Chapter 14
Landing in a cavern, Gaara and Kyrie look around, finding nothing. Hearing a sound coming from above, they look up to find the hole closing, and then shut. No vine can even be seen in the luminescent cave they are in.
Looking at Gaara, Kyrie gives a half-hearted attempt at a smile. "Thank you."
Turing away she looks everywhere, finding so sign of either Sam or Lee. Having only one tunnel in the room leading out, they head toward there.
Meanwhile, only a room away, yet hidden by a sound proof tunnel wall, Sam and Lee find each other.
"Sam!" "Lee!" They yell at the same time. Running toward each other, they are relieved to find each other boasting no injuries.
"Did the vine pull you in too, after it got me?"
Lee looks at her, somewhat puffing out his chest, and yells, "No! Beautiful Sam, I came after you! I promised I would protect you, and that is what I will do!"
Despite the fact that he had yelled those words (making Sam wince), she was quite happy to see him, and flattered that he would do such a thing. Launching herself at him, she flings her arms around him, giving him a big hug. "Thank you Lee!"
Turning tomato red, Lee nearly faints with the happiness that consumes him.
"Well, well, look what we have here. Sorry to interrupt, but I don't have all day. I must kill you two and then go after the other sacrifice and that pesky Kazekage. The idiots actually willingly jumped in here, I suppose to help you. Ha! Too bad you'll be dead by the time they get here."
Startled, the pair hugging, jumps. Lee moving in front of Sam, protecting her. Looking everywhere, they see no one, until from the deep shadows a man emerges. Boasting a symbol from the Sound Village all over his shirt and pants, it was quite obvious he was Orochimaru's pawn. His hair reaching all the way to the ground, was black and stringy, looking much like he hadn't bathed in awhile. He was also emancipated, looking for all the world, with his loose fitting clothes and protruding bones, like he hadn't eaten in weeks. Worse of all was his eyes. Pure black where white should be and red where a natural looking color should be, his eyes made him look deranged with the feverish glint he had in them. "I haven't eaten or slept in weeks. All the while, watching, waiting, to find traces of the two who came from the other world. Finally, I traced you two to the Sand Village. I must kill you! If I don't Lord Orochimaru will never let me return and become his second in command. That Kabuto will be replaced, by ME!" He has become so fevered, so out of control, he yelled the last of his words, saliva dripping down his mouth.
"This guy is crazy! He's lost it completely! We have to get out of here Lee."
"Do not worry. I will protect you with my life! We cannot flee. He will not stop until you and Kyrie are dead. He must be killed. Get back, I will finish this."
Lee lunges at the Sound ninja, but suddenly vines grow from the ninja, hitting Lee in the chest and back at the same time, tearing him open with the thorns. Lee falls to the ground.
Sam rushes over to him. Lee pushes her back and staggers to his feet. "No, I am fine. I've had much worse. Stay back, I do not wish for you to get hurt."
Once again Lee lunges at his enemy, dogging the vines, moving so fast neither Sam nor the enemy can keep up. Wham! The enemy goes flying, having connected with the wrong end of Lee's mighty fist.
"Whoa! Oh yeah! Go Lee! Show him who's boss!" Sam yells. Lee turns back to her, smiling and giving her a thumbs up. However, the battle wasn't over, Lee freezes and looks down at his feet. Launched into the air, Sam sees that the vines of the enemy had buried themselves underground, attaching themselves to Lee. Lee hits the ceiling of the cave and falls back down. Sam is horrified.
"NO! Lee!" Seeing another vine, the finishing blow, coming toward Lee, Sam starts to run toward Lee's fallen body. Seeing something on the ground next to her foot, she stops, picks it up, and continues to run.
"No Sam! Stop! Get out of here! Leave me! Find Gaara and get out of here. I'll be fine!"
Not even bothering to reply, Sam continues to run to Lee, trying to outrun the vine that will surely kill him.
3—Almost there
2—I'm not going to make it
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