that Ultra Violet had said stuck in my head. This may be the result from all the blood I lost, but I was slowly losing hope that we could get out. The water went up to my feet and I could feel its cold temperatures on my shoes.

"Lloyd, now is not the time to doubt yourself." She responded as she ran back to me, the water splashing around her feet as she moved.

"When will it be then? She's right, you know." I looked down and sighed. "I'm no hero."

"Hey, don't say that. You have earned that title and deserve it more than anyone does." Harumi placed a hand on my cheek to get me to look at her. She was crouched down in front of me as the water continued to rise.

"But the people—"

"The people should not always depend on you to save them. They need to learn how to help themselves too. If anything, they should be grateful someone is trying to save them in the first place."

I opened my mouth to speak but she cut me off before I could.

"If it weren't for you, the city wouldn't be standing in the first place. You are a hero, Lloyd. You sacrifice a lot just to save this world and I don't see anyone willing to do the same over and over again." Harumi smiled and caressed my cheek. Her touch was so soft I easily melted into the palm of her hand.