Unfurling Bud

Chapter One

'...' - Eliza talking to Inner Sakura.

... - Inner Sakura speaking.

A groan escaped my lips, followed by a rare bit of fowl language. Why me...? I grumbled moodily and buried my face into the nearest pillow, trying(and failing)to squash the monstrosity currently beating my brain into mush.

Sobbing mentally and balling my fists, I hit them repeatedly around my head. If anything, that only aggravated the headache some more, but it was obvious that I was in no state to think rationally at the moment.

Luckily, it was only a momentary lapse of stupidity. After massaging and kneading appropriate pressure points, the torturous throbbing quieted to a low hum - a welcome change. Finally content, I opened my eyes- Then promptly shut them. I didn't know what to expect, but it certainly wasn't this.

Wonder what is was?

...pink. It was pink. The rosy color mobbed my vision, causing me to harshly choke on my spit. Pink?! I let out a little squeak. Since when did I have pink pillows? Nonono.

Pushing myself slowly up into a sitting position, I rubbed my eyes roughly and waited for them to clear up. But when they did, my heart almost stopped for a second time. Memory after memory abruptly flooded into my mind, awarding me with yet another splitting headache.

The lasts moments of my death. Ninja. An unfamiliar couple. Blond hair and flowers. Some military academy. A brooding...pretty-boy? I was really starting to get sick, looking through so many images of him... There were thousands, I tell you.

When the multitude of images finished assaulting my mind, I flopped back down onto the unfamiliar bed and curled up into a ball. By now, I was wishing someone would just stab me in the head just to relieve the torture. It felt like something decided to host a boxing match in my head and pounded their fists repeatedly into the walls of my mind. Add in a crowd of roaring fans...and you have succeeded in recreating my worst nightmare.

Let it be known that I was not a happy camper.

...yo...

I could have sworn-

... Yo.

What.

Yo! Inner Sakura here!

...next thing I know I have a talking person in my head. I'm hallucinating, right? Right. Maybe I'll just go back and somehow...float back into my dead body. That's it...I crawled back under the unfamiliar covers and squeezed my eyes shut, wishing desperately to go back to how things were. Let me go back. Please let me go back. Pleasepleaseplease. I'm begging you, okay? Tell me this isn't real. Tell me this is a dream. Tell me-

Are you an idiot?

I bolted upright. Again? Okay, okay. I'll just reply and...see what happens. Calm down and breathe. You got this.

'N-no.'

That's right. So don't pull this hallucinating shit on me!

'So...who were you again?'

The name's Inner Sakura! Listen will ya?

'Alright, I'm Eliza. But if you're Inner Sakura, then I'm, no, the body that I took over is Sakura's?'

Sweetheart, how long did it take you to figure that one out?

I huffed in annoyance. 'Even if you are a complete stranger, I'm just going to say it straight out: I don't like you. Heck, I could be even more truthful and say I hate you. Where is she then?' I felt my heart rate gradually slow, the boisterous voice strangely soothing.