Lost
- "What is going on?" Lady Eboshi snaps.
Sakura half-turns to her, her eyes shadowed. "I am not who you perceive. I lied to you all, but that's my duty. Now, I suggest you take your leave."
"How dare you speak so rudely to Lady Eboshi!" Gonza yells.
Sakura spins around and glares at him. "What's happening is important, and I am the only one who knows of it. Now, go."
The gate shudders from a great pressure of some kind, and she curses internally. Looking over all the people, Sakura briefly wonders whether they can help, but she quickly discards those thoughts. The villagers are exactly that; simple villagers. They aren't the kind of people who know how to fight. Having no one present who can help, she decides to try the safest way; on her own. She pulls out her gloves from a pocket and slips them on. The only hitch is that she doesn't quite expect what happens next to come so quickly. Her eyes flit to the gate, wide-eyed, but she buries her shock down.
The foreboding heaviness of that which is impossible to forget suddenly comes down. It's impossible to ignore and there's no one who experiences who won't know it instantly again. Though, judging from the villagers reactions, he's still too far away for their senses to perceive. Hatred sweeps over her, and she struggles to regain control of her emotions. Then she realises her hatred might actually be of some use. Sakura decides to change her plans, and makes her way to the gate.
"Wait!" Ashitaka exclaims. "What are you doing? Tell me what's going on!"
"No one opens the gate," Lady Eboshi commands. "Tell us now."
"No, and you can keep this gate closed if you want. It won't stop me," she murmurs, trying to place the source.
She closes her eyes in concentration, then, with a precise aim, she punches the gate. Instantly it buckles and shatters with splinters of wood scattering everywhere. Her eyes peer through the dust to see where her target is. Though, as the dust settles, it's clear that there's no one in sight. Somewhat irked, she races off, leaving the villagers shell-shocked. San, being the first to come to her senses, leaps onto her wolf brother's back. They race after her, desperate for answers.
"Ashitaka, what's going on here?" Lady Eboshi stammers. "That girl, she broke down the gate… What's happening?"
"I honestly can't tell you Lady Eboshi," Ashitaka stares. "I don't know what's happening either, but I think she's right. Maybe we should leave for now. Take the boats out onto the water, you should be safe there."
"What about you?" Toki exclaims. "You're not running off after them, are you? Ashitaka, don't be so stupid, come with us."
"You need to get to the boats, but I can help. I know I can," he replies. "Go on, I'll be fine."
"Alright, everyone to the boats. Hurry up, we don't have time to waste," Lady Eboshi orders.
"You heard Lady Eboshi! Hurry up, hurry up!" Gonza bellows. "What're you waiting for? Get working slacker!"
"Be careful Ashitaka," Lady Eboshi warns him.
"Wait!" San yells.
Not expecting to have anyone to contend with, Sakura skids to a halt. "You're the girl from before... I can't leave this forest, not now. I'll be gone when I'm finished."
"No, tell me what's happening," San snarls. "I need to know what's happening or I can't do anything!"
"You can turn around, because you'll only hold me back," Sakura snaps. "I don't have time to waste on you."
"This is my home. I won't just let you do what you want here. Let me do something, or you won't be going any further," San says. "My brothers and I will fight you, and we won't hold back."
"You can't come with me," Sakura warns. "You don't know anything that's happening. You really should go. I'll try not to tear your home apart."
Before they can further protest, she disappears. San kicks a fallen branch and it shatters against a tree. Her brothers are trembling in fury and in no condition to calm her down. They quickly take off again, letting their feral instincts take over.
The trees stretch onwards and higher in every direction. There's nowhere that isn't a brilliant emerald, with varied spots of brown. It's here where Sakura lands, having decided not to traverse along the treetops any more. Warily, she glances at her surroundings. Upon finding that there's no one around, she frowns. She was expecting more of a trail now that she's gotten so far in.
"How long will this person run?" she asks, quietly.
A soft sound, almost passable as the wind, rustles in the undergrowth. Instantly, her highly trained senses detect it. She turns, weapon at the ready for anything. That's when it suddenly dawns on her. She steps back, returning her kunai to her pouch. She glances around for signs of life, or something unusual. Her eyes close and she tries to focus on hearing someone, but it's utterly silent. At her sides, her fists clench.
"Where are you? Come back here! I know you're here!" she yells, and then quietens. "Stop toying with me."
Still, the forest remains utterly silent, and without movement. Sakura glances around herself, turning at the shadows that sometimes shift even if only slightly. There's nothing to lead her to the person she's chasing. Frustrated, she throws a kunai and it slices deep into a tree.
"Be careful with that!" Ashitaka exclaims, closely followed by San and her brothers.
She spins round on her heel, and stares at them incredulously. "What are you doing; I told you to leave!"
"I live here, and I can defend my home!" San snaps. "If anyone should leave; it's you."
Sakura suddenly freezes. Slowly, she turns back around. Her eyes scan the forest making note of every detail. Then, she smiles at San. "This forest is your home, right? So, then perhaps you can explain why this forest is silent and motionless?"
It's clear from San's expression that she doesn't have an answer, but she feels that Sakura might. Her wolf brothers drop lower into a crouch and snarl, bearing their fangs. San talks to them quietly and calmly, and their frayed tempers start to quieten. Deep in thought, Sakura's mind is taking the different strange sightings and trying to fit them together. From her expression, she's probably getting a, somewhat shaky, idea of what's happening.
"What's going on?" Ashitaka asks. "Tell us what's happening."
"You will never understand, so don't even try," Sakura sighs. "Please just go. I'll make sure this forest isn't badly damaged. Let me do this."
"You've brought nothing but trouble, we have no reason to trust you," San snaps. "Leave or take us with you."
Sakura sighs, exasperated. She knows if she runs, they'll all catch up to her at some point or another. Although, if she takes them with her, they'll only be a hindrance. She can't afford to be held back at any time, and if she is, it won't go well. She grasps her hair in vexation while San's sure they won't be left behind. Then, Sakura turns away from them. She looks ready to admit surrender…
San stirs, the irksome light shining down onto her eye lids. Slowly, she opens her eyes to find herself lying under a tall tree. Her brothers and Ashitaka and close by, but Sakura is nowhere in sight. She grits her teeth in irritation, and pushes herself up. She knows they weren't in this area of the forest when they caught up with Sakura. She's so angry that she goes over to Ashitaka and hits him hard, jolting him awake.
He flinches as she starts pacing. "Where are we? I don't recognise this place."
"Of course you don't!" San shrieks. "This is the other side of the forest to where that woman was. I swear; she's as evil as Eboshi. I'm going to find her."
"Wait, San, maybe she's right," Ashitaka says, carefully. "It could be dangerous where she's going. Don't you think we should listen to her? She clearly knows something we don't."
"Go away," San yells. "You're not helping. Go that to that village of cowards and hide."
Her brothers stand up, already following her. Although he's not convinced they should be interfering, he reluctantly follows them. Ashitaka pulls on Yakul's reins and he stirs.
"There," Sakura mutters quietly.
Iron Town is miles away. The forest here has become almost swamp like. The ground and tree bark is somewhat loose, and not meant for combat. It might be a struggle to even stay on her feet. She doesn't want to expend chakra to her feet to stay upright. After all, that would leave her at a disadvantage.
She jumps down, landing in a rugged clearing clearly formed of nature's perfect imperfections. She straightens up and lowers her hand to her pouch. She's finally found who she's been looking for all this time. Although, Sakura does curse that she didn't realise sooner. She silently draws a kunai, but keeps it hidden.
"So, I've finally found you," she comments.
Standing atop an elevated mound, directly opposing her is who she's searched for. The elevation, albeit small, gives him an added advantage. A low chuckle emanates, and he turns slightly. His eyes bore holes into her soul. Those eyes full of evil and death. She'll have to be wary.
"So, you escaped the genjutsu, I am impressed," come the maliciously intent words from Uchiha, Madara.
Author's Note: Hi, I hope you enjoyed reading the chapter, and I'm sorry to leave it there. It shouldn't take me too long to get back to this story on my update list though; despite a minor set-back. I know this wasn't the most interesting chapter. It's kind of filler-ish, but it needed doing. I do hope you'll stay with me until next time.
Until then, zai jian!
(I personally do not know if swamps exist in Japan, which is it is stated as swamp-like. Also, I believe Yakul is the name of the red deer creature Ashitaka has faithfully following him; I may be wrong)