Journey of the Three Failures

Chapter 17: Winding Paths - A Study in Contrasts

Journey of the Three Failures

Seventeen: Winding Paths - A Study in Contrasts

Part One: Crumble

Hanabi ハナビ

What...? Where ... am I...?

I wonder if...

Am I...?

I am...

I'm alive...

My entire body seemed to ache with each beat of my heart. I figured dead people didn't ache, and I knew their hearts didn't beat.

My eyes cracked open, and I fully woke with a start – trying unwisely to sit up, clutching my belly, thudding onto my back again.

"Lady Hanabi... How are you feeling?"

Awful, I thought.

"I've felt worse," I said, looking to see Harumi and Hikujaku knelt at my futon-side. The woman's left arm hung in a sling, and in the neck of her shirt I could see a layer of bandages that likely covered her torso. Hikujaku's arms held a few stretches of bandaging – sealed chakra points, probably – and a square of cotton was taped to his cheek.

With the solemn distance in the ninja's eyes as they stood motionless sentry, the remorse and the pain, and their dress as always in the typical black of New Konoha... I realized they could just as easily skulk undetected through a soundless night as they could attend a funeral.

"Please forgive us," Hikujaku said slowly. "We failed to protect you from harm. Our performance was unacceptable."

I shook my head slightly. What had happened to me, really? I'd been hit once by Hireiki, I was a little sore with chakra exhaustion ... they were more badly hurt than I was!

I noticed the single crutch lying at Harumi's side. "Oba-san," I said, recent memory coming to mind, "sit however you'd like to. Isn't it painful to kneel with that leg injury?"

She was surprised momentarily, but then gingerly shifted to sit with her legs straightened, revealing the cast plastered on her right foot to upper shin.

I sat up carefully. They're waiting for a tongue-lashing, I realized, when they all got hurt because of me...

My eyes widened.

"What is it, Lady Hanabi?" the kunoichi asked.

"...H-Hitaka-kun," I breathed.

"P-please – do not cry for me."

I turned my head to see another futon not far from mine. There he was. His upper torso was wrapped up tight, like the bandaging was holding him together. His breath was soft, and his face pale, but he was alive. His eyes were weak as he managed a sad, sheepish smile.

"I'm sorry I couldn't do m-more, m'lady. I had never been hit by an arrow before; I'm ashamed to admit the pain proved enough to quickly knock me out..."

I rubbed my eyes furiously. "St-st-stop apologizing!" I said, fighting a smile of relief. "I'm just glad you're okay..."

"My lady is so selfless..." he said admiratively.

I looked back to the other Hyuuga. "So, where are Hiryuu and Hiyuki?" I said, wincing at a thought. "She was hurt pretty badly ... but the medics were able to fix her up, right?" I looked from Hikujaku to Harumi. "...Right?"

My throat was dry; my eyes rounded on Hitaka. "Okay, what happened?! Sh-she wasn't – she didn't...?" I failed to gulp down a knot in my dry throat. "Hiyuki-nee-san ... didn't make it?"