Little Boy Blue

Part 6

The group of three finally made it inside the hospital, and Mori's heart dropped at the sound of innocent people in pain. Everywhere she looked, people were either talking to nurses or medical nin, sitting or laying on the ground in pain, or worse-silent. Tadao shivered and pressed his face closer to his mother as they picked their way through the crowds. Mori put a gentle hand on Tadao as she searched for her husband.

Where was he?

The last time she saw him, Iruka was bringing a comrade to get treated. She also gazed around for her silver haired friend. Knowing Kakashi, he would be out there fighting the unknown figures who had trespassed.

"Mom? Can I go down?" Tadao asked in a small voice.

Mori blinked and placed her son on the hospital tile as her brother placed a hand on her shoulder. She looked up and Hideo, and he pointed silently to one of the entrances.

"He's there," he said, and Mori looked to where he was pointing.

Iruka stood there, talking to a nurse. Tadao looked to where his uncle was pointing and tears pricked his eyes.

"Dad!" he cried out as he ran to his father.

Iruka blinked in surprise as his son ran towards him, a bit dirty but nothing too serious. He picked up the child and Tadao flung his arms around his dad, squeezing with all his might.

"I'm so sorry, Dad. I wanted to see who it was that was in our village and then it came and it was really scary. Mom and Uncle got hurt because of me," Tadao said in a rush.

"I told you, Tadao. Your uncle and I are okay," Mori said, walking to the pair.

Her heart lifted when her two favourite boys looked at her. The wound in her side suddenly flared, and Mori bit her lip to surpress a whimper.

"Mori, are you okay?" Iruka said as he noticed the woman place a hand on her side.

"I'm okay, Iruka," she said.

She glanced around and noticed Hideo talking to a group of Konoha ninja as he eased himself into one of the many chairs dotting the room. Pain flared to life again and she clutched her side, a whimper floating past her lips.

"Mom!" Tadao cried out as he watched his mother brought her hand away, blood staining it a deep red.

Mori dropped to her knees as her vision began to spin, her heatbeat pounding in her ears. Hideo's head snapped up at his nephews cry, and immediately rushed to his sisters side. His eyes narrowed at the blood coming from the wound in his sisters side at an alarming rate. A nurse and medical nin rushed to Mori's side as another wave of pain caused Mori to stiffen.

"Let's get you checked over," the nurse said as she helped support Mori.

Mori's legs wobbled as they slowly led her to a room off to the side. Iruka and Tadao followed, the five year old whimpering quietly as the medical nin poked and prodded at her side. Mori let out a choked cry as the medical nin pushed the edge of her wound.

"You're lucky it didn't pierce anything vital, but you are suffering from blood loss," the medical nin said as he glanced at Mori's face.

"Will Mori be okay?" Iruka said as he put Tadao down.

The five year old raced to his mothers side, arms wrapping around her neck. Mori closed her eyes and held her son to her chest, smiling slightly.

"Yes, we just need to patch her up. Mori needs rest though," she heard the medical nin say.

Iruka was about to say something, but a deep rumble interrupted him. Heads glanced up, and Mori's eyes darted around as she held Tadao closer.

"What was that?" Tadao asked as he clutched at his mother.

"I don't know," Iruka said, glancing around.

Mori bit her lip as the medical nin turned to her, a green glow emitting from his hands.

"Let's get you patched up," he said kindly, and Mori nodded.

She flinched as her wound began to close. Tadao glanced at her face and placed a hand on her cheek.

"Does it hurt, Mom?" he asked in a quiet voice, and Mori gave him a small smile.

"No, Tadao, it doesn't hurt," she said, fighting back another flinch.

The building suddenly began to shake and Mori jumped up, holding Tadao close to her chest as she swayed slightly. Iruka quickly went to his wife's side, holding her up with his arms. People began shouting in the halls as the building shook and swayed. Cracks began to appear along the walls, and medical equipment crashed to the floor. Tadao hid his face in his mothers shirt as the building shook violently.

"Everyone, out of the building!" the medical nin shouted as they ran out of the room.

The trio followed close behind as debris began falling, and people began screaming as chunks of the ceiling began to fall.

"We have to get out!" Iruka said as he held Mori closer.

Mori nodded but glanced around, red eyes searching for her brother.

"Where's Hideo?" Mori said, holding Tadao closer when a piece of ceiling came crashing to the ground close by.

"I'm sure he's okay," Iruka said as he ushered Mori closer to the hospital door.

She felt Tadao shivering in fear and her mind screamed at her to run, to get Tadao to safety...but she didn't want to leave her brother.

A violent shake raced through the hospital, and the building groaned as larger chunks of ceiling and walls began coming down around them. Mori covered Tadao's head with her arm as Iruka threw them away from the chunks. Unfortunately more pieces of ceiling fell, and darkness consumed Mori and Tadao as the hospital collapsed with a thunderous roar around them, drowning out Iruka's cry. She heard Tadao screaming in fear, and held him tighter to her. Mori let out a cry as a piece of ceiling crashed onto her shoulder, but she had to protect Tadao. She felt a bone snap as a big chunk of ceiling fell and hit her, and fire-filled pain raced through her body. Mori wanted to cry in pain, but Tadao needed her. She curled her body around her son, feeling debris raining down on her body as darkness surrounded her and her son. 

Debris and fallen walls had surrounded her and Tadao, trapping them within. She didn't know where Iruka or Hideo was...where they okay? Were they trapped like her and Tadao?

The rumbling and shaking slowed to a stop but Mori still gripped Tadao to her, her eyes clenched tight. Her body screamed in protest, but she still held on. She let out a yelp when a piece of ceiling dropped on her, hitting Mori at the back of her head. Blood spurted from the injury and dripped down her neck. 

Her mind fled into darkness as her body lay limp. Tadao wiggled his way out from his mother's grasp, blinking as her arms fell away.

"Mom?" Tadao whispered in the darkness.

His mother made no sound.

"Mom!"