Chapter 9: Attack Continued
AU: Now we see what happens to Lori! And some of the aftermath!
Listen to "Youth - Daughter" as it sets the mood! Listen throughout the whole chapter!
Chapter 9
The ninja dashed through the trees towards the sound of the blonde's ear shattering scream of bloody murder. Rain started to pour from the grey clouds above as thunder cracked throughout the sky. Tobirama was in the lead as he was hailed as the 'Fastest Shinobi of His Time'. Shisui right behind him.
Something made their chests pound rapidly. It was fear but something else too. Adrenaline? Yes. Fear for their safety? No. They didn't know why they felt fear. All they knew was that the blonde's screams of torment were deafening in their ears. They didn't like the girl's screams, and in fact it made their blood boil. They, after all, didn't like to see women hurt in any way.
As they neared the spot where Lori's chakra was he felt two other chakra's, they were small and could hear the fierce barks, growls and snarling of fighting. There was a howl as Lori's chakra was fading drastically.
Lori falls down to the cold stone of the cliff, the palm of her hand digging into her right eye. Torment seared her body like Hellfire. Her blood boiling. But not from anger, no it was a completely different feeling than that which Lori was used to. It was fear. No fear couldn't describe it… Terror? Panic? Horror? Yes. That described what she felt perfectly.
Blood poured from her right eyelid which was closed and ran through her fingers, underneath her palm and down the side of her face in a stream. Gasping for breath as her body wracked with agony and other emotions caused by what had just transpired. In the brown coyote's teeth was her right eye, tiny pieces of flesh torn from her eye socket during the attack hung in between it's teeth as it growled ferociously. Almost mocking Lori.
A growl sounded from behind her as she whipped around only to be pinned by the large gray coyote. It wasted no time in attacking her face with it's sharp teeth as flesh was torn from her face, her screams ripping from her throat. Blood coated her pale face and stained her white shirt and blue jacket as she attempted to push the creature off of her but her arms were weak as they shook with all that was happening with her body. She knew in the back of her mind that half was because of adrenaline rush, the other half was pure torment of the undying agony of the injuries being caused to her body and panic of the need to get away and survive.
The canine's razor sharp teeth finally raised themselves from the blonde's flesh as it made it's way to her shoulder and the other attacking her legs. Ripping could be heard of the fabric of her clothing and the flesh covering her meat. She could feel the warmth of her blood pouring from her wounds and covering her body. It was like being in warm bathwater. She also felt cold at the same time, like death itself was nearing her. Snarls was all Lori heard as everything seemed to die down to where she was only able to hear her own thoughts.
This is it… I'm really going to die. It's over. I can't get out of this one, I'll finally be in Hell where I belong, if this isn't it already… Those were Lori's last thoughts before the black nothingness consumed her completely...
A Genjutsu was used on the two coyotes to make them not want to attack Lori anymore and they backed away seeing a white haired man with red eyes rushing towards them. With the Genjutsu and then realizing they were outmatched they took off running from their meal and back into the woods, away from the cliff.
The albino looked shocked to see Lori's condition. Nothing but blood everywhere. She was lying in a pool of her own blood, drenched in water as it helped in washing away some of the blood, revealing numerous wounds. Shisui appeared by his side not a second later and looked pained at the sight before them.
"No…" The raven haired boy whispered.
No doubt she would be dead.
Rushing to the blonde's side Shisui knelt down, holding her gently in his arms, her skin chilled. He hoped it was from the rain. Tobirama knelt beside him a look of worry in his eyes. There were several gashes on her shoulders, stomach, face and chest. There were several bite marks along her shoulders, face, arms and legs as well.
Because of the rain the tears lacing the young Uchiha's eyelashes were not obvious.
Tobirama and Shisui needed to act fast and get her to Hashirama quick before her chakra diminished completely.
Hashirama and the others caught up and made their way towards the girl being held by Shisui. Hashirama quickly realized from first glance at the pool of blood surrounding his little brother, Shisui and the blonde teen that he couldn't wait until getting home to heal her.
In a flash he was kneeling in front of them and placed his hands on Lori's stomach, his healing chakra pulsating through her chakra coils to find any and all damage and heal it. Hashirama was amazed she was still alive right now. Most would be dead from this much blood loss. He would need to get more blood into her system soon…
Hashirama's dark eyes flickered up to Tobirama's red ones to see them glued to Lori's face. His brother was feeling pained that was certain. They all were. Even after only a week of spending time with the teens they still treated them like any other person. Respected them and gave them food and shelter, clothes and let them go to school too. They had all became attached to the girls in some way or another. Even with Lori.
Shisui had a few silent tears falling down his face as well, coming into contact with Lori's skin. He shed them for he did not like to see an innocent life taken, specially a civilians. Or a woman or a child. Even though he was 16 years of age and she was 15, his point was she was so young and has a full life ahead of her.
Soon her wounds began to close and heal as the mitosis began to create new cells in her body, repairing what had been damaged. Jeri fell to the ground beside them in complete shock at seeing Lori so hurt. She grabbed onto Lori's hand and squeezed it tight in a silent prayer for God to not take Lori. For Lori to be able to remain here and be okay as silent tears fell down her face and onto Lori's skin.
Butsuma and Tajima glanced at each other, for the first time this was not in hatred for one another, but that of gilt. If only slightly. It was their fault. If they hadn't let the blonde teen out of their sight, none of this would have happened. She would be fine and not on the brink of death. Not at death's doorstep.
What surprised Hashirama was that her healing was even faster than he had anticipated. Sure his medical ninjutsu was amazing but the rate she was healing was almost as if some deity had taken pity and was helping heal the girl alongside him. Soon most of her wounds were gone, at least the major ones and they were all able to see that Lori was missing an eye. The eye socket was empty it was obvious even without opening it.
"Her eye…" Itama gasped in shock as he felt tears prick his eyes. Butsuma covered his son's eyes in an attempt to not scar the child for life.
"Those damn…" Tobirama growled glaring in the direction of where they had left, silently daring them to show up so he could kill them. He didn't know why he was so pissed. He never got pissed, not unless Uchiha's were involved.
Shaking his head he turned his attention back to the blonde bombshell in his arms. Madara slightly glared around the cliff.
Shisui looked more worried about the blonde in his arms. Sure they hadn't talked much but he kinda liked her, he knew deep inside that under her cold exterior was a sweet and gentle heart. Somewhere. ...Maybe… Hopefully… "...Lori…" He mumbles.
Izuna and Itachi tried to calm a hysterical Jeri down, even thinking about using a genjutsu. A happy one. While Tajima and Kagami searched for a missing eyeball. It wasn't that hard to find since they were surrounded by grey rock. It was like seeing a black sheep in a herd of white ones.
Kagami reached for it only to be stopped by Tajima. It was his fault so he would be the one to return the eyeball.
….And it was chewed and slightly torn apart. Great.
"It's unusable. She won't be able to see out of it properly." Tajima reported to a frustrated Hashirama as he looked at the girl and then to everyone else. "Bring it with us!" He ordered before turning to his brother, who stood up taking the small girl from Shisui.
"Let's go to the house." Hashirama ordered as everyone moved out making their way towards the house. Once there they put Lori's eyeball in a jar of water and salt hoping that will preserve it.
Hashirama walked into the kitchen to check on the eyeball after an hour. His eyes landed on the jar and instead of a damaged eye that he now needed to fix up.
Lori felt warmth surrounding her tired and aching body. She ignored the pain as her eyes slowly fluttered open as she was met with nothing but warmth of... Covers around her body? Had she gotten a ticket to Heaven somehow? The events of what had happened jolting her memory. She was attacked by two coyotes while exploring the woods alone.
She felt dry. She felt like she was in pajamas… Long sleeves and pants. How long had Shen been out?
She tentatively opened one eyelid, her left as she felt something in her right eye socket. Slowly testing the waters by opening her right eye she found she could see. Was this all just a bad dream…? Or had that been what Madara had done to Juliet?
She heard a slight snore, startling her and making her jump slightly as she crammed her head to the side to see the albino (Tobirama) A.K.A. Snowflake. He was sitting in a chair beside her bed with his arms folded across his chest as his head hung back, looking up towards the sky.
Laying against Lori's bedside was Shisui, who was also asleep with drool coming out of his mouth, snoring lightly as well.
Lori's lips twitched. ...Cute.
Shocked by her own thought she quickly shook her head before looking again at the albino and young Uchiha. She was not used to her own feelings. She hadn't thought anyone was cute since well, another guy, but he never thought she was cute. Lori couldn't help the slight blush that consumed her face, as it was ghostly pale any shade of red or pink easily stood out. Trying to force down the blush was useless.
She looked down at a small waterlily pendant with a small silver crescent moon in the middle hanging by a thin black leather rope like material, a white pearl situated on either side of the pendant on the string around the blonde's neck was visible on the covers above her chest. She sighed in relief before attempting to sit up only to gasp at the pain and lay back down.
That was all it took for Tobirama and Shisui to wake up. "You're awake Blondie." Tobirama's deep voice held a slight tone of relief but other than that remained monotone. Lori glowered at him as he smirked slightly. She would have said something back but her throats was too parched and dry. It felt like there was a desert in her mouth.
His maroon orbs gazed at the girl. Seeing she was healed but very much sore he took a bottle of Tylenol from the bedside table and, getting two circular red pills out he gave her a glass of water that rested on the bedside table along with it for her to take. The pale blonde girl looked at the medicine and her gaze drifted to the man's face. She slowly reached for the pills and water and swiftly took them, the water was refreshing to her parched throat. "You've been out for two days." Tobirama continued.
Shisui thought now would be a good time to ask her how she was feeling. "How do you feel?"
Lori finally downed the drink and lifted it to Tobirama's waiting hands as he took it. "Sore." Lori answered. Her voice hoarse from little use.
Tobirama was honestly surprised she had healed so fast even with his elder brother's healing prowess. Earlier Hashirama had experimented with the girl's eye and for some odd reason he prompted that the salt healed Lori's eye. It also irritated it. He only implanted it back into her skull successfully after the irritation wore off.
Shisui smiled in joy. "That's a huge relief! Do you need anything? Food? Drink?" Lori shook her head lightly.
With a gruff nod Tobirama flared his chakra signaling to everyone that the girl was awake. All the ninja appeared to have Body Flickered into the room, startling the blonde while the door burst open not a moment later with Juliet and Jeri rushing inside the room and Jeri throwing Shisui out of the way and hugging Lori tightly to her body, tears of joy stinging her eyes as Lori's own eyes widened in shock.
"You're okay… I'm so glad..!" Jeri whispered softly as she held Lori's head to her chest, resting her chin against the top of the blonde's. Lori was honestly stunned. She hadn't expected anyone to care this much for her. Even after she was such a bitch.
Lori felt water on the top of her head as her eyes gazed upwards seeing tears falling from the older teen's eyes and trailing down her cheeks to her chin hitting Lori's pale blonde locks. She was crying for her…
So it wasn't a dream after all… I really was attacked. I'm not dead, am I? The younger teen thought numbly trying to make sense of all of this new information.
"Lori… You mean more to me than you will ever know," Jeri said aloud to the blonde as she gently placed her forehead to Lori's. "No matter what you do, or what goes on, I'll always be by your side. Even if you can't ever see me. I will always watch over you and protect you. Even if you don't love me back or if you hate me… Because I love you. And that's what big sisters are for. You're never alone, not anymore."
Lori felt something in her heart, it ached but at the same time that warmth returned. She felt at ease like when she was around water. She felt safe. The plum haired girl's words touched her more than she would ever know as her arms painfully moved of their own accord and her hands gripped the girl's shirt on her shoulders as her eyes looked to be filled with grief and sorrow of the past. Tears streamed from her eyes constantly not a sob escaping her lips as she buried her face in the older girl's shirt. Jeri sat there holding her, letting the younger teen cry to her heart's content to release all the pain that she hid for most her life. She knew Lori was hurting deep inside from the beginning and now that she had gotten Lori to let her walls down enough to release that pain maybe this would mean that Lori would be happier. She hoped so.
Juliet looked like she was about to cry at seeing The sight of her own child being like a mother and a big sister to Lori. Maybe, just maybe, this is what both the girls needed… She quickly left the room…
Jeri smiled down at her dear friend as her shirt was covered with salty tears and snot, a cry never once coming from the blonde. She felt bad for her friend, if she could take the burden away she would. Some of the ninja smiled sadly, like Shisui. Itachi felt bad as he felt something similar to the blonde's pain deep inside. Tobirama frowned slightly.
After an hour of silently crying the blonde was asleep in Jeri's arms and as she lasted the blonde's easily red face back on the pillow, her eyes red and puffy from crying. She noticed the wounds that ran along Lori's face were bleeding slightly. Hashirama looked like he wanted to run some tests but he wouldn't. Tobirama and Kagami were watching silently with the others choosing to observe.
Tajima stared at Lori. "Will she be alright, will they heal?" He asked with Jeri looking at him. "I hope so." The ninja now all looked worried and Jeri sighed in regret of not being able to save her friend.
"Follow me." She walked out the door and into the living room grabbing her laptop on the way with all the Ninja in tow. Tobirama, however, lingered in the room with Lori a moment longer before leaving silently.
After a while of laying in bed and Shisui and Tobirama keeping watch over Lori as well as keeping Jeri out of the room, Lori was finally able to sit up and decided to test her luck.
Sliding her legs over the side of the bed she slowly stood up.
Only to take two steps before falling forward, expecting to crash into the ground. Until two hands caught her own and her orbs wandered to see an onyx one and a maroon one. Shisui grinned. "You having a hard time there?" He teased hoping that the girl had lightened up since crying into Jeri's chest.
Lori's eye twitched in slight annoyance before opening her mouth to answer. At first she was going to just be a bitch since she was NOT in the mood for being messed with but then decided against it. "...Maybe." She mumbled averting her gaze to a random wall.
Shisui's laugh filled the room as the two guys lifted her to her feet and tried to help Lori walk around as best they could. Shisui and Tobirama took one step away from Lori, still lightly holding onto her with her having to take a step or two towards them. This went on for about an hour until Lori could move on her own like normal. Though she was still VERY much sore. It hurt like a bitch! It was the 'workout' kind of sore.
Tobirama overall was amused by the blonde's constant cursing throughout the last hour. He never knew so much bad language could come out of a 15 year old's mouth, much less a girl's. It was actually pretty funny the things she would come up with and say. Things he never heard of.
Shisui on the other hand was shocked and slightly horrified at all the words that came out of her mouth. He would have to teach her to cuss in her head instead of cursing aloud. That would nail her one day.
Lori glared at the floor in embarrassment at requiring help from others. She had always been independent.
Fuck this shit! Fuck you all!
AU: So how was the chapter? Did you expect this or something else? Please tell me!
Questions:
1: What did you think would happen when I gave you that cliff hanger two days ago?
2: Pros and Cons of Tobirama (Lover Material) in your own opinion?
3: Pros and Cons of Shisui (Lover Material) in your own opinion?
4: How do you think this experience affected Lori?
5: Scenes you loved?
