Last Ten Days to Live Chapter 2
Sakura POV
I followed Maria as we ran down the hallway to our Koubus. As we were running, Reni, Iris and Orihime all dashed from their rooms into the hallway right beside us. We went through our whole routine of changing into our uniforms and landing outside the opposite wall as well. Everything was running as usual. But, for some reason, my heart did not stop pounding. I did not hear Yoneda speak. My mind was else where.
You were about to tell her how you feel. You were willing to let her laugh at you.
'No, you're wrong; Maria-san would not laugh at me. She is not the type to laugh at anyone who would say so.
Hmmm…maybe so, but, she would not like it. She'd probably glare at you for saying that to her. She'd call it a weakness. You know very well that Maria is incapable of love.
'No, you're wrong!'
Am I? Prove it.
'Well…'
"Is that clear?" Yoneda slapped some papers down onto the table.
"YES SIR!" We all dashed to our Koubus. My heart rate increased noticeably but, I chose to ignore it. Perhaps my conscience was right….
"Sakura Shinguji ready!"
"Iris and Jean Paul are ready!"
"This is Reni, ready when you are."
"Maria Tachibana awaiting depart!"
"Kanna here, let's get 'em."
"This is Sumire, let's get moving."
"Soletta Orihime waiting."
"Alright flower division, this is Yoneda. Unfortunately, Ohgami suffered a fall and will not be able to join you today. Maria will be your captain. I want you to keep a steady eye out for these Kouma. They seem to be few in numbers, but powerful all together. Good luck."
We were hoisted into the train and started moving. The darkness was illuminated by the lights inside of my Koubu. I was never one to be afraid of the dark. Sometimes maybe, but not too often. But, this was one of those times where I did not feel to safe. Even though I had my friends beside me, something was not quite…right. I could feel my blood pouring through out my body; my heart rate was out of control. The air tasted deadened; my lungs were going to explode at any minute. No, this was not about Maria any more. Something was wrong. I knew it. Something was terribly wrong. I was frightened to say anything but, if anything happened to them…
"Everyone, something isn't right." My Koubu projected my voice. I could feel the train shake a little as it did so, but I kept telling myself it was for the better. "Please, let's turn back now."
"Why do you day that O-ne-chan? Iris and Jean Paul feel fine."
"I know that but…"
"Sakura! We have been doing this longer then you have! We know when things are fine or not!" Sumire did not seam to happy… "So just leave it to us! We know when something is wrong!"
"Eh, it kind of happens once in a blue moon but, Sumire is right Sakura…"
"EXCUSE ME? WHAT IS THAT SOPOSSED TO MEAN?"
"WHAT DID IT SOUND LIKE?"
"Be quiet all of you!" This time, it was Maria. And, just like my heart, all the arguing stopped. We were silent for a few seconds. I could hear the train tracks steadily make their sound below us and the steady sound of my breathing. It was our commander's choice for action. We all waited for her reply. "Every one be quiet. I am in charge; I will decide what to do. Sakura, I am very ashamed of you. Are you remembering who we are fighting for? You hesitate, again. If you can not bear to put your life or any of our lives in danger, you are better not being in the Hagumi at all!"
Silence once more. Maria-san did not mean it when she said she saw me as more then another person to fight with. Because, that was really all she saw me as. That's all she sees me as. Maria-san lied to me. She lied to me…
I was awoken when the train spit us out on to the battlefield. We all gasped at what we saw. Even Maria was shocked. The visuals Yoneda had did not match anything like the real thing. At first, we saw nothing. Just an empty field before destruction. But then, we looked down. Shadows were moving on the ground. All around us, like sharks surround their prey, we were being circled. Iris's Koubu took a step back and out of pure fear, she teleported us many yards behind.
"Iris," Maria started but she realized it was not her fault. "All rite, here are the orders. Orihime and I will stay back in order to give you support when needed. Sumire, Kanna, Reni and Sakura will go in for head on attacks."
"That is if Sakura isn't to frighten…"
"Sumire, now is not the time for your mouth, just your katana." Sumire was just about as shocked as we all were after hearing something like that be said by Maria. "Am I clear?"
"What do Iris and Jean Paul do?"
"Well, you can give us support and knock any enemy off our trail if they follow us."
"Of course Maria," started Orihime, "let the child stay back."
"IRIS IS Adult AND MATURE! IRIS IS NOT A CHILD! (Isn't that right Jean Paul?)" (A/N: Can't you just see a sweat drop forming on all the Koubus right about now?)
"All rite, lets go." As soon as Maria gave the order, we quickly took our positions. Kanna and I ran side by side into the battle field followed by Sumire ad then Reni. Shadows passed and trees became fewer and fewer. Finally, we came up to our first Kouma.
"Take that!" Kanna lunged into the air and threw her right fist into the ground where one of the shadows were. "Heh, how's that?"
"Anyone could have done that you oversized…KANNA, BEHIND YOU!"
"What?" Her blow did not even faze the Kouma. It stood right below her, featureless and malignant. "H-how is that thing still al-" The shadow quickly engulfed Kanna's Koubu.
"KANNA-SAN!" I could not believe my eyes. After only a few seconds, her Koubu exploded. There was to much smoke so I could not see if she was alive or not.
"KANNA!" Everyone looked to where she once stood. However, in doing so, a Kouma came up to Iris as well.
"IRIS!" Reni turned around as fast as she could to rush to Iris's aid.
"RENI! I CAN'T PARACHUTE OUT!"
"IRIS, LET GO OF JEAN PAUL AND JUST DO SO! WE'LL BUY YOU A NEW BEAR!"
"NO! YOU CAN'T JUST BUY A NEW JEAN PAUL, HE'S SPECIA-" And once more before out very eyes, another Koubu was engulfed, and Iris's Koubu exploded with her and Jean Paul inside.
"IRIS!"
"My god…" Sumire looked over to where another Koubu was demolished. I swear I heard Maria mutter something. "Kanna-san…Iris…"
"RENI-SAN, COME BACK HERE! THEY ARE TRYING TO SPLIT US UP….RENI!" No, not her also. Please Reni, come back here! I can't have you die as well…RENI!
She did not have enough time to digest what was happening. The shadows snuck up from behind much to fast.
"Damnitt, Reni!" Maria quickly fired her gun at the shadow surrounding Reni scarring it off. "Reni, don't gaze out now! The faster we get this done, the quicker we can get to Kanna and Iris!"
"Reni, please be careful."
"Orihime…Maria…I'm so sorry."
"Hmm, well, you should be Reni because the top star can not have her companions dissipate." Another shadow appeared behind Sumire and I quickly ran over to be at her aid. "Sakura-san!"
"Don't worry Sumire, I'll cover you."
"No-no, I mean…SAKURA! BEHIND YOU ALSO!"
"What?" I turned my head in my Koubu as if I could see out of the other side. The walls in my Koubu disappeared as I could see a shadow coming at me from the sky. A different shadow, one with wings…a larger one… Time seemed to stop as I was engulfed. I could hear the muffled sounds of Sumire and Orihime calling my name. I could hear everything so clearly. I heard Reni gasp, I heard Maria-san begging the heavens to fight this demon off. She was begging the heavens…begging the heavens…What's going on out there? Shouldn't I be dead by now? Why have I not died? WHAT'S GOING ON?
I could feel and see dark grey aura rising from below my Koubu. It quickly engulfed my being sending my heart on a spasm. I knew this feeling! I knew it! It was the same feeling from before! I knew this was going to happen, I knew it! I must have looked so weak and pathetic while I was inside that Koubu. I could see and hear everything so clearly…everything…..RENI! WAIT, I CAN'T STOP MY SELF.WHATS GOING ON...RENI?
"Sak-sakura-san! Stop, it's me….Reni! Sakura-san!" I understand now…this feeling of freedom and fear…I'm possessed, aren't I?
My Koubu dashed towards Reni drawing its sword. Reni quickly drew her lance. She was not strong enough…I could beat her with ease.
"Sakura-san," Her response was fast. But, my Koubu slicing off her Koubu's head was faster. I saw her body fly out of the top unconscious. She was still breathing. I felt glad. I didn't want to kill any of my friends.
"Sakura, stop this now! Fight off the demon Sakura-san!" Maria…
"My god!" Orihime did not stand a chance. All I had to do was slice off her Koubu's feet and then…another explosion. They were all so…easy…I felt as if I was toying with them…What am I thinking? These are my friends!
"That's enough! I'm sorry Sakura…" Maria-san! She did not hesitate. She fired her Koubu's arm cannon right at me. The surging blue light was coming at me fast. The Kouma who took possession of me was faster. It easily evaded the attacks Maria threw. She was not aiming to miss either. The truth was that, I was a nuisance. I deserved to be eliminated. But…my Koubu did not attack anyone.
Instead, it went off into the far end of the field and stopped in its tracks. My skin complexion was paler now, I could feel myself fading. My energy was being sucked right out of my being. The Kouma was feeding off of me! I wanted to vomit, I wanted to faint or die. But, I couldn't. My Koubu drew its sword and lunged it straight into the ground with a dark grey aura surrounding its tip.
"Sakura-san? What's going on?" Sumire tried to rush to my side but Maria held her back. "Maria-san, what are you doing?"
"Wait, Sumire."
A flash of grey light appeared from my sword. It quickly shot into the ground making negative waves on the surface. Grass was dieing fast, an earthquake began to take place. But, the Kouma would not stop using my energy. I was sweating, I could not handle this much straining. And, as if my prayers for all to end had been answered, the Kouma stopped. A shadow appeared above my Koubu and slowly drifted away as I fell to the ground. The hatch opened up and I helplessly fell to the ground.
"Sakura-san!" Maria and Sumire jumped from their Koubus and rushed to my side. Maria picked me up in her arms and cradled me gently. I was out of breath. My eyes were clamped shut and I was gasping for air.
"It's alright Sakura, we are here now." Maria held me tightly and put her face close to mine so that I could hear her better.
"Sakura-san, you look pale…is it because of the Kouma…"
I shook my head 'no' at Sumire rapidly. I opened my mouth to speak but no words came out of my throat.
"Sakura-san, you should not be speaking now…"
"No, Maria-s-san…" I stuttered on my words from shock. My mouth was dry; I could hardly place my words with my tongue. "Maria-san…ten days…"
"What does that mean Sakura?" Sumire stood above me with a cocked eyebrow place on her forehead.
"T-ten days…"
"Sakura, you are not making any sense!" Maria shook me slightly. "What is it that you mean?"
"We have ten days left…only ten more day-" The darkness closed in around me as I passed out in Maria's arms that night.
(A/N:If it weren't for some randomness, I never would o cotinued this story. Truth is, my computer crashed and it took the other chapters along with it so now I have to re-write every single one of them. --; Sorry for the delay.)