The Pruning of a Sakura Tree

Bloom

The wind on the rooftop whipped Sakura's hair to and fro with wild ferocity. His eyes were incapable of shifting to anything other than the scene before him, unable to look away from the blazing inferno.

He watched as two strangers battled with reckless abandon. Watched as the one with the familiar face proceeded to get hit time and time again, the appearance which had once brought comfort and warmth morphed into a bloodied expression of sheer hatred, something that should never have been portrayed upon that person's face.

His heart released distressed pangs with every blow dealt to the familiar figure, fingers twitching by his side as he watched the fight continue.

Yet this fight wasn't really a fight anymore. No longer was it an exchange of blows. All it consisted of was repetitive thuds, followed by cracks and groans. The red headed figure was crouched upon the silver haired person, fist persistently launching itself towards the bloodied visage of the one below them. Sakura winced as a crunch resonated through the night air, perceiving silver lashed eyes falling shut as the body of Umemiya fell limp to the ground. Yet the blows kept on being dealt. Again and again and again.

Sakura felt his hand twitch.

A thundering roar of fists slamming on flesh continues to ring within Sakura's ears.

Sakura felt his legs tense.

The redhead's smile made Sakura's guts twist into a cavernous hole, tearing apart his insides.

A shuddering inhale.

A figure jumped to the air.

A fist slammed into skin.

A body was flung across the rooftops pavement.

Sakura's mind was blank, the repetitive thudding from earlier replaced with that of his heart, mixed with the disharmonious heaving of his lungs. His knuckles tingled with slight pain from the previous impact, a dull ache that Sakura could hardly pay attention to. Instead, his eyes remained wide, fixed on the mess of crimson that stained the concrete by his feet. With a raspy breath, Sakura pried off his jacket, blanketing the figure with trembling arms.

"Move"

The blanket had scarcely landed upon the form of Sakura's senior before a blow was planted upon the boy's cheek.

His head swung to the side, blood seeping into his mouth, pain permeating his body. Yet still, Sakura remained rooted to the ground. He could not let this person touch Umemiya again, he would never let that happen, and he was willing to put his life on the line to protect the boy behind him.

A punch to the gut left him heaving, saliva passing through his lips as he was left to wonder if he could ever breathe again. His eyes felt unsteady, arms trembling by his side. But his legs held firm as the trunk of a tree, refusing to buckle beneath the weight of his blow.

A kick was launched to the side of his arm, resulting in an ear splitting crack. Sakura wondered if he was going to die, his eyes jolting to the sight of his left arm, witnessing the manner in which his humerus had been snapped in two. The pain felt blinding, as though he were young again, back pinned to the wall as figures sneered with contempt and malice. He wanted to keep their hands away from him, wanted to shield himself from their eyes, he wanted to stay alive. He needs to survive.

It was like the blooming of a sakura tree.

His figure was high in the air, a silhouette painted against the moon. His leg shot out from beneath him, a blur reminiscent of a flurry of petals. A crunch resonated across the rooftop as Sakura's foot connected with Takiishi's cheek, sending the redhead flying to the ground. Sakura could scarcely think as his form reconnected with land, panting shaky breaths as he stood in front of Umemiya once more. He tried to clear the fog in his brain, eyes focusing on the form of Takiishi that lay crumpled before him. He watched as the body twitched, watched as it rose once more like a reanimated corpse. His eyes met with deadly amber, a shiver ran across his entire body.

Takiishi smiled.

The redhead's eyes pierced into him, spearing through his body and pinning him into place. Sakura couldn't look away, not when a beast so ferocious could attack him at any moment, rendering him a bloody pulp much like the one that lay behind him. Thus the two continued to stare at one another, visions of gold and grey.

"Hey, I want him." The stand off was cut short as Takiishi's head turned to focus on Endo instead, his bone chilling smile shifting to an impassive slate.

"Oh?" Endo mused, lips curling upward as his eyes narrowed, flitting to glance at the two toned boy. "I see~ I guess we are in need of something to spruce up our headquarters, hm. I'm sure that a bonsai would fit in quite nicely with us."

Sakura's eyebrows furrowed, looking alternatively at the two, unsure as to what was happening.

"Enough with the riddles. I said I want him, so get him" The redhead huffed, rolling his eyes before facing Sakura once more.

With an amused chuckle, Endo began to approach the heterochromatic teen, eyes sparkling with mirth as Sakura tensed, senses on high alert from the two presences that surrounded him.

"Hey Sakura, you know that offer we made earlier..?" Endo drawled, undeterred by the scowl that warped Sakura's face. "I'd like to offer it again. You see, your beloved little school is currently in a little bit of trouble, right? And you wouldn't want any of your friends to get too badly hurt right?"

Sakura couldn't stop himself from looking to Umemiya's body that remained unconscious on the ground.

"Well, this could all come to a stop if you just come with us. It looks like you've captured my beloved's interest, and you've already captured my heart~ And I'm sure you'd love it at our headquarters, we wouldn't let you grow soft like the rest of this pathetic school-"

Sakura's hackles rose up at the slander, a low growl emitting from his throat. Despite the threat, Endo's smile only grew, teeth peeking from past his lips as he opened his mouth once more.

"Besides, you wouldn't want anything worse to happen to your captain, Umemiya, would you~"

It felt as though Sakura's body had been plunged into glacial waters, eyes widening at the threat. He thought of those kind ocean eyes, warm touches upon his head and peaceful sanctity that eased his mind. He couldn't let anything bad befall that person, couldn't bear the thought of disappointed, heartbroken expressions that would plague him if the silver haired teen were hurt any further. He would never let that happen.

So, even as his hands trembled, even as throat seized, even as sirens blared within his mind, he gave a response.

"Okay... I'll do it."

Takiishi's pupils dilated, fixed only upon the shivering boy before him, mouth curved to meet both his cheeks.

Endo's teeth were completely bared, face shining in pure delight at the affirmation. "Good boy~" he purred.

Sakura could only do his best to prevent his legs from giving out from beneath him as he was faced with two blasphemous smiles. He felt as though he had just made a deal with the devil.