Unfurling Bud

Chapter Ten

I woke up, clamping a hand to my mouth to muffle my screams. To my left, Tsunami stirred slightly. Beads of sweat dripped from my forehead and down my cheeks; my hand holding the covers in a death grip. I forced myself to calm down, combing my bangs out of my face and getting out of the stuffy futon. My clammy hand shook as I grasped frantically for the door. Finding that I couldn't open it without making a huge racket, I slid to my knees, clasping my hands to my mouth in an effort not to throw up.

"SAKURA, get help!" Naruto yelled out, clutching a bleeding wound and on the verge of unconsciousness. His face was cut and bruised, angry swelling clearly visible. I could only look on helplessly, my own face fairing slightly better than his. Unlike normal days, his hair was dyed a muddy maroon color, a trickle of crimson dribbling past his cracked lips. Eyes wild, he continued to fight against a shadowed enemy; slashing and cutting, jumping and dodging.

A scream tore through the air. Naruto! I turned-

Kakashi's desperate voice ran out, "Quickly, run! At least you'll be able to make it out safely!" I shook like a leaf. Even Kakashi was like this... He was our teacher. If... If he couldn't handle the enemy... I prepared to take off, legs buckling slightly.

"You... abandoning your teammates... What kind of scum are you?" I glance back, meeting pitch black eyes. W-what? "Getting help? You're probably going to just run away."

"No!"

"We all know that by the time you get 'help' we would be all dead anyways. Better to stay and fight if you have any shred of strength." After glancing at my shivering form, he scoffed, quickly slashing through someone as if they were an inanimate object. "Never mind, go. It's not like you would've been of help anyways."

I forced myself out of my frozen state, "I'll... I'll stay." At that moment, a masculine yell rang out the open battle field.

My heart dropped to my stomach. Nonono!

But before I could turn, the scene crumbled like a million rocks. Cries, screams, and shouts faded into nothing but white noise. Images that were once so vividly clear became distorted beyond recognition. As the ground opened and swallowed me whole, I could only hope that I would survive.

...

Was it mere minutes that had passed? Or maybe hours? Time... was practically nonexistent. I hadn't the slightest clue.

Falling.

Falling.

Falling. It was endless.

Really, by now, all I cared about was making it to the ground. I was going to go insane! With the way the cold held my bare throat, the unsettling darkness, complete quiet, my utter confusion... I was breaking. And fast.

Bam!

My back grinded against the floor, making me let out a pathetic yelp. Grimacing, I held a hand to my back. Did I break anything? I lifted my other hand to lightly prod my back for any shifting bones. Nothing. I shifted myself so I was somewhat in a sitting position. What now?

Breathing softly, I shakily stood up, using the floor to stand up. Panic and fear wrestled furiously in my mind, making my heart beat quicker with each passing second. Sight was something I depended on the most. Without it, I was as almost as good as dead. Or forever maimed. I didn't know which was worst.

A thunderous crash sounded from behind me. I jumped, whirling back with a frightened expression. "Sakura." Their voice flowed gracefully like a waterfall, but lacked a sort of human quality that made it seem strangely hollow. I pressed my lips shut, clenching my fists at my sides. "You don't belong here demon." I shuddered at the freely expelling killing intent, not daring, no, unable to move. It felt like multiple spears were stabbing into me, twisting when it went in, pulling back and going in once again. My mouth was bone dry, cold sweat building gradually on my forehead.